Winter Weather Advisory

This is not your average advisory to tell you school's closed for the day (which by the way it is not), but I urge you to keep reading because at Savvy Student we always have your best interest in mind and today is no different.

If you haven't looked outside your window, it is snowing yet again! No big surprise that you will have to bundle up and dig your car out. And, because this isn't the first snow of the season you may want to take extra precautions around your dorm, apartment or car.

As it usually does, winter can take a toll on your wallet from heating bills and car repairs to doctor visits. However, if you take extra time to care for yourself and your belongings you might be able to cut back on these heavy hitters that strike your wallet and the most inopportune times.

For instance, take care of yourself by wearing weather appropriate clothing, washing your hands, using hand sanitizer and eating your fruits and vegetables or taking vitamin supplements. This is total common sense, but sometimes it slips by the wayside when other factors come into play.

If you are feeling under the weather take extra precautions by drinking lots of liquids, getting to bed early (and I don't mean midnight early) and if you believe in it, drinking Emergen-C or Airborne. Definitely seek medical attention if it is not just your average cold, but if you take extra precautions ahead of time, you may be able to avoid a visit to the health center.

If you live in a drafty apartment or dorm you can very inexpensively fix the problem without turning up the dial on your thermostat. There are insulation kits for windows under $15 available at stores like Home Depot that are fire safe and help trap the heat inside. An example of such a kit can be viewed here. You may also wish to cover your windows with heavy curtains instead of going to the trouble of saran wrapping them. If it is a door that's causing the problem you should consider purchasing a draft guard. Some versions of a draft stopper are more spendy, but you really just need something to block the gap by your door that is causing the cold air to come in. This could be as simple as a towel, but please be aware of items that are not fire safe.

For those of you who drive, since cars take the biggest bite out of your wallet we have saved this for last. It is of utmost importance to have your vehicle serviced regularly. If you have not done so already, you should also have your car winterized, making sure all your fluids are topped off, your tire pressure is good and your gas tank is full to avoid moisture build-up freezing the gas line. We have included a great article here from eHow on winterizing your vehicle.

Now that we are in the throws of winter, don't forget to take care of yourself and avoid extra bills that will add up and ultimately hurt your wallet.

Be safe and stay warm,

Savvy Student

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

The Scary Truth About College Loan Debt

At Savvy Student we are always trying to provide you with the best advice for managing your debt, budgeting and saving your money. This is because each choice you make "today" will affect your "tomorrow". So, start now by developing good financial habits and making sound investment decisions, which can of course be done by reading our blog ;)

As many of you already know paying for college can be quite cumbersome and although, many students survive on credit cards and loans it is not the wisest solution. If handled responsibly, these make fine alternatives, however, most students lack the appropriate funding to make reasonable payments thereby increasing their debt and harming their financial future. The truth of the matter is that debt management is very easy, it just requires patience, dedication and a desire to achieve your goals. There is always help if you are willing to ask for it. Unfortunately, many students do not realize they are headed down "Bad Debt" Road until they are actually there and as equally alarming many are too embarrassed or ashamed to ask for help. We have all kinds of resources available at Savvy Student, including one on one personal assistance, if need be. Budgeting is a time consuming process, but essential towards debt management and spending control.

It is never fun to focus on other people's tragedies, however, it can be a learning experience for those not impacted by such events. And, we are bringing this to the forefront not to stress you out, but to prepare you. Unfortunately, college debt is real for many students and our hope is to educate you through other experiences, so as to avoid adverse actions thus impacting your financial future.

Recently CNBC posted an article and ran a program about the College Debt Crisis. This may come as a shock to some, but well worth checking out. If interested you can access the article here.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

11 Tips For Investing in 2011

With the start of a new year comes new resolutions and new opportunities for financial growth. In our effort to keep you up to date with the latest advice, we have come across eleven great suggestions for investing in your future, Brandeis education aside.

The website, mymoneymanagement.net is a wonderful resource which is supported by The Financial Services Roundtable. This Roundtable is comprised of CEO's from 100 of the largest financial services companies. Both member companies and their employees help finance the U.S economy, so you know their advice must be worth listening too right? And, we are talking about this now because mymoneymanagement recently published 11 new tips for becoming financially stable in 2011 that are easy to follow and require little to no finance background.

Suggestions include starting out early and ending late. By putting a little money aside now and slowly adding to it overtime you will have more of a financial cushion after retirement. Mymoneymanagement also advises reading the "fine print", knowing and understanding the details first before investing your money. If you wish to learn more the full article is available here.

Happy New Year!!!!

Savvy Student

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Year End Wrap Up

Now that the fall semester is a distant memory and finals have become an after thought, it's the perfect time to look over your budget and put to use many of the tips we have offered throughout the semester. Use the break to reevaluate your spending habits and to take an honest look at how you did. Were you able to stick to your budget or were there times you went off track? The winter break is also the perfect time to prepare financially for the spring semester when renewal aid applications are due. So, as New Year's looms closer and the unmistakable "Ole Lang Zine" plays out, we would like to offer a few last 2010 parting pieces of advice.

First of all and most importantly- CONGRATULATIONS!!! You survived the fall semester and are coming back for more. If not more school, then more advice from the staff at Savvy Student. Such smart readers we have!

Second, in terms of personal finance create a new budget for yourself or readjust an old one. It is not uncommon to update your budget throughout the year to account for your spending habits or change in circumstances. If you spent the semester tracking your purchases and sticking to a budget then the big question is how did you do? If this holiday season drove you into the red zone, perhaps you can focus on cutting back a little in January. Either way, give yourself a pat on the back for trying to budget, and then learn from your successes or failures, making your New Year's resolution about mastering the art of money management.

Our third step for success is to plan ahead and begin the process of renewing or applying for need-based financial aid. All U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents are required to re-apply for assistance each academic year by submitting the CSS Profile, FAFSA and prior year's Federal tax returns. The Profile has been available since October and the FAFSA will be up and running by January 1st. Over break you can take the time to get a jump start on your application by rounding up all family financial information and locating your FAFSA pin. All materials must be submitted to the Office of Student Financial Services by April 29th. That leaves you plenty of time to apply, however, the spring semester goes by in a flash and you don't want to be left outside in the cold.

In addition, break is the perfect time to start a job search for the spring semester. Whether it be an On-Campus job or an internship for the summer, it's best to move quickly and be prepared. Get your resume ready and set up the necessary interviews and meetings through Hiatt Career Center.

When you've got a handle on your budgets, deadlines, and necessary career steps, you should be ready to celebrate 2011 in style and with all your finances under control.

Good Luck and Happy New Year!
Savvy Student

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

FAFSA Help

For returning students throughout the country, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a perennial requirement for qualifying for Federal Student Aid. Though students can't begin completing the FAFSA until January 1^st (Brandeis’ specific deadlines are available here), it is advisable to acquaint yourself with the Application earlier rather than later. Doing so will better prepare you to complete the form by the deadlines and ensure that you're eligible to receive any federal assistance you qualify for

Moneywatch.com, a website run by CBS has offered their advice for preparing to tackle the FAFSA in the coming months. If you haven’t completed the FAFSA before, remember you must apply for a FAFSA PIN, which can be taken care of online, at the following address: http://www.pin.ed.gov/PINWebApp/appinstr.jsp.

Also encouraged is reviewing the information that is required for the FAFSA. Students can print out the FAFSA worksheet here, to view what financial information they will have to report.

The recommendations of the article are also available here.

Finally, if you have any trouble completing the FAFSA, remember that there are many resources at your disposal. Moneywatch.com offers their own list. Additionally, each student at Brandeis has a financial aid advisor willing to help them through the application process.

Savvy Student

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

No Rest for the Weary

Thanksgiving is a day to relax and unwind, to be thankful for our many blessings in life including family, friends and winning NFL team. In all seriousness, it is a time to catch up on new stories and reminisce over old ones, while sitting around the table eating a warm turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Some may gather by a fire and others around the flat screen, but either way it is a break from school and the calm before the storm of the holiday season which officially kicks-off with Black Friday.

For some, Black Friday is a holiday tradition that involves trekking out to the mall in the wee hours of the morning to either begin or complete holiday shopping. For others it is a game of grab and go to avoid the mob scene and insane lines. Either way, whether you love the idea or hate it, Black Friday is a great shopping day for budget conscious people. And, if you are not use this kind of shopping scene then please stay tuned because we have the 411 on how to survive and be successful amongst the crowds.

1. If you are shopping for others Be Prepared. Have your list and check it twice. Plan a course of action and be aware of what each store is offering on Black Friday. Some sales are considered "Door Busters" or are offered in limited quantity only, so you should arrive early to take advantage. Other stores will have day long or weekend long deals, so decide where you wish to exert your efforts.

2. Check out the deals ahead of time. Click here to connect to the official website for 2010 Black Friday Deals. You can also visit slickdeals.net for a comparison of Friday's best deals.

3. Do your research! There are lots of great online resources that break down the best deals for different sale items. For example, check out this CNet page for laptop deals.

4. Shop online.. early! Many stores are offering BlackFriday deals online on THURSDAY.. so after you've eaten your turkey you can get the deals you want without leaving home! See this news article to look at stores that offer this deal.

5. Use connections. If your family member or friend is out shopping too ask them to help scout out deals for you. You can tri-county or tri-state shop very easily this way which can be especially handy for hard to get items such as electronics.

Should you wish to avoid crowds and stay inside you will still be able to snag great deals online for Cyber Monday, the internet follow-up to Black Friday. this year's Cyber Monday event is November 29th.

Happy Holidays!

Savvy Student

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Used Books, and New Ways to Sell Them

Stuck with a book you bought for a dropped class? Or how about that old chemistry book that you never want to see again? Savvy Student knows how to take away the bulk, and for a profit.

As the semester end approaches, all students will want to sell their books as soon as the last final is over. Most go back to the bookstore for the low price because they don’t want to worry about it later on. But for those who are willing to search around and find the highest price, Bookscouter.com is the place to go.

BookScouter, an online book selling blog, has plenty of useful tools to help you track down the best prices for your used books using their ISBN. BookScouter will not help you to necessarily sell your books, but at least you will know how to get the most for your old Calculus friend.

Once you have determined how much you want to get for your books, it's time to go to Half.com
You can post your items online after an easy registration process. The website will show you suggested prices in comparison those advertised by other sellers. Be realistic! Don't expect to get $70 for a textbook that someone else is selling for $30. As you have probably noticed, many supermarkets attract their clients by setting the price at $29.99 for something their competitor is marking at $30. Strategize!

Once someone decides to purchase your book, you will be notified via email by Half.com. Additionally, they will send you a print-out page that you will attach to the book you are mailing. Make sure to follow all the instructions and mail the order promptly! Half.com will refund you for the mailing costs, and you will receive the entire amount you sold the book for. The refunds are disbursed twice a month. Pretty good deal, right?

Also, don't forget to check with your friends; perhaps one of them is planning to take the same course next semester, and is willing to buy it at a reduced cost without any hassle. MyBrandeis has a forum for students advertising their used books.

Happy re-selling,
Savvy Student

reade more... Résuméabuiyad