Studies show that most people avoid going back for a college degree because of money worries. Fortunately, Stafford Loans, recently beefed up by President Obama’s stimulus bill, allow students to cover all their school and living expenses with minimal interest.  

With a combination of Stafford Loans and Pell Grants, degree-seekers are finding it easier to cover their living expenses and return to school. Currently, the Stafford Loan program offers two different options for students to choose from: subsidized and unsubsidized. These loans offer the following 3 benefits:

• They are low-interest. Currently at 6 percent, Stafford Loans feature the lowest interest rates around because they are insured by the government. Unlike home and auto loans or credit cards, you will pay only the smallest amount possible with no future inflation of the interest rate.
• You don’t have to pay while in school. Both subsidized and unsubsidized loans do not have to be repaid while you are in school. On subsidized loans, the government pays your interest for you while in school.
• You get as much as you need. Stafford Loans are designed to cover all of your expenses after whatever you get for Pell Grants, including cost of housing, food, utilities, and more. This means, even if you leave your job, you will still have enough to pay for your needs and the needs of any dependents you may have while you are in school. Some students qualify for as much as $138,500.

To receive low-interest Stafford Loans, you need to enroll in and register at an accredited university. Once admitted, you can fill out a Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to find out how much Stafford Loan money you will receive.

Are you ready to return to school and get low-interest Stafford Loans? Visit our form to find an accredited school and get enrolled. A financial aid counselor will help you fill out a FAFSA and get money you need to go back to school.

Many parents don’t know quite how to handle the fact that their children are going to college away from home.  They understand that they will have much less of a presence in their college students life.  On the other hand, college students understand the change and are ready to make it.  They get to be responsible for themselves and get to make their own decisions without getting permission from their parents.

As thousands of students are being dropped off at colleges by their parents, many parents are struggling with the change.  They realize that they have to let go but it might be easier to picture letting them grow up.  Parenting for college students changes, it’s not like parenting a high schooler.  Parenting is no longer an active and daily thing; it’s an "I’m here if you need advice, but I won’t be pushing it on you" type of role.

While parents are dealing with the stress of letting go of their children, they are also worrying about finances.  In this economic recession, families are trying to cope with lost wages and how to send their kids to college.  Last December, a poll done by the Chronicle for Higher Education said that 53 percent of freshmen at four-year-colleges said their parents had concerns about financing their education.

I know that many parents including mine were worried about financing a college education even before the recession and now those worries have been compounded.  Luckily though, many parents had a college nest egg saved up.  For parents that didn’t, their students will be grateful for any help that their parents can give them. 

This is a stressful time for parents, but students can help them get through this difficult time particularly when it comes to letting go.  Students should try to help their parents out by talking to them on the phone, blogging, emailing, and physically visiting them if it is possible.  While students want to live their own lives, it makes the situation easier for everyone if they gradually change the relationship over time.  Students can’t expect their parents to be okay with a once a week brief conversation.  Students need to make time for their parents; otherwise the relationship will wither up over time.

College students can now rent textbooks from Chegg.com.  The company started in 2003 but evolved over the years.  It started out as a mini craigslist but never took off.  The owners realized most of their traffic was looking for used textbooks.

Since textbooks are the largest expense for students besides tuition, and housing, the owners of chegg.com decided to make that their primary service.  Although that didn’t work well either because no one wanted to buy books in the spring when students were trying to sell them.  So the students would just end up selling their books back to the bookstore for zilch. 

One girl that I saw selling her books back ended up getting $80 dollars back even though she spent $450.  She remarked "Wow Christmas came early this year."  Even though everyone felt the same, she was the only one that voiced her annoyance at the fact that we were being ripped off. 

Having the option to rent books online however, ends up saving students lots of money.  As more and more students are trying new alternatives instead of buying from the bookstore.  Many students have turned to buying their books online, or trying to get a professor to put a spare copy on reserve at the library, or copying all the pages from someone elses book at the copy center.  These options have worked well for students, but renting is also another great way to get books at a lower price.

Initially how the system worked on Chegg, was that the order was placed online and then the company searched the web for the cheapest copy.  Then the book would be placed on Chegg’s owner’s credit card.  As Chegg’s has grown the system has improved.  They now have an automated system that is much quicker.

For students interested in renting, book prices vary.  A macroeconomics book retail priced is around $122 but renting from Cheggs is $65 a semester.  An organic chemistry book worth $123 is offered for $33. However, there is a $4 shipping charge for each book.  The books are not only offered at a cheap price, but they are also in good shape.  However, they can only be rented out so many times.

Chegg’s offers a great alternative for book buying.  Renting books can help students handle the rising costs of education and the savings offered at Chegg’s has turned many students into big fans.