Student Finance 101 Blogs

  • Back to School? Advice on Student Loans, Textbooks, Schedules & More!

     
    Starting school next term? Check out Christopher Sun's great blog series in this website: Surviving School.
     
    Chris' back-to-school blogs are a fun read. You'll also learn some tips for dealing with the issues and dilemmas of your new life as a university, CEGEP or college student.
     
    Here to start with are Chris Sun's 2 first Surviving School blogs:
     




  • Can I Get Student Loan Forgiveness?

     
    Here is a second in our 'people's question' series in the blog. 
     
    Question:

    Who do I contact to arrange for student loan forgiveness?
     
    My loan is 10 + years old; not accredited (can be forgiven through the regular
    channels; and in default. Single parent with [number of children deleted] on an [office-worker’s] salary.
     




  • Bankruptcy Didn’t Do It the First Time – Can I Try Again?

     

     Bankruptcy is the first topic for our 'Private Questions Go Public' series. And if you want more on this topic, read our new Student Loan Bankruptcy Q + A (Basic) 
       




  • Private Answers To Go Public

     
    Along with more and more users, we at Student Finance 101/Debt 101 keep getting more and more individual student loan questions.
     
    It's understandable. There are indeed many mysteries in the world of student loans.
     
    But the time pressures on this volunteer-run site just won't permit this kind of free individual counselling. And after all, this is what you're paying taxes and tuition fees for, right? Governments, banks and campuses should be answering these questions.
     




  • Hey Freshers - Watch That Easy Credit

     

    Summer holidays are over and school is starting tomorrow.

    This fall, Student Finance 101 will add new articles about provincial student loan programs, plus more tips on saving money and cutting student debt. 

    Many of these articles and tips will help people who have already finished university or are still in high school.

    But today's message is for those of you who start your first year of post-secondary school tomorrow:

    Watch out for the easy credit!




  • Summer Vacation: Hang Onto Your Money!

     

    I recently spoke with Emily Minthorn at jobpostings.ca about how students can save money over summer.

    Let's face it - it's hard these days to make big money during summer. Unemployment rates are still high enough that many students end up with a summer full of only part-time or occasional work. And wages are often low for student jobs, especially if your province has a low minimum or "training wage."