Student Debt and Ways to Pay it Off
It’s a fact – tuition prices rise at a higher rate than personal incomes, making it harder and harder for students and their families to afford to pay for college. The majority of students leave university with a great degree, but also a large amount of debt – but you don’t have to stay in the red for long! You may owe the federal government or other student loan companies a great deal of money, but with these tips and tricks you will learn how to pay off your student debt quickly, without having to make drastic changes to your everyday life.
Know the Numbers
While it may be tempting to shove your bills into the back of the drawer, you need to be fully aware of the total debt and how much you owe on each individual loan in order to devise a plan for paying off your debt. Some loans will have much higher interest rates than others, so even if the loan amount is smaller, it may cost more to pay back due to the amount of interest you accrue!
Cutting Back
Depending on the size of your debt, you may be able to pay it off more quickly just by cutting out a few unnecessary expenses. Do you live on your own or in a trendy neighborhood? Consider moving into a shared house or a different area in order to cut back on your rent. You can also ditch the expensive gym membership by running outside, working out at home using fitness DVDs, or joining a recreational sports team. If you and your friends enjoy eating out, try swapping a couple nights out for a potluck dinner at someone’s house. These are small changes, but you’d be amazed at the amount of money they’ll save you!
Working for the Weekend
As a recent graduate, you are likely working in a 9-5 job during the week, with plenty of time to spare on the weekends. Unfortunately, paying off your student loan debt quickly means that you will need to give up some of this free time to earn some extra cash. This does not mean that you have to start bagging groceries every Saturday night – instead, look for opportunities that suit your interests and skill-set. There are many websites that allow you to find clients for freelancing work such as accounting, writing, advertising, and tutoring, and odd jobs are also regularly posted on sites such as Craigslist and Gigwalk. You can also find work as part of a focus group or even as part of a mock jury just by googling in your area!
Sell Your Face!
Some recent graduates are selling their faces as advertising space – and it earns big bucks! This can be done on a day-by-day basis, so don’t worry about having to permanently paint your face for the next several years! Starting a blog or having an increased presence on social media can attract potential clients: demonstrate that you can promote their product or organization to a large audience and you may be able to demand an even higher price for your face!
Using these tips and tricks, you should be able to organize and prioritize your student debt, earn more money, and be on your way to a debt-free lifestyle!