For many drivers, a Subaru is a safe automobile that promises outdoor adventure, all-wheel-drive perks, top-rated reviews, and a solid following of enthusiasts. Regardless of why you’re considering a Subaru, you likely have one thing in common with other drivers – you need financing. Buying a car is a big financial decision, and many potential […]

ChexSystems is a financial database used by some, but not all, banks and credit unions to determine if a potential customer presents too much risk. It is regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting System. If a person has a history of certain issues—such as overdrafts or bouncing checks—or if an account was closed for a […]

Transferring your student loan debt to a 0% balance transfer credit may make sense if you can pay it off in the intro period. If you can't, however, avoid this strategy.

If you need additional money to pay for room and board, you can look into applying for more financial aid, housing assistance grants and scholarships, or take out a student loan.

The FAFSA takes around 1 hour to complete if you do it online or 3 hours if you do it by paper. It takes around 3 to 5 days to receive the results if you include an email or 7 to 10 days if you only included a physical address.

If you want to send your FAFSA information to more than 10 schools, you will need to wait until your receive your Student Aid Report and then have it sent to them by going online, calling, or sending paper mail to the Federal Student Aid Program.

The amount of financial aid you may receive from the FAFSA is highly dependent on your and your parents' financial situation. Grants, work-study programs, and student loan amounts all vary based on the school you are attending and the information you submit in the FAFSA.

Using a HELOC to pay off your student loan debt could save you a lot of money in interest, but you risk losing your home if you can't make payments. Only use this strategy if you are sure that you can afford the payments until the HELOC is paid off.

If you don't live with your parents, you may be considered an independent student in terms of the FAFSA. This will likely increase the amount of aid that you're eligible for.

Your legal residence for the FAFSA typically is where your parents or legal guardians live. There are, however, often situations where the answer isn't so clear such as when your parents live in different locations.