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• Beware the boogeyman: Advice for the high school grad

  Posted May 02 2008, 01:10 PM by Karen Datko
  Filed under: College, Spending, Credit, Karen Datko

  Freedom awaits, new high school graduates. After all, "the world is your oyster, and who doesn't like oysters," says brip blap's Steve, a thoughtful guy and somewhat of a jokester.

  But so does the boogeyman: You'll have to start paying for all the stuff parental units used to take care of. "Yes, of course, the luxuries of shoes, Wiis, ironically detached rock band T-shirts and overpriced notebook computers used primarily for Facebook, but also items you didn't realize were so horribly expensive while Pops was paying for them -- milk, cell phone bills, iTune downloads," Steve says.

  Steve's 10 tips can help you find your way as you embark on a college career.   Read More...

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• Help your kids -- don't pay for college

  Posted Feb 27 2008, 07:11 PM by Karen Datko
  Filed under: College, Spending, Credit, Karen Datko
  Rating:

  RacerX remembers the college experience: You get a credit card and "probably then only use the card for emergencies -- no pizza or beer left in the house! Taking our girlfriend out! Maybe even rent once or twice," he writes. Since you know nothing about finances, you get a second credit card to make payments on the first, and so the cycle goes.

  His kids won't be like that, he says. Why? Because he and Mrs. X have decided they're not paying for their kids' college education. Why not? you ask. Because every kid they know who went to college "on the parent express" left school unprepared for life -- and sometimes didn't even graduate.

  "They took basket weaving and Klingon 301," he writes at Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Money. "They never worked the menial jobs that give you an appreciation for honest work, honest wages."   Read More...

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• Affording 'essential' beverages on a college budget

  Posted Feb 21 2008, 02:23 PM by Karen Datko
  Filed under: College, Spending, Saving, Karen Datko
  Rating:

  College students require three "essential liquids," writes Heather Johnson in a guest post at Grad Money Matters: water, coffee and -- you guessed it -- alcohol. Luckily, there are tricks to making them affordable. Heather advises, "Follow these 10 simple strategies and you will never go thirsty again (and you might even have enough money left over to pay your tuition)."

  First, no more bottled water. Just fill "your friend's empty $9 bottle of volcanic spring water" from the tap, Heather writes. If you must filter tap water, buy a Brita pitcher and don't change the filter. She swears you won't notice the difference. Brew coffee at home, or "caffeinate like a towny" at a low-cost coffee shop.

  Six of the 10 tips are dedicated to cutting the cost of alcohol, which she says is good to enjoy "every now and again."   Read More...

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