So That’s Where the Student Loan Money is Going!

According to Student Loan Hero, the national student loan debt increases every year. If you’re a parent of a college-age child or a college student dealing with the financial hardships and pressures of paying off these loans, you know the payments and interest rates are astronomical. Tuitions can be ridiculous and other school-related costs are no drop in the bucket. Higher education is a major expense and we’re paying the price for it. As per Student Loan Hero, “the average college graduate had over $37,000 of student loan debt in 2016.” And the price is going up.


But did you know that students can (and do) use their student loan money on more than their tuition and classroom needs like books? It may seem a little fishy, but it’s not illegal, as per Student Loan Hero. And it’s been revealed as per the results of a 2016 Student Loan Hero survey that “students in 2017 are 2X as likely to spend student loan money on non-educational expenses than the class of 2016.”

With so much being borrowed, one would think this dough should be going straight for what it is intended – higher education. But students are using this loot for their other expenses, some of which are totally unnecessary. Using student loan money towards non-school expenses is actually costing these students more than if they paid for these things normally, due to the interest rate. It’s digging them into an even deeper financial hole.

41.3% of these students are spending their loan money on their monthly bills such as their rent and cell phones, 14.9% are using it for clothing and accessories, 12.8% for food, and 2.5% for drugs and alcohol. Perhaps the first three can be justified, but the drugs and alcohol!? Those are the students who could use their next four years of schooling the most!

The issue may be that these students can be clueless or not entirely well-informed about school-related finances. As per Student Loan Hero, 7% don’t even know their yearly costs for school and a whopping 59% don’t have a clue when their loans will be paid off. And while most federal loan borrowers are on a 10-year repayment plan, the average amount of time people take to pay off their student loans is an astounding 21 years.

While this news may be hard to swallow, there are ways to handle student loans with planning and commitment. Take a cue from these 5 simple steps to paying off your student loans and be debt-free in the near future.

If you’re a recent college grad, take note of some important investment and financial strategiesthat will help you make wise money-related decisions. If you made it through those brain-bending final exams, you can ace your student loans payoff regime too.

For more detail regarding the Student Loan Hero’s findings, you’ll find their infographic quite revealing. As a student or a parent of one, this information can help you take the right steps towards a solid student loan plan that makes sense and saves “cents” with every smart move.

string(3836) "

According to Student Loan Hero, the national student loan debt increases every year. If you're a parent of a college-age child or a college student dealing with the financial hardships and pressures of paying off these loans, you know the payments and interest rates are astronomical. Tuitions can be ridiculous and other school-related costs are no drop in the bucket. Higher education is a major expense and we're paying the price for it. As per Student Loan Hero, "the average college graduate had over $37,000 of student loan debt in 2016." And the price is going up.


But did you know that students can (and do) use their student loan money on more than their tuition and classroom needs like books? It may seem a little fishy, but it's not illegal, as per Student Loan Hero. And it's been revealed as per the results of a 2016 Student Loan Hero survey that "students in 2017 are 2X as likely to spend student loan money on non-educational expenses than the class of 2016."

With so much being borrowed, one would think this dough should be going straight for what it is intended – higher education. But students are using this loot for their other expenses, some of which are totally unnecessary. Using student loan money towards non-school expenses is actually costing these students more than if they paid for these things normally, due to the interest rate. It's digging them into an even deeper financial hole.

41.3% of these students are spending their loan money on their monthly bills such as their rent and cell phones, 14.9% are using it for clothing and accessories, 12.8% for food, and 2.5% for drugs and alcohol. Perhaps the first three can be justified, but the drugs and alcohol!? Those are the students who could use their next four years of schooling the most!

The issue may be that these students can be clueless or not entirely well-informed about school-related finances. As per Student Loan Hero, 7% don't even know their yearly costs for school and a whopping 59% don't have a clue when their loans will be paid off. And while most federal loan borrowers are on a 10-year repayment plan, the average amount of time people take to pay off their student loans is an astounding 21 years.

While this news may be hard to swallow, there are ways to handle student loans with planning and commitment. Take a cue from these 5 simple steps to paying off your student loans and be debt-free in the near future.

If you're a recent college grad, take note of some important investment and financial strategiesthat will help you make wise money-related decisions. If you made it through those brain-bending final exams, you can ace your student loans payoff regime too.

For more detail regarding the Student Loan Hero's findings, you'll find their infographic quite revealing. As a student or a parent of one, this information can help you take the right steps towards a solid student loan plan that makes sense and saves "cents" with every smart move.

"

You Might Be A Hoarder – Without Even Knowing It

Image by Serkan Gönültaş for Pexels

As the old saying goes…the proof isn’t only in the pudding it’s in your closet, your cupboards, your back porch and – if you have one – your garage. You’ve got too much stuff. Everywhere. It’s not just a bunch of grandmas building enormous collections of margarine tubs or Uncle Bill’s believe it or not

How to Get a Better Job That Pays You More

Jobs don't have to be miserable!

Photo by Charles Deluvio (unsplash)

Though the wave of tech layoffs and the threat of a recession has overshadowed yesteryear’s news of the great recession, everywhere you look, employees are asking for more — and getting it. Though this time of uncertainty could have given employers back the power, it’s still in the hands of the workforce. From Gen-Z’s boundary

What Is Kris Jenner’s Net Worth? 

Kris Jenner

The Momager May Be Worth More Than You Think… Kris Jenner is a pop culture icon for many reasons. While you may have watched her meteoric rise to fame on Keeping Up with the Kardashians — which originally debuted on E! — she’s actually been a fascinating figure in the public eye for ages.  As

Living la Vida Frugal – Spend Less With Frugal Living

Tiny Home Image by Clay Banks_Unsplash

Everyone says the economy’s healthier than ever, but some of us still find it necessary to make that paycheck stretch…and stretch…and stretch. The better we understand our spending habits, the better we can manage them. Living frugally can benefit you in many ways. You’ll grow more self-reliant, creative, and resourceful as you learn to make

Spring Clean Your Personal Debt

Photo by Miha Rekar for Unsplash

Spring is in the air — and while you’re clearing out closets and scrubbing the back corners of the kitchen drawers, why not do a deep clean on something that really weighs you down? We’re talking about debt. Yep, those sneaky credit card balances, student loans, Buy Now Pay Later plans, and subscriptions that keep

The TRUTH About The Trad Wife Trend

Nara Smith, Lucky Blue Smith, and daughter Rumble Honey

Matthew Brookes / Oliver Peoples

Imagine this: you marry the man of your dreams. You have two beautiful children with another on the way. You spend your days cooking gorgeous, nutritious meals for your family…. from scratch. You get paid to share your daily life and meals with people around the world. But here’s the catch: half of those people

MONEY JOURNAL: A Marketing Specialist Living On $75K A Year In Chicago

Chicago Theatre - Night | Photo by Pixabay

In this month’s Money Journal, Celia is organized and disciplined yet enjoys her life “to the Max” Welcome to Money Journal, a monthly Paypath series that examines how Americans really handle their finances. Our participants keep a journal of their earnings, spending, and savings (if any), then share what it’s like to live in their