Student loans have become so ubiquitous, that it is hard to find any college or graduate school student who hasn’t incurred at least one. However, those who lack sufficient understanding of the risks involved in such borrowing may end up in real trouble. Keep reading in order to become an educated prospective borrower. Once you leave school and are on your feet you are expected to start paying back all of the loans that you received. There is a grace period for you to begin repayment of your student loan. It is different from lender to lender, so make sure that you are aware of this. Here we discuss Things You Should Know About Student Loans.
If you have extra money at the end of the month, don’t automatically pour it into paying down your student loans. Check interest rates first, because sometimes your money can work better for you in an investment than paying down a student loan. For example, if you can invest in a safe CD that returns two percent of your money, that is smarter in the long run than paying down a student loan with only one point of interest. Only do this if you are current on your minimum payments though and have an emergency reserve fund.
Make sure you understand the true length of your grace period so that you do not miss payments. Many loans, like the Stafford Loan, give you half a year. Perkins loans have a nine month grace period. For other loans, the terms vary. Make sure you know how long those grace periods are, and never pay late.
If you want to apply for a student loan and your credit is not very good, you should seek out a federal loan. This is because these loans are not based on your credit score. These loans are also good because they offer more protection for you in the event that you become unable to pay it back right away.
Take a large amount of credit hours to maximize your loan. Sure a full time status might mean 12 credits, but if you can take 15 or 18 you’ll graduate all the quicker. This helps you keep to aminimum the amount of loan money you need.
To keep your student loan load low, find housing that is as reasonable as possible. While dormitory rooms are convenient, they are often more costly than apartments near campus. The more money you have to borrow, the more your principal will be — and the more you will have to pay out over the life of the loan.
Try looking at consolidation for your student loans. This can help you combine your multiple federal loan payments into a single, affordable payment. It can also lower interest rates, especially if they vary. One major consideration to this repayment option is that you may forfeit your deferment and forbearance rights.
Look into PLUS loans for your graduate work. The highest the interest rate will go is 8.5%. While it may be more than other loans, it is cheaper than you will get through a private lender. This makes it a good option for established and mature students.
You can save money by purchasing a meal plan from the college cafeteria. The best way to do this is to pay for meals rather than a specific dollar amount. That way, you can pay a flat fee instead of being nickel and dimed.
To make the student loan process go as quickly as possible, make sure that you have all of your information in hand before you start filling out your paperwork. That way you don’t have to stop and go looking for some bit of information, making the process take longer. Making this decision eases the entire situation.
Final Words:
Understand that taking on student loan debt is a serious obligation. Make certain you understand the terms and conditions of your loans. Remember that late payments will cause the amount of interest you owe to increase. Make firm plans and take definite steps to fulfill your obligation. Keep all paperwork pertaining to your loans. There can be little debate about the fact that student loans are necessary for countless folks interested in pursuing advanced education. At the same time, far too many people fail to fully grasp how the process works before they incur very significant amounts of debt. By using the above guidance, anyone can become better aware of their available options.
