WHERE MY MONEY GOES...HOW I SAVE IT...MAKE MORE...AND HOW YOU CAN TOO!!!
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Friday, January 18, 2008

Government Grants?? Loan Forgiveness??

I have been doing some research to see if this is for real. I would love to find a way to get a grant to pay off even a portion of my school debt! I have not been able to find a person yet who has gotten a government grant for anything. I was hoping to find someone who got a grant for their school loan debt. I have been able to find a list of ways to "work" off your debt with the government.

The list is below is from http://www.finaid.org/loans/forgiveness.phtml:

Volunteer Work

These volunteer organizations offer loan forgiveness:

AmeriCorps. Serve for 12 months and receive up to $7400 in stipends plus $4725 to be used towards your loan. Call 1-800-942-2677.

Peace Corps. Volunteers may apply for deferment of Stafford, Perkins and Consolidation loans and partial cancellation of Perkins Loans (15% for each year of service, up to 70% in total). Volunteers make a real difference in the lives of real people with two years of service in more than 70 developing countries. Contact the Peace Corps at 1111 20th St., NW, Washington, DC 20526 or call 1-800-424-8580 or 1-202-692-1845.

Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA). Volunteer with private, non-profit groups that help eradicate hunger, homelessness, poverty and illiteracy. Provide 1700 hours of service and receive $4725. Call 1-800-942-2677 or 1-202-606-5000.

Military

Students who are in the Army National Guard may be eligible for their Student Loan Repayment Program, which offers up to $10,000. (Note, the military and veterans' associations provide many scholarships and tuition assistance programs. See the section on Military Aid for details.)

Teaching

Laon forgiveness form for Teachers

Students who become full-time teachers in an elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families can have a portion of their Perkins Loan forgiven under The National Defense Education Act. This program forgives 15% of your loan for the first and second years of teaching service, 20% for the third and fourth, and 30% for the fifth. Contact your school district's administration to see which schools are eligible.

Mississippi teachers who currently have their Alternate Route Teaching License and teach in a shortage area may be eligible for the Teacher Loan Repayment program. Visit the Mississippi Office of State Student Financial Aid web site at www.ihl.state.ms.us or call 1-601-432-6997.

The American Federation of Teachers maintains a list of other loan forgiveness programs for teachers.

Legal and Medical Studies

Many law schools forgive the loans of students who serve in public interest or non-profit positions. For more information, contact Equal Justice Works (formerly the National Association for Public Interest Law) at 2120 L Street, NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC 20037-1541 (phone 1-202-466-3686 or fax 1-202-429-9766).

The US Department of Health and Human Services offers loan forgiveness programs through the National Health Service Corps and the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program. These programs offer loan forgiveness to physicians and registered nurses who agree to practice for a set number of years in areas that lack adequate medical care (including remote and/or economically depressed regions).

The US National Institutes of Health's NIH Loan Repayment Programs repays up to $35,000/year of student loan debt for US citizens who are conducting clinical medical research.

If you're a California resident, contact the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (State Loan Repayment Program, 400 R Street, Room 330, Sacramento, CA 95811; 1-916-326-3745). Other states may have similar programs.

Federal Government Loan Forgiveness Programs

The Federal Student Loan Repayment Program allows federal agencies to establish loan forgiveness programs to help recruit and retain employees. This is technically a loan repayment program and not a loan forgiveness program, as the agencies make payments directly to the loan holder and the payments represent taxable income to the employee. The agencies can repay up to $10,000 in Federal student loans per employee per calendar year, with a cumulative maximum of $60,000 per employee. Employees must agree to work for the agency for at least 3 years. For more information, see the Student Loan Repayment Program FAQ. This program is authorized by 5 USC 5379 (alternate link) and 5 CFR 537. Federal Employee Student Loan Assistance Act (P.L. 108-123, 11/11/03) increased the repayment limits to $10,000 per employee per year and $60,000 per employee cumulative. (The federal government's jobs site is located at www.usajobs.opm.gov. They also have a site focused on jobs for recent graduates.)

Job Hunting...

I am job hunting again. The studio job just was not dependable enough. I can't live like that. I need to make money...I have bills to pay:) I have been looking online and in the paper...and have applied but haven't heard anything positive back yet. I am grateful to the ones that write back and say the position has been filled....even if its one I really wanted. I did find on job that woul dbe perfect for me....editing pictures via email on a constant basis! I would LOVE that! That is what I want to do with Photo Therapy! So I hope that one works out! In my job search I have used several websites.

The best job finding websites I've found are:

www.monster.com
(will email you matches)

www.Craigslist.com
(takes a little more work and searching but if you find a good one its worth it!)

and the career services site thru my local university...search near you to find one!

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

slighty bummed today....

so for the last year and a half I have worked a photography studio. I am a graphics artist by title...which means I retouch/enhance the photos in photoshop. Over the past few months there have been a few changes. Over the past month...even at Christmas time (which is usually crazy)...they were calling me in the morning to tell me that there was no work and not to come in today. Minus Christmas break...this has gone on for about 2 1/2 weeks. I have been looking for another part time job for about the past 2 weeks. And the reason I am more bummed today is because the message they left this morning was...that they would call me only if they needed me to come in! Like I can just sit around and wait for a call! I didn't take a second job while working there for fun! I got bills to pay. I liked my job there.

I am just trying to pay my bills, save, and live. I am not asking for some $200 an hour job. I am good at my job. I am good at it and enjoy doing it so much that I have started to sell my services online to people all over the country. Not only do I retouch but locally I also do photo sessions. The profit I make from this does not replace what I was making at the studio...not yet!

Here are some examples of my work:

Friday, January 4, 2008

Got money books for christmas:D

When people asked me what I wanted for christmas....this year I actually knew:D and so I figured ....ask for them for Christmas and get them for free! :) So I got 2 wonderful books for Christmas... and I am busy reading these days...trying to get up to speed as far as good financial moves go!

I am currently reading:

The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous, and Broke

So far it is really good! It breaks things down step by step! You can even go online with the code provided in the book and have a custom action plan made just for you! It guides you step by step based on how you answer a series of questions! I am on about page 40 and I started last night and only stopped reading because I got tired! Another good thing about the book is that you don't have to read it all the way thru. The chapters are set up as sections...so if you are looking for a specific thing you and just read that chapter and put the book down until the next time you have specific questions! I want to learn as much as I can so I am reading the whole thing first and then will keep it around as a reference!


I also got another book for a christmas present!

Women and Money


I will be sure to let you know how that one is too...but if it is anything like the one I am reading now...it is wonderful!

Be sure to click the book images or titles to buy your copy today!