College can be a life-changing experience for anyone. It can be a pathway to your dream career, a place to learn new and exciting things, or even just a place to meet new and different people from all over the world. Whatever college is for you, it will be an experience. Such experiences cost money however, and you may find yourself wondering how you will make ends meet to pay for tuition, as well as all your other expenses. What follows are some tips that might help you to find the money to pay for your college experience.

Get a Job

The sooner you can start to save up for college the better, so try to get a job as early as possible – even if it is just after school or on the weekends. Once you start to earn money, make sure that you put aside as much as possible each paycheck. The summer is also a valuable stretch of time that should not be wasted.  You should be able to find a decent job with more hours if you are just looking for summer work. You will also want to look for possible jobs for while you are in college. Make sure you find a job that can work around your class schedule – on campus jobs are a good place to start looking.

Save Money

Once you are making a steady paycheck, it will be tempting to spend it on fun things. It is more important however, that you put aside enough money for all of your necessary expenses before blowing it all at an amusement park. As well as your monthly expenses, you should allow for the unexpected by putting aside some money each paycheck. Anything left over can go towards your savings. Don’t forget to treat yourself every once in a while though!

Look into Financial Aid Options

As a last resort, there are a number of places to which you can turn in order to get the financial help that you need to complete your college education. Start looking into scholarships and government grants. It pays to be a good student, so study hard and you can put yourself into the right position for a good scholarship. Check out the different options that your university offers you as well, and see what kind of financial help there is for students that need it. Make sure that if you do apply for a student loan, that it is a good one with a low interest rate and salary-based payments.

There are so many options available to students that need help financially, that there should be nothing keeping you from having this experience. Be innovative and you can find a way to pay for the costs that you will face. Most of all, try not to worry too much, and enjoy your college years!

About the Author

J Marsh is a writer for MyCollegesandCareers.com. My Colleges and Careers is the leading site to help you choose the best online schools. 

Bankruptcy is a complicated situation for any individual to be in. It is almost always advisable to seek professional help or counsel from a bankruptcy attorney or someone who specializes in bankruptcy debt management. 

In terms of one’s financial future, it is usually preferable to avoid filing bankruptcy if that is a feasible possibility. This means figuring out a way to handle your debt without having to liquidate your assets and sign over your financial independence to a bankruptcy trustee. There are services that can help you do this. Additionally, there is an abundance of free advice available to people that want to improve their financial status without hiring an attorney. Options include negotiating with creditors, restructuring your debt, consolidating your debt or, in some rare cases when no assets are present, doing nothing at all.

In general, though, choosing to manage your debt instead of filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy likely means you must change the spending practices that got you into your financial mess in the first place. If a person with spending problems tries to overcome a massive debt by being more fiscally prudent, they may have a hard time making any real progress. 

Here are some tips that one can follow for trying to manage their debt and avoid bankruptcy in the first place.

1. Be honest about your current budget and spending habits. Are there ways you could cut back on what you’re spending? Even small changes to your habits—like eating out less or using public transportation instead of a personal vehicle—can help you on the road to financial solvency.

2. Don’t avoid your creditors. Oftentimes, they are willing to work with you to create a feasible repayment plan. Remember, if you file for bankruptcy, it’s possible that the court will cancel your debt, leaving the creditor with none of the amount owed to them. Simply ignoring the problem will not make it go away. Facing it head on through negotiations is a more productive approach.

3. Face your biggest debts first. It may be tempting to pay off the smaller, more manageable sums first, but avoiding large debts—especially ones with high interest rates—will only get you into further financial trouble, harming your credit rating even more.

Ultimately, facing your debt is about taking responsibility for past financial mismanagement and setting a new course for the future. Getting professional help is a good move, but it’s mainly up to you.

Finance happens to be one of John's favorite things to write about. If you'd like to find out more about Bankruptcy attorney, please visit http://www.maceybankruptcylaw.com/

Taking a gap year is an enormous but extremely rewarding decision. Rather than subject yourself to the languorous cage of a cramped office or dusty lecture hall, you can educate yourself through experience by travelling across the world. However, even the most intrepid of travellers needs to pay attention to how much they can spend, something which is doubly important given the state of your finances.

Here is some advice on how you can have the adventure of a lifetime without spending your life savings:

Plan Your Budget in Advance

Your budget should be decided even before your destination. After all, your destination will be largely influenced by how much you can and are willing to spend. Factor in not only how much you have saved, but how much you can realistically earn through teaching English or taking advantage of a working holiday programme. Even after you have calculated your expenses, you may want to add an additional few thousand pounds to the total just in case of an emergency.

Secure a Job

The term gap year is a bit of a misnomer as you will likely not spend the entire year on holiday. Most travellers choose to work for the first six months of their stay and use the remainder of the time to travel and see the various landmarks around the country. Others will secure a part-time job in order to fund their more lavish weekends. Regardless, make sure that obtaining work is a feasible option before you arrive. Your initial budget should take into the account the lack of income, as you may not see a paycheck until a month after your arrival.

Make a List and Map it Out

Some people like to be more capricious, going wherever the wind takes them. For these types, it's easy not to overspend, as they will likely go only as far as the money in their pocket allows. For others who like to meticulously plan their trips, it might be wise to make a list of all the places you aim to visit. From there, categorise them by priority and location. You can minimise the length and cost of your travel by grouping together multiple sites.

Join a Project

Part of the cost of living can be defrayed by joining one of the many volunteer projects online, or joining a TEFL course abroad. These programmes typically will set you up with a host family that will provide shelter and possibly meals. In exchange, you can take courses or assist in projects that will look outstanding on a future CV, provided the work you do is constructive.

Negotiate Your Travel Expenses

The same is true for both consumer products and travel, buying in bulk can offer better savings. Visit sites designed to assist those planning a gap year and enquire about negotiating an airline discount on an around-the-world trip.

Get Insurance

Travelling on a budget isn't just about avoiding the small purchases, but preventing the big ones. Having proper travel insurance and medical care is vital when travelling overseas. The cost may seem an unnecessary expense at the time, but paying a nominal fee is a small price compared to the overwhelming costs of healthcare. It will also give you the peace of mind to enjoy life to the fullest, as opposed to being too frightened to engage in any sort of risky activity until you return home.

Jake Smiths is a writer for www.creditreport.org.uk and covers a wide range of personal finance topics.

Being a college student is practically synonymous with being on a strict budget. With huge commitments to your studies and little time to work, it's easy to graduate with tens of thousands of dollars in debt that can take decades to repay. However, there are many different strategies students can employ to reduce their overall debt load. Using payday loans through Cash USA, being mindful of credit card traps, using student loans wisely, and taking on work will all assist you in graduating with a reasonable amount of debt.

Loans
If your car breaks down or a textbook is stolen, your first instinct may be to use a credit card. Considering that the interest rates on cards offered to students can be quite large, taking advantage of a payday loan is usually a better option for two reasons. First, a payday loan does not require a monthly payment. Once the loan is paid in full out of your next paycheck, there is no ongoing expense. Second, the fees and interest on a payday loan is calculated beforehand. You know exactly how much your loan will cost up front. This is not the case with a credit card.

Avoiding Credit Card Traps
Some credit cards will increase your interest rate after a single missed payment. Others will charge outrageous fees if you accidentally exceed your limit. Using credit cards is a quick and easy way to saddle yourself with a huge amount of debt at a sky-high interest rate, so be sure to use them wisely. Some students make it a habit to lock their cards in a safe or leave them in a safety deposit box to reduce temptation. Others are disciplined enough to pay the balance in full when the statement arrives each month. Be honest with yourself and use credit cards frugally.

Using Student Loan Wisely
Most student loan disbursements come in huge chunks a few times a year. While less-responsible students may spend the proceeds on fancy technology, eating out or concert tickets, a student who hopes to graduate with less debt than their peers would do well to draw up a budget beforehand. Write a list of your month obligations such as rent, utilities, insurance and food. Then set aside a small budget for discretionary spending. Finally, set aside a portion for emergencies in a savings account and resist the urge to spend it. This disciplined approach will avoid financial catastrophe for the six weeks before your next student loan disbursement.

Taking on Work

While finding a traditional job that will work around your course load can be difficult, there are a wide variety of ways to bring in some cash without flipping burgers or waiting tables when you should be studying. Freelance writing, tutoring, and babysitting can all offer flexible hours and workloads that you will find easier to fit into your schedule than a traditional job. Signing up for a work study program can also help you earn money. By doing so, you will have to rely less on loans during your college years. This approach can save you thousands of dollars in interest over the repayment period of the loans, so it is critical that you find a way to bring in an income. Be creative! Don't be afraid to offer your services on the campus jobs board or to use online advertisements to reach potential customers.

By utilizing these strategies, college students can avoid graduating with an unacceptable amount of debt. Setting the stage for financial health while you are young will help you make better decisions once you have your degree in hand.

This guest post comes from CashUSA.org. Cash USA help consumers get the best payday loans online.

Financially speaking, do you know of anyone who isn't struggling right now? Or maybe they're holding their heads above water but it's because they've made drastic changes to their lives like downsizing from a house to an apartment, paring down to sharing one car, and on. And sadly, it sometimes seems like it's the little guys, you and me, who get hit the hardest. Maybe it's just because we're all stretched so thin that one small setback just knocks the whole house of cards down. Think about it, have you ever seen yourself finally in a decent situation, with bills covered and then a little extra cash in your pocket but then your car breaks down or your pet gets sick? Then you're right back to square one.

But no matter how bad things get there is business to take care of, and it doesn't pay to turn a blind eye to the following financial situations....

Late Fees

When you get behind on your bills the late fees and interest charges begin to swallow you into a deep dark hole. Sometimes you simply don't have the money to cover it but other times it's more of a matter of simplifying your life, tightening the belt and getting rid of unneeded expenditures. If you've done all that and find you still can't make it try speaking with your lending establishments directly because maybe they'll give you a break for a while as you get back on your feet. Also, even if you can't pay the entire monthly payment due, some companies will be happy to get whatever you've got so again, try to work out a deal.

Taxes

It's a fact of life that Uncle Sam wants to get paid. Sticking your head in the sand and avoiding filing your income taxes can eventually result in one very big mess. Plus, you never know – you may find that the government actually owes you. If, when you file, you do in fact owe money and simply don't have the funds don't skip out on it. Contact the IRS and see if you can work something out to make payments.

Quick Money

Establishments offering “quick cash” opportunities are particularly busy during lean times, and many tend to prey on those struggling the hardest. Be very careful when thinking about selling things you love, or getting advances on your paycheck – these are not long-term solutions and the often exorbitant fees make them a less than sensible use of your limited funds.

Whenever possible, fight your way out of the lean times by being proactive. If that means cutting living expenses however you can and/or getting an extra job do what you can to keep making strides to get back on track. Try not to make your situation worse by curling up and trying to forget the world, it won't help you in the long run at all.

Written by Erin Nolan. Ready to speak out about paycheck loans? Look here: www.doomsdayloans.co.uk