Tag: student loans

Trump as Dictator Is a Classic Case of Projection
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Trump as Dictator Is a Classic Case of Projection

If you haven’t heard, Donald Trump and his MAGA Republicans are planning a coup. “A Trump dictatorship is increasingly inevitable,” Robert Kagan, an editor at large at the Washington Post, writes in a recent 6,000-word essay that compares America’s fractious democracy with Weimar Germany.Budding opinion writers are instructed not to draw inapt comparisons to Hitler, yet Mr. Trump’s opponents are casting aside such conventions in much the same way they’re jettisoning political and legal ones. Only by convincing themselves that Mr. Trump threatens the existence of the republic can they justify their own weaponization of government to stop him. “When a marauder is crashing through your house, you throw everything you can at him—pots, pans, candlesticks—in the hope of slowing him down and tri...
Holidays on Hold: Student Loan Repayment Has Borrowers Trimming Budgets | Student Loans and Advice
Money

Holidays on Hold: Student Loan Repayment Has Borrowers Trimming Budgets | Student Loans and Advice

Federal student loan payments resumed in October just ahead of the holiday season, so it may not come as a surprise that most Americans with college loan debt plan to spend less money this year on family gatherings, festive trimmings and gift-giving, according to a November survey from U.S News. And while it may be a blue Christmas for student loan borrowers, the financial strain of loan repayment doesn't end once the holidays are over. Between Nov. 17 and 27, U.S. News ran a nationwide survey of 1,202 former college students with federal student loan debt, conducted through PureSpectrum. We asked respondents a series of questions about how their finances have changed since the three-year student loan forbearance ended, including what it means for their holiday budget, whether they've bee...
These were top campaign themes on GoFundMe in 2023
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These were top campaign themes on GoFundMe in 2023

Since launching in 2010, GoFundMe has become a widely used crowdfunding platform where people can solicit donations for a variety of causes, from help paying for cancer treatment to recovering from natural disasters. CEO Tim Cadogan also describes the company as a barometer of need that simultaneously functions as a sign of the times. "You do tend to see shifts — some cultural moments, responses to economic changes, policy changes in terms of how people are using the platform," he told CBS MoneyWatch in an exclusive interview. As GoFundMe's year-end report shows, the 30 million fundraising appeals on the platform this year reflect a range of everyday financial struggles that the usual yardsticks of how the U.S. economy is performing typically fail to capture. ...
Are Private Student Loans Worth It? How to Decide | Student Loans and Advice
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Are Private Student Loans Worth It? How to Decide | Student Loans and Advice

Paying for college can seem like an insurmountable feat for students and their families amid the rising cost of a university education – especially for those who can't afford to pay out-of-pocket after maxing out federal student loans, grants and scholarships. When federal aid comes up short, private student loans can be one way to bridge the college financing gap.While private loans can be a legitimate funding option after federal aid has dried up, borrowers should know the risks of taking on privately held college debt. Private student loans aren't eligible for federal protections like income-driven repayment, administrative forbearance and certain student debt forgiveness programs. Plus, private lenders determine eligibility and interest rates based in part on the applicant's credit sc...
Biden’s Student Loan Fraud Check
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Biden’s Student Loan Fraud Check

Did the Biden Administration learn anything from the massive fraud in pandemic spending programs? Apparently not judging from a new Government Accountability Office report that found the Education Department failed to implement basic checks to prevent fraud in its student loan forgiveness plan.The Supreme Court struck down the Administration’s $430 billion debt writeoff in June, but the GAO review is relevant since the Education Department is canceling hundreds of billions of dollars in student loans via the back door. Copyright ©2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Should I Refinance My Student Loans? | Find the Best Loan for You
Money

Should I Refinance My Student Loans? | Find the Best Loan for You

Refinancing student loans could benefit you in numerous ways: You could score a lower interest rate, simplify your debt repayment or help release a co-signer.Refinancing could also eliminate protections and benefits from your original student loan, particularly if you convert a federal student loan into a private one. Plus, current interest rates are significantly higher going into 2024 than they were a few years ago, minimizing the potential for big savings.Before you refinance, make sure you understand your options. Learn more about the student loan refinance environment so you can make the best decision for your education debt. Find the Best Student Loan Refinance Lenders Lender Learn More Fixed APR Variable APR Loan Term Lender Learn More Fixed APR Variable APR Loan Term Lender Learn ...
What Is Loan Deferment and How Does It Work? | Personal Loans and Advice
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What Is Loan Deferment and How Does It Work? | Personal Loans and Advice

If you're having trouble repaying your loan as promised, requesting a loan deferment might help you temporarily pause or reduce payments. Plus, it can help you avoid late fees and damage to your credit.But before you apply for deferment, you should consider potential drawbacks, such as higher total borrowing costs. Keep reading to learn how a deferment works, the pros and cons and alternative solutions.What is a Deferred Payment?During deferment, a lender allows you to temporarily skip payments without facing negative consequences like paying late fees. You're still responsible for making these payments at a future date.For example, if you get approved for a six-month deferment, the lender will typically add six additional monthly payments to your repayment term.How a deferred payment wor...
For some people with student loans, resuming payments means turning to GoFundMe
Money

For some people with student loans, resuming payments means turning to GoFundMe

Student loan repayments resumed in October after a three-year pandemic-era pause and the Supreme Court this summer dashed hopes for relief by blocking President Biden's plan to erase up to $20,000 in debt for eligible borrowers.With the resumption of payments proving a financial hardship for many Americans, some people are turning to other means to find the money: asking for handouts. Through October, the number of crowdfunding campaigns on GoFundMe tied to college loans has surged nearly 40% over the last 12 months, with those seeking to raise money coming from diverse backgrounds and across all age brackets, according to data the platform shared with CBS MoneyWatch.  "GoFundMe is often a reflection of real-time needs because it is a resource people tu...