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May 24, 2012

Jeff Jacoby: The peace process battered Israel's reputation
Clifford D. May: What Iran's Rulers Want
Michael Muskal: 'Pro-choice' position hits record low, according to poll
Chris Farrell: Are We in a Tech Bubble?
Kimberly Lankford: Switching Medicare Advantage Plans Mid-Year
Bryan McIver, M.B., Ch.B., Ph.D.: Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Understanding hyperthyroidism and its variety of treatment options
The Kosher Gourmet by Penelope Wall: PHILLY CHEESE STEAKS --- hold the steak!
May 23, 2012
Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: Baghdad talks highlight Western naivete
Tony Pugh: More private colleges offering tuition discounts
Lisa Gerstner: 4 Money-Etiquette Questions Answered
Mary Beth Franklin: How to Choose the Right Annuity for You
Art Markman, Ph.D.: Get smart: How to bulk up your creativity muscles
Tina Susman: The wig wasn't enough: Man gets 13 years for posing as his dead mom
The Kosher Gourmet by Emma Christensen:A simple way to do fish right
May 22, 2012
David S. Cloud and Kathleen Hennessey: Obama changes mind on Pakistan invite to NATO summit --- and then gets dissed by country's president
Warren Richey: Can US group challenge overseas surveillance act? Supreme Court to decide
Thomas M. Anderson: Walking Away From a Mortgage
Environmental Nutrition editors: The lowdown on a low-acid diet
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: Enjoy a celebration of the most rich and layered flavors: Black bean, sweet potato and quinoa chili
May 21, 2012
Mark Clayton: Cybersecurity: How US utilities passed up chance to protect their networks
Howard LaFranchi: NATO summit: Who will foot the bill for long-term Afghanistan security?
Chris Farrell : Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
James K. Glassman: 5 Stock Picks Among Online Retailers
Stephen Whiteside, Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Social anxiety disorder --- or just shy?
Guy Jackson : Victim's father regrets death of Lockerbie bomber
The Kosher Gourmet by Mario Batali: Famed chef's veal shoulder farsumagru: A festive meat course for late spring
May 18, 2012
Rabbi Berel Wein: Striving: The People of the Book's Book for (All of) the People
Caroline B. Glick: Embracing dangerous delusions and not our friends
Steven Goldberg: 5 Great Stock Picks and the Exchange-Traded Fund that Owns Them
Janet Bodnar: How to Teach Kids to Handle Credit Cards
Mary Pickett, M.D.: Ask the Harvard Experts: Don't be forced into gluten-free lifestyle based merely on a doctor's false-positive test
The Kosher Gourmet by Carolyn Malcoun: DIY healthy lunchbox treats: HOMEMADE FRUIT BARS for kids and brown-bagging adults alike
May 17, 2012
Warren Richey: Teacher fired for being unwed and pregnant can sue religious school, court rules
Josh Mitnick: Netanyahu's 'centrist' coalition is already proving it's anything but
Steven Goldberg: Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
Mary Beth Franklin: Retirement Savings Tips for New Grads
Amina Khan: Research links coffee to lower death rates
Chelsea Sheasley: Social media: Is it too feminine?
The Kosher Gourmet by Faith Duran : Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole with Cheddar and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
May 16, 2012
Jackson Holahan: The Aleppo Codex
Jonathan Tobin : Iran Declares Victory in Nuclear Talks
Anne Kates Smith: 7 Stocks That Let You Sleep Tight
Carmen Terzic, M.D., Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: A variety of exercises can help improve balance
Melissa Healy: National strategy on Alzheimer's disease aims to halt it by 2025
The Kosher Gourmet by Joyce White : GOODNESS GRACIOUS: GREENS! 4 winning recipes that are no longer just for down-home folks (Includes expert tips & techniques)
May 15, 2012
Dennis Prager: God and Man at (and for) Liberty
Kristen Chick: Obama administration resumes arms sales to Bahrain despite serious unresolved human rights issues. Activists feel abandoned
Pat Mertz Esswein: Homes are now affordable again and mortgage rates are low. What you need to know before you buy
Kathy Kristof: Our Practical Investor Fights Inflation with These 6 Investments
Sue Hubbard, M.D.: The Kid's Doctor: Lactose intolerant young child? Check again
Environmental Nutrition Editors: Get the facts on palm sugar sweetening
The Kosher Gourmet by Kathy Hunt: Spread a Little Excitement with EXOTIC CONDIMENTS (4 RECIPES)
May 14, 2012
Richard Simon: Purple Hearts for domestic terror victims?
Nando Pelusi, Ph.D.: The privacy paradox: Surrounded by strangers, we risk isolation, anxiety
Chris Farrell: Investing Lessons from the Great Recession
Lisa Gerstner: How to Protect Your Identity, Finances If You Lose Your Phone
Harvard Health Letters: Heart disease and dementia
Tiffany O'Callaghan: New hormone mimics effects of exercise without the sweat
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: MANGO COCONUT OAT MORNING MUFFINS are a bright but hearty delight
May 11, 2012
Rabbi B. Shafier: Why happiness will always be elusive
Charles Krauthammer: Echoes of '67: Israel unites
Howard LaFranchi: With G8 snub, US-Putin 'reset' off to stumbling start
Jeremy J. Siegel: Investors, Relax About Rising Interest Rates
Jessica L. Anderson: Get the Best Deal on a Used Car
Jett Stone: Forget face-lifts and fake knees. Scientists have seen the fountain of youth --- and it's broccoli
The Kosher Gourmet by Chef Mario Batali: The famed chef's vegetable dish that tastes true to the season: FAVAS AND SUGAR SNAP PEAS WITH POTATOES AND TARRAGON
May 10, 2012
Clifford D. May: The Real Palestinian Refugee Problem
Sergei L. Loiko: Putin sends warning to U.S., NATO in Victory Day speech at Red Square
Mary Rourke: How being a 'mentch' got Vidal Sasoon his start and fighting in Israel's War of Independence provided him with confidence and a strong sense of his own identity
Harvard Health Letters: Palliative care: Underused therapy yields surprising benefits
Jeff Bertolucci: Get Home Phone Service for Less Than $10 a Month
Rachel L. Sheedy and Susan B. Garland : Make the Right Moves to Boost Benefits
The Kosher Gourmet by Betty Rosbottom: Gleaming with its golden, crimson, and snowy white hues, this silken smooth and creamy STRAWBERRY ORANGE TRIFLE looks impressive, but is easy to prepare
May 9, 2012
John Rosemond: Parents, stop destroying the American male
Valerie J. Nelson: Maurice Sendak, author of 'Where the Wild Things Are,' dies at 83
Bob Frick: Angst Over Annuities
Sharon Palmer, R.D. How you can reduce your risk -- or delay -- chronic diseases associated with aging
Howard LeWine, M.D.: Ask the Harvard Experts: Why did my blood pressure suddenly shoot up?
Lisa Gerstner: Lower the Rate on All Your Loans
The Kosher Gourmet by Emily Ho : Springtime soba with miso sauce offers a coloful mix of fresh textures and flavors
May 8, 2012
Edmund Sanders: Netanyahu suddenly cancels new elections, forms unity government
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: Farewell to European superstate
Anne Kates Smith: 4 Stocks That Mimic Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway
Gaia Vince and Clare Wilson The Rise of Miniature Medical Robots: Fantasy Fast Becoming Reality
Paul Takahashi, M.D.: Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Never suffer night leg cramps
Jessica L. Anderson: Extended-Warranty Warning
The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Celebrate National Chocolate Chip Day with the Best Cookie Ever (Includes techniques)
May 7, 2012
Mark Clayton: Homeland Security warns major cyber attack aimed at gas pipeline industry underway
Angus Roxburgh: Putin Decoded: World view of a Russian feeling dissed
Kimberly Lankford: Navigate a Course for Long-Term Care
Kevin McCormally How to Adjust Your Tax Withholding
Celeste Robb-Nicholson, M.D.: Harvard Health Letters: How do you treat a Baker's cyst?
Joanne Capano: Healthy Snacks for Children: The Choices May Surprise You
The Kosher Gourmet by Penelope Wall: Classic Creamy Spinach Dip with a Fraction of the Calories and Fat
May 4, 2012
Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: Holy 'trivialities'
Jonathan Tobin: Bibi v. Barak will be no contest this time around
Steven Goldberg: Blue Chip Stocks On Sale Worldwide
Art Pine Slow Productivity Growth a Blessing --- For Now
Sue Hubbard, M.D. : The Kid's Doctor: Are Kids Too Wired?
Kerri-Ann Jennings, M.S., R.D: Foods that are good for your smile
Amy Paturel, M.S., M.P.H.: Eating Well: Foods that are good for your smile
The Kosher Gourmet by Betty Rosbottom: Strawberry rhubarb parfaits are elegant yet simple to assemble
May 3, 2012
Michael Freund: Who's Afraid of the Messiah?
Clifford D. May: The Foggiest War
Susan B. Garland: Insurance to Cover Old Old Age
Steven Goldberg 6 Reasons to Bet on a Big Bull Market
Harvard Health Letters: Treating prostate cancer --- no rush to judgment
Larry Gordon: Harvard, MIT partner to offer free online courses
Naomi Nix : Man gets free trip to Chicago after postcard sent by mother in 1957 finally reaches him
The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Intensely Italian vegetable frittata is a seriously simple standby


Jewish World Review August 23, 2010

Conquer college costs with a few key decisions

By Gail Marks Jarvis


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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | (MCT) It's a bill like no other, frightfully huge, with perhaps $20,000 that has to be paid almost instantly.

If your child is getting ready to start college and you just received one of these bills, you are probably among the parents fixated on that price tag while trying to count sheep at bedtime.

But it might not be as bad as you first think.

BREAK IT DOWN: If you had to sit down today and write a check for a year of groceries, that number would be disconcerting, too — probably more than $5,000 and hardly the expense you could handle on a moment's notice.

But since people pay for groceries weekly, they don't feel like they are spending thousands.

You can treat college the same way. Instead of writing a check for the full semester, put yourself on a payment plan and break your bill into more palatable monthly payments. Many colleges can link you with a firm that provides payments to them. There should be no interest or finance charge, although you will probably pay a one-time annual fee of about $100 for the service.

Although colleges generally refuse to let students sign up for fall classes until they pay for the first half of the year, enrolling in a payment plan will usually be sufficient. Call the college billing office and ask who does their payment plans. To find a firm on your own go to http://www.finaid.org/otheraid/tuition.phtml.

FIND MORE FINANCIAL AID: Although most college financial aid has been awarded, this is the time of year when students can sometimes find leftover money. Just before classes start, some students change their mind and go elsewhere. That can leave colleges with scholarship money that was previously assigned.

Call the director of financial aid or department heads in an area where your student plans to major. Revisit both in September and October to find surprise leftovers. And if you have lost a job or encountered a financial hardship since applying for aid, make sure you go back to the financial aid director and ask to be considered again.

FINDING MONEY UNDER SOFA CUSHIONS: Most people think they don't have a penny more to spend than they are already spending on household needs. But many people can find thousands of hidden dollars.

Start to analyze every household expense, especially those devoted to the student who will be leaving home, said Frank Palmasani, a college counselor and founder of ManagingCollegeCost.com.

Instead of spending all new money, you will merely shift some, cutting back on everything from food to lessons, gasoline, car insurance, electricity and water at home.

Mick Endersbe, founder of College Planning University, said many families discover they can devote about $4,000 to college this way. In addition, if your income is under $180,000, you could get a $2,500 education tax credit each year of college.

Parents also might be able to reroute thousands of dollars toward college if they temporarily cut back on retirement saving in 401(k) plans. Palmasani tells families to continue to invest enough to qualify for an employer's matching money.

Before cutting back on the 401(k), make sure you will be OK in retirement. Seventy-year-olds without money can't borrow to pay for electricity, but students can borrow for college and make payments over 10 years. Check retirement savings on the "ballpark estimate" calculator at choosetosave.org. If you have plenty of savings, you can also spend any Roth IRA contributions for college without taxes or penalties.

BORROW RIGHT: At the college financial aid office, request federal student loans. You can count on at least $5,500 for the first year of college in Stafford loans. By the junior year, you can borrow $7,500. If your child is among the moderate-income students at his or her college, you might also get a low-interest federal Perkins loan. At a college attended by many wealthy students, even fairly affluent families might qualify.

Also, for students from families with incomes around $40,000 or less, ask about federal Pell grants. And in the state where you reside or attend college, contact the state's higher education department to find low interest state loans or grants.

Parents with a lot of equity in their homes might be able to get home equity loans, perhaps through credit unions. But beware: Borrowing on your home and saving the money for future college expenses could reduce financial aid.


Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.

Gail Marks Jarvis is a personal finance columnist for the Chicago Tribune and author of "Saving for Retirement without Living Like a Pauper or Winning the Lottery." Comment by clicking here.


Previously:

07/22/10:Bill would protect credit scores during mortgage modification
07/13/10: Economic indicators may not be best guide to investments
06/29/10: How to help a graduate invest in the future
06/08/10: Hare favored in tech race with tortoise
05/05/10: Pick up the pieces of 529 college-savings plans
03/25/10: No matter your age, there's an investment strategy for you
03/01/10: IRS tax credit rewards savers with low incomes
02/16/10: Your tax refund is a waste of money
02/06/10: Changes to credit card rules won't perfectly protect consumers
09/24/09: Recession's end doesn't make stock picking any easier
08/25/09: Weigh risks of being overly conservative with investments
07/06/09: Fear can force better investment planning
06/10/09: Best stock buys passed quickly, even for pros
05/12/09: On Wall Street, signs plant a seed of hope
04/08/09: Analysts debate the future of the rally
03/19/09: Gold unlikely to pan out as cure-all
02/29/09: Housing credit could provide sizable boost
02/19/09: Rebalancing being put in different light
02/04/09: Diversification doesn't always offer insulation
01/27/09: Taking steps can help regain some control
01/20/09: How to save for college during a recession
01/12/09: Bonds still risky option to stocks
12/24/08: Some predict mid-2009 for return to investing joy
12/09/08: A small dose of short funds may be useful
11/11/08: Mutual funds can get caught in downward spiral
10/27/08: Investors can bounce back from even the worst of times
10/20/08: Want to sell? Look at 401(k), but don't leap
10/16/08: Want to be like Buffett? There are ways
09/29/08: Money protection only goes so far, so know the risks
08/26/08: Retail stocks may not be best fit for investors
08/20/08: Rear-view mirror investing can be dangerous to a portfolio
07/01/08: What do we do? My daughter didn't get a scholarship
02/25/08: Before abandoning your mutual fund
02/14/08: Dirty little secret of some funds may be haunting
01/29/08: Sorting out the stock market
01/03/08: One word for 2008 crystal-ball gazers: Caution
12/11/07: ‘Buy and hold’ isn't necessarily tried and true
11/26/07: Translating the falling dollar's implications for investors
11/13/07: Gradual retirement may not be key to happiness
11/05/07: Rate cut won't offer immunity to investors
10/29/07: Employers set to help workers save in 401(k) accounts
10/22/07: Playing bounce may be costly to stock investors
10/10/07: Investors find boring often can be fruitful
10/01/07: Make up lost time with swift, smart action
09/24/07: Balance is key for investing by retirees
09/18/07: Homeowners who wait see options fade
09/04/07: Easy matter to rate fund's performance
08/27/07: Mortgage mess could be good for savers
08/17/07: Small stocks are coming with large caveats


© 2007, Chicago Tribune Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

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