It’s not uncommon to have a few false starts on your way to getting a degree and giving yourself some serious career prospects. Not all of us get a degree straight after high school even if we want to. Life gets in the way. But if you want to go back to school, it’s far from impossible. Even with more responsibilities, you should never be afraid to focus on taking paths that develop you even further. But you need to make sure your finances are as ready to go back to school as you are.
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Budget for student life
There’s no doubt that you’re going to have to deal with additional costs as a result of getting yourself back in education. Scholarships, loans and the like are options we’re going to cover further, but there are plenty of financial surprises that can pop up as a result of going to school. Extra childcare costs, supplies costs, and the like will add up. It’s a good idea to create a budget with the express aim of leaving more money aside as part of a college emergency fund. This might mean taking a look at the daily expenditures that you could better reduce. Now’s the time to audit your subscriptions and get rid of those that aren’t giving you your money’s worth and to start making energy efficient house rules.
See what scholarships are out there
Naturally, the biggest cost you’re going to be concerned with when it comes to going back to school is the cost of tuition and perhaps accommodation. To that end, you should take a look to see what scholarships you might be applicable for, first and foremost. Databases like the StudentScholarshipSearch are some of the first searches you must look up. Older and nontraditional students can have as many opportunities at getting a scholarship as the dependent student would. There are scholarships dependent on age, in fact, just as there are some for race, background, and more. Don’t count yourself out of getting one, get yourself matched.
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See what benefits are on offer
Besides scholarships, there might other ways to access benefits that could reduce your tuition costs. Like scholarships, grants don’t need to be repaid in the vast majority of cases. There are age-based programs like the Plus 50 Initiative from the Association of Community Colleges, for instance. You could also consider going to your employer if you’re currently in work. Many larger companies offer reimbursement for tuition costs if you’re learning skills in education that can help in the workplace. Even if they’re not related to your current job, education policies in the workplace can cut thousands from the cost of tuition. If you’ve served in the military, then there are also programs run through funding from the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill worth looking into. Don’t leave any stone unturned. There are local, state, and federal level benefits and finding the right ones can help you avoid the next step.
Prepare for student debt
In the event that you can’t get a scholarship, grant, or reimbursement of any kind, then you are going to be dealing with a lot more student debt. But you don’t have to leave yourself resigned to having an oversized rock hung about your neck. You can take steps now to chip away at student debt so it’s much more manageable in future. For one, as with all debt, it’s dependent on your credit score. With help from places like CreditRepairCompanies you can ensure you’re not being taken for a ride by student debt. Make sure that your student debt is less than your expected annual starting salary or your current annual salary. That way, you can formulate a ten-year plan that you can reasonably stick to.
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Rent books, don’t buy
What about all the other expenses that chip away at your finances while you’re there? One that many new students will find a surprise is the sometimes-overwhelming cost of college textbooks. A small number of publishers control the market, meaning they can hike the prices up however they like. With professors choosing what product you have to buy; these companies are free to charge what they like because they know you have to pay. So, don’t play their game. Instead, rent your textbooks from places like BookRenter or take your time to shop around and find used copies.
Make use of your student discount
If you want to make sure you’re balancing the budget and spending your money wisely, then it’s a smart move to get an idea of all the different businesses that take part in the student discounts program. A student discount can help you save in all kinds of businesses. You can get clothes, tech (including any computers you might need to study), even entertainment at a reduced rate. There are also travel discounts and insurance deals offered specifically to students that can help you cut down the more regular costs in your day. Before you buy something or sign into a new deal, see if the provider offers a student discount. If they don’t, you can be sure there’s an alternative that does.
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Sell those notes
You can even make use of the money-smart college economy to earn a little more on the side. A whole new marketplace has started to sprout in the last few years. Thanks to the internet, it’s a lot easier for students to keep up with their studies when they might otherwise be struggling. For those willing to pay, they can simply buy their notes from someone else. That’s where you can come in. If you’re good at taking detailed notes, you could make some money. You just have to make sure that the college you’re attending doesn’t have any rules on it. In some, it could result in expulsion. Just check their policies before you start selling your work.
There are a lot of ways to make further education have a much more reasonable place in your finances. Many of the options simply don’t get considered by the majority of students. Hopefully, we’ve outlined a few options worth exploring.
