How I Squandered My Inheritance at Age 18
Lyn Roman inherited a small trust fund, and spent it all in a year. But the lessons she learned from her mistakes, and how she bounced back from them, have been priceless.
Student Debt
5 New Rules on Federal Student Loans
Interest on popular loans will cost more, and grad students will need better credit, but repayment plans will be more generous.
5 Ways to Keep College Dreams from Becoming Money Nightmares
If your dream idea of college is equal parts prestige degree and "Van Wilder," wake up to fiscal reality: Here are a few dreams you could sacrifice to keep the costs in check.
Public vs. Private Student Loans: Why the Differences Matter
College acceptance season is here, which also means it's time to think about how to pay for it. Student loans are practically a must, but there are big differences among them.
Are Free Online College Courses Worth Your Time?
You can take college courses online for free -- but can you get credit for them?
The Huge Costs of Student Loan Debt
Student debt in the U.S. exceeds $1 trillion. That doesn't just spell trouble for graduates--it has serious consequences for all of us. DailyFinance's Bruce Watson explains.
How to Decipher Your College Financial Aid Letter
Feel like you need a bachelor's degree in Bureaucracy to figure out your financial aid letter? Here are our Cliffs' Notes for parsing that important but impenetrable document.
Will Echo Boomers Save the Economy? Don't Count on It
Some economists predict that Echo Boomers will save America's economic future: They're well-educated, optimistic and young. But there are big obstacles standing in their way.
Young Adults are Too Broke to Get Loans
Young adults are in less debt than they were a decade ago, but it's not because people under 35 have suddenly become fiscally responsible. It's more likely that their shaky economic status keeps them from qualifying for loans.
Money Troubles: Who's Hurting the Most in Today's Economy
The sluggish economy has made money tighter across the nation, but, no surprise, the pain isn't being shared equally. A recent survey from Bankrate asked Americans how they're feeling about their finances, and reveals which groups are struggling the most.
A Better Source for College Loans May Be Just Around the Corner
It can be tough to find the money to pay for college, and the federal government's flexible, low-interest student loans often aren't enough. In the past, that has only left the option of private loans, with painfully higher rates. But now, hundreds of community groups are getting into the action.
Debtors' Prison Is Back, and Just as Cruel as Ever
To most of us, "debtors' prison" may sound like something straight out of a Dickens novel. But across the country today, predatory lenders are using a legal loophole to manipulate courts into jailing poor citizens who legitimately cannot pay what they owe.
Feds Cut Social Security to Retirees Who Owe Student Debt
While most attention in the ongoing student debt crisis narrative has focused on new graduates, it turns out the federal government has been quietly targeting a different group of debtors: retirees.
Feds Cut Social Security to Retirees Who Owe Student Debt
While most attention in the ongoing student debt crisis narrative has focused on new graduates, it turns out the federal government has been quietly targeting a different group of debtors: retirees.
Woman's on the Hook for a $25,000 Student Loan She Never Knew Existed
Alice Cortes had no idea a student loan was issued under her name, and she's never heard of the man listed as a co-signer. So who is Jorge Torres, and how can Cortes resolve her $25,000 debt to Sallie Mae?