deferment

With student loan default rates rising due to persistently high unemployment rates, it's easy to vilify the seemingly endless monthly payments that follow graduation. But take a closer look, and you'll find that the news about student loans is more good than bad.

When you graduate college, you've got six months before you have to start repaying your student loans. For members of the class of 2011, that grace period ends soon, but all too many of them haven't found jobs and can't afford to start making those payments. We asked John Ulzheimer of SmartCredit.com to discuss their options.

If you're anything like me, you have some trepidation that the New Year will swoop in and you'll miss some big financial deadline that will end up costing you a bundle. Thankfully there's Kiplinger's Save the Date guide to financial dates in 2009.Some items won't apply to your situation, but what's...