The College Investor Audio Show

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5 Scary Money Facts and Statistics Oct 30, 2024

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This Halloween’s most terrifying stories have more to do with your money than goblins and zombies.

In light of this spooky season, we’re sharing some scary financial statistics and facts about money that could happen to you. But no need to run screaming, we give you a few recommendations to help you if you’re ever caught in any of these situations.

Should You Have Your Tax Prep Fees Taken Out Of Your Tax Refund? Oct 28, 2024

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Should you pay extra to have your tax prep fees taken out of your upcoming tax refund? It sounds like an appealing offer - paying nothing out of pocket. But is it really worth it?

The help of a tax preparation service can make your life easier and potentially lead to savings on your tax bill, but having to pay up front for tax prep services can feel like a hit to your wallet.

One option is to allow the company to take your tax preparation fees directly from your future tax refund. We explore when it makes sense to pay for tax preparation services, when it doesn't, and the logistics of paying.

10 Things Business Owners Should Do Before Year End Oct 21, 2024

Show notes

If you’re a business owner, the end of the year can be a very busy time.

With the holiday season on the horizon, you may be juggling the demands of your business while making space to spend time with family and friends.

There are several things you can do by the end of the year to end on a high note and get ready for tax season. With only 12 weeks left, here are some things business owners should do before the end of the year.

How To Make Money Using AI Oct 10, 2024

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More and more people are learning how to make

money using AI (artificial intelligence). The impact of AI on

freelancing has been the subject of plenty of discussion as artificial

intelligence begins to transform how freelancers operate and get paid.

With

a wide range of tools available on several platforms, you can now

leverage AI to improve your productivity and provide clients with

cutting-edge solutions.

In this article, we'll explore how AI can be used to perform various side hustles and freelance work, from content writing to affiliate marketing to video creation via YouTube.

What Is the Average Cost of College? (And How to Reduce Costs!) Oct 09, 2024

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How much will college cost for students aiming to enter in the fall? The most recent data on the average cost of college is out, and we're breaking down the details.

If you’re a millennial or Gen Zer, you might have heard people in their 50s and 60s talking about working their way through college and graduating with little debt. Today, that seems impossible. And that has contributed to students graduating with an average of $30,000 in student loan debt.

How much does college cost today? Is it worth it to pay that much for a college degree? Well, we have the data through 2023 (the most recent available), so let's break it down.

In today’s post, we’ll talk about the average cost of a college education over time and how you can get the most for your money as you research and decide on which colleges to attend.

Should You Refinance Your Student Loans? Oct 07, 2024

Show notes

Most people should not refinance their student loans. However, for some niche situations, it can make sense to refinance your student loans.

There are various potential benefits and drawbacks to student loan refinancing. So when you're trying to decide if you should refinance your own student loans, there are multiple factors to consider.

The decision will often heavily depend on the type of loan that you have, whether federal or private. If you have federal loans and are currently taking advantage of one or more federal benefits, you might want to avoid refinancing so that you don't lose them.

But even if you aren't currently utilizing any federal student loan benefits, that doesn't necessarily mean that you should rush to refinance your loans right now. Here's how to decide when you should refinance your student loans and how to get the lowest rate when you do.

10 Interesting Ways You Can Make Money Driving Oct 05, 2024

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If you have access to a reasonably reliable car, then congratulations! Making money driving is one of the best side hustles!

A decent car is the biggest asset most Americans own, other than their houses. And there are a lot of ways you can make money driving or with your car! In fact, I've seen some people try to raise fast cash by selling their cars.

But what you might not realize is that there are a lot of other ways to make money using your

car. If you have a car and don't mind driving it around, then you're well on your way to earning hundreds of dollars on the side every month.

This has been true for decades — a paper route or a pizza delivery job has always meant using your own wheels — but the app-based gig economy and the Internet generally has vastly expanded the ease of getting paid to drive your own car. Without further ado, here are some of the best ways to start making money driving your car today.

If you want other money-making ideas, check out our Side Hustle Ideas post.

10 Biggest FAFSA Mistakes That Could Cost You Financial Aid Oct 04, 2024

Show notes

The FAFSA – or Free Application for Federal Student Aid – is required for students who want help paying for college. The application is managed by the Department of Education and helps federal, state, and college-level programs allocate financial aid. This includes grants, federal work-study, and eligibility to qualify for student loans.

How much aid a student receives depends on a number of factors including their personal finances. Because many college students receive support from their parents, the entire family’s financial situation is also taken into account as part of the application process.

Filling out the FAFSA correctly is important if you’re expecting to receive financial aid to help pay for college.

Small errors can impact how much you receive or whether or not you receive financial aid at all. These are the 10 biggest FAFSA mistakes you’ll want to avoid.

What Is Tuition Insurance And How Does It Work Oct 03, 2024

Show notes

I was recently asked a question by a reader about the drawbacks of getting a private student loan.

She asked why she shouldn’t get a private student loan, when interest rates are so low right now. She would need to cosign with her daughter on the loan in order to get the best rate.

My advice was as follows: the biggest danger of a private student loan is that the cosigner is also liable for the debt. So, should something happen to her daughter, and she can’t graduate and earn income, she will be on the hook for the debt.

However, there are options to protect parents when it comes to paying their children’s tuition – tuition insurance.

Below, we’re giving you our best insights into tuition insurance and sharing our top picks for tuition insurance providers.

10 Crazy Ways To Make $10,000 You’ve Never Heard Of Sep 29, 2024

Show notes

Let's talk about $10,000... how to get there and make it happen. Why $10,000? Because it's a number that's big enough to make a difference, but small enough to be achievable by most people who set out for it. And there are some crazy ways to make $10,000, so this will also be pretty fun!

We recently discussed how to pay down $10,000 in debt in just one year. One of the strategies is to earn more money - but many people don't think they can earn $10,000 extra in just one year.

Today, I'm going to show you some of the more unique ways that you can do it.

In reality, there are countless ways to earn $10,000 more in a year. That breaks down to just $833.33 per month. If you don't like these more extreme ideas, here's a list of 50 ways you can do it more of "the old fashioned" way.

Believe it or not, these have happened. And people can make good money doing it.

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