- Student Loans, Resources, and Free Money, Preparing for college is all about choices, be it filling in the circles on a standardized test or picking which school to attend. The most important choice, though, may be how to pay for college. Full scholarships are limited. They're usually reserved for outstanding athletes and a select few academic standouts. What about the rest of us? For most, paying for college is a search for funding…, Student Loans and Other Resources Are a Big Part of College Funding, Financial aid and scholarships can cover a good chunk of college costs, but most need student loans to fill the gaps. Many will borrow between $30,000 and $100,000 to cover the price tag of a four-year degree. College graduates owe an estimated $1.3 trillion in outstanding debt and recent numbers from the federal government suggest many are working hard to pay it back. The troubling trend of…, 1. Figure Out the Cost of Attendance, Colleges across the nation are actually required to post their cost of attendance (COA) each year. This COA accounts for the tuition and fees; books and supplies; room and board; transportation; and personal expenses the average student would pay in an academic year, or one fall and spring semester. Look up the number and stare it down. Now take a deep breath and let's get to work., 2. Fill Out The FAFSA, The Free Application for Federal Student Aid unlocks your access to federal student loans and grants, the most practical college funding source you have. Federal loans carry low, fixed interest rates that tend to make monthly payments a little more palatable than the higher rates you could get from private financing or a commercial bank. As the name suggests, it's free to complete the…, 3. Find Some Free Money for College, Whether it's for $50 or $50,000, scholarships help drop that COA in a hurry. The search and application process will take a lot of work, but the paycheck you could earn would be priceless. To make the process a little more painless, write a general essay you can submit with applications as the opportunities arise. Many decision-makers simply want you to explain who you are, why you want to go to…, 4. Find Even More Free Money for College, Every school has a Financial Aid office. Find it and use it. Simple enough, right?, 5. Use Special Credit Union Student Loans to Fill the Gaps, After you've gathered all your federal funds, scholarships, and financial aid, take another look at that cost of attendance. If you're like most, you're going to need more., Student Choice offers students and parents options., Visions Federal Credit Union offers many benefits to member-owners, including affordable student lending in the form of Student Choice. These lines of credit are exclusive to credit unions and offer competitive rates, in-school deferment, and a graduated repayment option. We're also dedicated to financial literacy when it comes to college planning . Find more information, tips, and our…, Apply for a Student Loan
- There are some things that go along with owning a home. Home improvements are near the top of this list. The range of home improvements runs from the very small cosmetic improvements to the major structural home improvements. You have to pay for all of them, whether small or large. Since there are all kinds of situations people are faced with, sometimes the situation calls for a home improvement…, Remodel vs Move, You like your house, and you like where you live. It's just that your house is missing some of the features you'd like. Perhaps the family is growing and you need some extra room. In these cases, a home improvement loan can provide everything you want or need without having to buy a new home., Improve Value of Your Home, Another reason people use a home improvement loan is to complete projects they know will increase the value of their home. There's a wide variety of projects that help boost the value of your home. This can make a huge difference when you're ready to sell your home., Emergency, Emergencies. We hate them. Yet, sometimes they happen. This includes emergency home improvements. Sometimes the roof springs a leak after a strong rain storm. Other times the heating and air conditioning system fails unexpectedly. Maybe someone has to give you the bad news you have incurred major structural damage to your home that needs immediate attention. In these cases, a home improvement…, Better Safe than Sorry, We'd all like to avoid emergency home repairs. As a homeowner, sometimes it's better to address a home improvement or repair before it becomes an emergency. Emergencies are stressful, costlier, and sometimes dangerous. To avoid these stressful hassles and keep everyone in the house safer, sometimes a home improvement loan for a project or needed repairs can be the way to go. It's important to…
- What is cash out and how does it work?, It's normal to have questions regarding auto refinances, especially when it comes to refinancing with cash out. The good news is that auto refinancing with cash out is simpler than you might think. Refinancing with cash out is simply using the equity you have in your vehicle to pay off other debts or to get extra cash for other purposes. Here's how it works. Let's say you have a car or truck. It…, Cash Out Auto Refinancing Process, The process is pretty simple. You can speak with your credit union lending expert or fill out an application. However, there are a couple things you may want to consider. You want to know the value of your car or truck: Do some research. Look at the NADA website at http://www.nada.com/ to get an understanding of your vehicle's value. Consider your credit score: As with all kinds of lending, your…, How Cash Out Auto Refinancing Can Work For You, If done appropriately, auto refinancing can work for you in a couple of ways. Depending on your current financial position, you can use cash out auto refinancing to lower your payment or even lower your interest rate. If you have questions about whether auto refinancing with cash out will work for you, you can always bring your questions to your credit union lending experts. They can answer your…, Here are some key points to remember:, Refinance your existing vehicle and "cash-out" the equity in your car up to 100% of the value Utilize the loan proceeds beyond refinance amount for any purpose (pending approval and conditions) Applies to current model year and 10 model year's back – i.e. 2007 and newer for 2017, 2008 and newer for 2018, and so on Thinking of applying? Start an application today
