The cost of a college degree can be a daunting amount. Fortunately student loans are available to help you but they do come with many cautionary tales of disaster. Simply taking all of the money you can get without considering how it affects your future is a recipe for disaster. So keep the following in mind as you consider student loans.
Be careful when consolidating loans together. The total interest rate might not warrant the simplicity of one payment. Also, never consolidate public student loans into a private loan. You will lose very generous repayment and emergency options afforded to you by law and be at the mercy of the private contract.
Exercise caution when considering student loan consolidation. Yes, it will likely reduce the amount of each monthly payment. However, it also means you’ll be paying on your loans for many years to come. This can have an adverse impact on your credit score. As a result, you may have difficulty securing loans to purchase a home or vehicle.
To keep the principal on your student loans as low as possible, get your books as cheaply as possible. This means buying them used or looking for online versions. In situations where professors make you buy course reading books or their own texts, look on campus message boards for available books.
Try getting your student loans paid off in a 10-year period. This is the traditional repayment period that you should be able to achieve after graduation. If you struggle with payments, there are 20 and 30-year repayment periods. The drawback to these is that they will make you pay more in interest.
The best loans that are federal would be the Perkins or the Stafford loans. These two are considered the safest and most affordable. This is a good deal because while you are in school your interest will be paid by the government. Interest rates for a Perkins loan will be around 5%. Subsidized Stafford Loans will have an interest rate that goes no higher than 6.8 percent.
Keep in mind that your school could have other motivations when they recommend certain lenders. Some lenders use the school’s name. This is somewhat misleading. The school might actually get a commission for your loan. Be sure you know what a loan is all about before you decide to utilize it.
Wipe away the thoughts about not paying back your student loans and thinking the problem will just go away. The federal government will go after that money in many ways. For instance, you might see money withheld from Social Security payments or even your taxes. It is also possible for the government to garnish 15 percent of all disposable income. You could end up worse off in some circumstances.
The information above is just the beginning of what you should know as a student loan borrower. You should continue to educate yourself about the specific terms and conditions of the loans you are offered. Then you can make the best choices for your situation. Borrowing wisely today can help make your future that much easier.