The Early Bird Gets the Worm
College Planning
Given the chance, most people wait until the last minute to do everything. Procrastination can leave you financially unprepared to handle life’s big expenses, including weddings, homes, retirement, and your child’s college education. When it comes to funding for college, starting sooner, rather than later, is always the best option. First, money saved in the wrong places can cost you a fortune in financial aid. Money in one account can count seven times more heavily than money saved a different way. Saving it in the wrong place will cause you to receive less aid. By planning ahead, you can gift, transfer, or reposition your assets before you apply for financial aid. Waiting until the last minute — say, your child’s senior year — makes it too late to change your financial picture, and can cost you thousands of dollars in aid when your child applies for college. Second, the government will expect you to pay your fair share of your child’s college education. Your Expected Family Contribution is the minimum amount that any school will expect you to pay. Knowing this number early can help you save for it. If you wait until your child’s senior year, you won’t have time to save, and will have to borrow money to cover the cost of your child’s education!
Third, by planning ahead, you can choose schools based on their ability to give you money. Most students and parents pick schools whimsically, without giving consideration to the schools that best fit their financial needs. By choosing schools that have a history of giving good financial aid packages, you can get more free money and take out fewer loans. The bottom line is this: More time spent planning ahead will allow you to optimize your finances, increase your financial aid, and navigate the college selection process in a financially sound way.
MARVELOUS MACARONI SALAD
HAVE A LAUGH
INGREDIENTS
Dressing •
Salad •
1 cup mayonnaise
½ pound macaroni, cooked, drained, and cooled
• • • • •
2 tablespoons vinegar 1 tablespoon mustard 1 teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper
• •
1 cup sliced celery ½ cup chopped green pepper
• •
½ cup chopped red pepper ½ cup chopped green onion
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Mix together dressing ingredients. 2. Mix together salad ingredients. 3. Mix dressing and salad together. Chill before serving. 4. Enjoy!
Recipe inspired by Food.com.
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Published byThe Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
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