Topic: Paying for College

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After graduation: Five real-world steps to success

With graduation day around the corner, Modern Parenthood caught up with Cindy Brown, author of the book “The Girls Guide to Swagger,” to ask her what her top tips would be for new graduates going off into the “real world.”
Student loans and college finance: Take our quiz!

Rising college costs have pushed America's student loan debt over the $1 trillion mark for the first time. Here's a quiz designed to test your knowledge on college finance ... and expand it.
Briefing
Six 2012 races where the tea party counts

After playing kingmaker in the 2010 election cycle, the tea party movement is having a less prominent role in 2012. But its support or opposition could swing some key races and even determine whether Republicans win control of the Senate. Here are six US Senate contests where the tea party could make a difference.
Tax day: 8 top tax breaks for parents on tax deadline

As tax deadline looms, parents are looking for as many tax breaks as possible.
Hillary Clinton for president? Eight Democrats who might run next time.

Tired of the 2012 presidential race? 2016 actually isn’t that far away, especially for Democrats looking hungrily at a nomination race that will not include President Obama. Speculation has already started over who might run – fueled by no less a figure than former President Clinton, who has suggested in recent TV interviews that his wife, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, might change her mind about not running once she’s had a break. Here are some of the possible contenders.

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The Simple Dollar
Graduation gifts: Consider the investment route

Graduation gifts like savings bonds and mutual funds can be good alternatives to cash. Graduation gifts are question one in this week's mailbag.
Saving Money
10 money mistakes everybody makes

How many of these common money mistakes have you made?
The Daily Reckoning
Facebook IPO: The end of an era

The failure of Facebook's public debut may signal the end of the pie-in-the-sky tech start up, as well as the possibility that the post-crisis recovery rally is screeching to a halt.
What Congress has planned after Memorial Day

Congress will be racing to complete a number of priorities between Memorial Day and the August recess, all under the shadow of massive fiscal issues looming at year's end.
Change Agent
First Graduate helps students aim for higher education

The nonprofit First Graduate program helps students become the first in their family to attend college.
Decoder Wire
Psst, students. Still hope for low-rate student loans, despite Senate balking

Without a fix, interest on some subsidized federal student loans would double to 6.8 percent starting July 1. But Thursday's Senate votes are still just theater. Expect parties to haggle over the cash until June 29.
After graduation: Five real-world steps to success

With graduation day around the corner, Modern Parenthood caught up with Cindy Brown, author of the book “The Girls Guide to Swagger,” to ask her what her top tips would be for new graduates going off into the “real world.”
Mitt Romney unveils education reform plan heavy on 'parental choice' (+video)

Mitt Romney's plan for education reform challenges President Obama and teacher's unions, including federal money for some low-income and disabled students to attend private schools.
The Simple Dollar
Student loans: Pay them off, or invest elsewhere?

Student loans at currently low interest rates should be paid off as quickly as possible, because there aren't many better investments out there. Student loans are question one in this week's mailbag.
Modern Parenthood
Graduation dissonance: Is college tuition worth it? No. And yes.

Graduation may give parents of college graduates buyer's remorse:  Pew studies shows 94 percent of parents expect their kids to go to college, but 57 percent question whether tuition was worth it.
Donald Marron
How to fix flawed Medicare budgeting

Budgeting for Medicare's hospital insurance program is flawed. Here are two ways to fix it (and one way not to).
The Simple Dollar
Student loans: How automatic repay can help

Signing up for automatic payments on student loans can reduce the chances of messing up something important for young people who are relatively inexperienced with managing their finances. What's more, it can actually reduce the amount you have to pay back on student loans over the long haul. 
The Simple Dollar
401(k) savings: Huge plus, even when retiring at 45

401(k) savings defer taxes and can fund second retirement phase for high earner who wants to retire at 45. See question No. 2 in the reader mailbag for 401(k) discussion. 
Democrats try to put Scott Brown on defensive with new ethics charge

The Massachusetts race for the Senate seat held by Scott Brown is gathering in intensity, with Brown and Democrats supporting challenger Elizabeth Warren trading ethics charges.
Student loans: GOP filibuster blocks Senate move to freeze low rates

Student loans will cost more come July 1 unless Congress acts. While both parties say they support extending low rates on federally subsidized loans, election-year politics have intervened.
The Simple Dollar
Freedom from debt is possible – with a plan

Constructing a debt repayment plan is the single strongest step to take to achieve freedom from debt, according to Hamm. 
Student loans: Do Republicans really think program is socialist?

President Obama said Friday that Republicans in Congress are calling federal student loans socialism. Republicans reject the charge. But the issue is highlighting political differences.
Occupy movement seeks new recruits. In New York, it found some. (+video)

A new generation of activists skips school, flocks to Wall Street to join May Day Occupy protests. On their minds? student loans, reining in corporations, and being part of something that could matter.
The Simple Dollar
To get out of debt, refinance and consolidate first

The most painful part of debt is the interest, which can be crushing. Refinancing to reduce interest rates can make a world of difference.
Student loan bill? Not so fast.

Student loan bill, which would keep graduates' interest rate costs from doubling, gets caught up in election free-for-all. House passes student loan bill, despite Obama veto threat.
Student loans and college finance: Take our quiz!

Rising college costs have pushed America's student loan debt over the $1 trillion mark for the first time. Here's a quiz designed to test your knowledge on college finance ... and expand it.
GOP-led House votes to keep rate low on student loans, as Obama balks

The White House says Obama will veto the House bill on student loans. It prefers a Senate measure that also helps debt-crushed students, but that covers the cost by closing a tax loophole benefiting the wealthy.
GOP, Democrats make student loans an election-year issue

Both parties are advancing plans to address mounting student loan debt while disparaging the approach of their opponents.
Decoder Wire
Boehner says Obama misuses Air Force One for political trips. Is he right?

Using taxpayer dollars to fly to battleground states to make political points is 'pathetic,' Boehner says. But presidents running for reelection are often accused of using perks of office to unfair advantage – and guidelines are not clear.
If both parties want low rates on student loans, why the fight?

The GOP-led House is set to vote Friday on a bill to extend the low 3.4 percent interest rate on US-subsidized student loans. Obama wants that, too. But how to pay for it is kicking up dust in Congress.