Getting ready for college, different for males and females?

This is a hard topic to discuss, but an important one.  Rape and sexual assault are common on college campus.  The rape epicenter at my university is the undergraduate dorm, and that is common on many universities, according to the campus cops I spoke to at last years take back the night event.  A tweet was posted tagged with #YesAllWomen and said "Because when girls go to college they're buying pepper spray and rape whistles while guys are buying condoms".  A girl's first two weeks on campus is the time in which she is most likely to be raped.

Keep in mind that many people will have access to dorm rooms, even if both students sharing are careful with closing the door and locking and you can't guarantee that.  RAs, and maintenance people both have keys that can be stolen or more horrifying, used.  And, what happens when your daughter goes to take a shower and is not able to lock the door?  Freshmen are often required to dorm, but you can pay more to share an apartment which will have a private lock on both the bathroom and bedroom.  You can talk to both your sons and daughter about consent, alcohol and rape.  You can support your child if she comes to you and tells you she was raped, even if it was because she was drunk.  You may even be able to convince the school to allow your child to live off campus if you push hard enough.  I'd have the rape and sexual assault information about the area they want your child to live in hand. 

During college the average rapist rapes 5.8 times but they do not call themselves rapists.  Only when they are asked about the actions of rape do they admit it.  "Have you ever had sexual intercourse with someone, even though they did not want to, because they were too intoxicated [on alcohol or drugs] to resist your sexual advances?" and 1/16 college men said yes.  Please explain that lack of no does not mean yes, a lack yes means no.  Teach both genders to stand up to sexist and aggressive comments. Know how to get help off your campus, because sadly the cops on campus answer to the president of the university so they may not help you.

This is suppose to be a time of excitement, of new experiences and growth, but growing up females means being aware of the risk of being female.  #YesAllWomen  Don't let this stop you from your goals but be aware of what is happen.  Speak up and talk.

Beer Brewing Club Now Open, the benefits of getting involved

My husband came home from the graduate student association monthly meeting with some fun news!  There are a group of graduate students forming a beer brewing club and the GSA (graduate student association) just gave them $300 for the school year.  My husband loves beer and used to brew a lot but lack time and money changed his habits.

He had been talking about getting back into brewing, but had not pulled the plug but THEN here comes the brewing club.  He can brew for free (and drink for free).  He was pretty happy about it.  Funny thing though, going to the GSA meeting meant that he learned about this a month earlier than everyone else and contacted with the organizers.  It really shows that getting involved can have some pretty nice rewards.

Has anyone ever gotten involved in something that had some nice fiscal rewards?

Updated Millionaire Plan May 2014

We are plugging away with our $625 invested again this month and we have a total of $19,118 as of May 1st.  That means we only have $1,882 to go before we reach our mini-goal of 21,000 (6 months of expenses, including COBRA).  So, if we keep this rate we will be there in three to four month.  We are so close I can taste it!  Our next goal after that will be $25,000, my yearly gross salary and if we keep up with our investing and market does not work against us, we will be there in nine to ten months. 

It is kind of crazy to me to see how close I am to having, what to me is, a lot of money.  This money is my freedom.  It allows me to make the choices that are best for our family and our future without worrying.  That idea is what pushes me to save when I want to spend more than I can afford. 

As a young person, especially one with student loans and a family, I'm being pulled in so many directs when it comes to money.  Should I pay my loans, invest, go on vacation?  What is best?  I have to make choices that are right not only for me but for my future self and rest of my family.  The more we can decrease our required bills and increase our income and assets, the more choices we will have.   And I like choices and freedom.  What makes you choose the way you do?  What is your goal?  What will it do for you?

Food plans are bad plans

Last year a lab mate of mine ate out for lunch every day, but would talk about not having any money.  Finally someone said, well then don't eat out!  But, he already bought $500 per semester of meals which equaled to one meal a day during the week.  Our semesters were 16 weeks long so that equaled $6.25/meal.  There were nights that he did not eat because they had no food in the house, because they could not afford to buy any.  How does that make sense?

We had access to a fridge and microwave at school and he had access to a fridge, stove and microwave at home so why spend $6.25/meal to eat out when that meant no dinner?  It really seemed like it was just another bad habit from undergrad.  You hear of the freshman 15 because freshman are eating out and can't cook in dorms.  Why are we setting these kids up to fail?  We set them up to overeat and overspend.  Neither of these are good and this is how we start our adult lives.  So what is a better idea?

First, cut the meal plan out if your university allows, if not call and see if they will waive the requirement and let you rent an apartment on campus.  Most colleges only allow that for upper-division students but sometimes, if a parent pushes prior to acceptance, they fold for the younger students.  As much as I believe in doing things for yourself, in this instance a parent has a lot more clout even if you have gotten a full scholarship or you are taking loans and working and therefore your parents are not paying.  If you do have to take a meal plan, take the smallest plan you can so you do not spend too much money.

If you are in a small dorm room, get a mini-fridge and microwave and use that for breakfast and weekend lunches.  You may even be allowed to have a crockpot which can make some wonderful dinners, all ready when you come home from classes or your part-time job.  Speaking of part-time jobs, restaurant jobs are wonderful for college students.  I paid my way through university on a server salary though I did a year of hosting to get enough experience to move up. 

Does anyone have a positive experience with food plans that I am missing?

Updated Millionaire Plan April 2014

We are doing steadily well, we added $625 this month but our account is now worth $18,532, a $698 increase.  We plan to keep depositing $625 per month for the foreseeable future which means as long as we don't lose money we will make our first mini-goal of $21,000 (6 months expenses including COBRA) in about four months and our second mini-goal of $25,000 (my entire annual income) in about 10-11 months.  Obviously the market can either help us and we may get our goals sooner or it may hurt us and it may take much longer than four or  eleven months to beat these mini-goals.  But I am optimistic that we will make it to $25,000 within the 2014 tax year!

We have considered trying to increase our deposit amount but have decided that paying off our student loans, saving a emergency fund and moving fund at a higher priority right now.  As young people we have a lot of expenses vying for our money and very little money to spend so choices have to be made.  I am doing the bare minimum right now and hope to increase my savings over time as my income increases.

I am also looking at seeing if there is anything more I can cut without hurting my lifestyle too much.  I do want to have fun, and have some spending money but as I continue in my frugal life new ideas pop up.  Never stop looking and you will find ideas where you least expect them.    

How are your investments going?

Financial Aid and the FASFA

We are lucky to be considered independent student but for most students under 24, they are dependent students and the government expects their parents to contribute towards the cost of college.  This means that your parents income and assets are counted as well as your own.  It also means that most of your assets are expected to go towards college spending, not just your income for that year.
Before I go into what a dependent student should do to shelter money, determine if you are a dependent or independent student.

The Following Questions Determine If You Are An Independent Student

1. Are you 24 year of age or older?
2. Are you married?
3. Are you enrolled in a master or doctorate program?
4. Do you have children who receive more than half of their support form you?
5. Do you have dependents other than your children or spouse who live with you?
6. Are you an orphan or ward of the state?
7. Are you a veteran of the U.S. armed forces?

If none of these apply, then according to the federal government, you are a dependent student.  However, many medical programs still require you to include your parent's income and assets, which may be something to consider, if you are picking a medical school.
As a dependent student there are different rules than an independent student because the dependent student is expected to use most of his or her assets to pay for college but the independent student is not.

If you have been determined to be a dependent student, first be aware that the law has changed.  It used to be that if your parents refused to fill out the FAFSA, you were not eligible for any aid.  The federal government has figured out that perhaps that may not be right, since every student is eligible for unsubsidized loans regardless of income or assets.  Now you can fill out the FAFSA without your parent's income and assets and still get unsubsidized student loans.

But often that is not enough.  What to do?  If you are eligible for work-study, TAKE IT! Work study is the only work you can do that won't be counted against you for future aid.  Often you must accept work study NOW to get the good jobs on campus because for many universities, the good jobs go quick.  The other option is to ask your department if they have any jobs that can be paid via work study.  I was able to work in the statistics lab which improved my CV as an undergraduate because I had work study, normally the coordinator only took Master's students.

While you are there, ask about scholarships.  Our department had three $500 scholarships only for declared majors.  The biology department had more.  My community college had all the scholarships within the financial aid office, but neither of my universities (undergraduate or graduate) run scholarships through there.  But, don't assume, check with the financial aid office too. 

This is the time to apply for aid both loans and scholarships and prepare for next year, which includes applying for summer internships and jobs.  Don't wait to the school year is over, you will be behind.  So, everyone let's be about it.*  Post if you have other ideas for preparing for next year.

*A prize for the first person to who recognizes the series that quote was from and post it.

It's that time of year! Scholarship Time!

Sorry folks, I know you wanted me to say it was Spring Break Time, which it is but for your college career, scholarships are more important than spring break.  When I was in undergrad it was hard for me to apply for scholarships.  I felt that time could be used making money at my part-time job or studying.  Why work so hard to find these scholarships when chances were, I would not get them.  I did get pushed into apply for a few and I did not get them.  But, I am still applying now.  You may be asking why?  And why would I be tell you folks to do so?

There are a ton of scholarships out there and yes the chances are not great but the more you do, and the better you do, the better chance of landing AT LEAST one.  And, winning $500 is worth a lot of time, about 50 hours for a student.  So, tell me, have you spent 50 hours working on scholarships?  I know I have not.  I have two that I will be working on, one due in April and one due in December.  I have spent about seven hours on the one due in April and it is almost done.  Once it is done, I plan to find one more.

It is hard to get excited about scholarship because the reward does not often come through.  But it can.  I know of many people, my husband included who received them.  People are not tricking students, and they want students to apply.  So, I give you this challenge during Spring Break give yourself a 3-5 hours and find and work on a scholarship application.  Five hours will mean my scholarship application will done and I will have found a second.  Let me know in the comment if you plan to try for this challenge.