Going out of your way to find money for college will pay off
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Each semester of college I paid a visit to the campus veterans’ affairs representative. Former military members, or dependents like me, claiming about $9,000 a year from the GI Bill needed to complete “yellow cards” as confirmation to the government that we were still enrolled full-time and working toward a degree. Between those checks and an annual $21,000 academic scholarship, I was comfortably attending an out-of-state, private institution for the price of public, in-state tuition.
Now three years post-grad, I’ve become more aware of the student debt crisis and how fortunate I was to graduate paid-in-full—but also just how many options and tools there are for finding financial assistance. Apps like Scholly, which has matched students with some $70 million in available funds, make me wonder just how much more I could have saved had I put in more effort than a semesterly stroll to the administration building and maintaining a high GPA.
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How to convince others (and yourself) that freelancing is a real job From the outside, freelance life may look like a dream—you can move abroad, work from a different coffee shop each day or call the couch your office. But it also means convincing others (and occasionally yourself) that you have a real job. Get these details in order and you won’t have to justify your work again.
Financials. It’s on you to pay yourself, save for later and provide health insurance. Manage it all with platforms such as Mint, Freshbooks or Quickbooks Self-Employed.
Systems. Remote work situations require discipline. Technology can help—from finding and onboarding clients, to workflow and email. Use a time-blocking calendar to maintain and maximize focus.
Teams. Just because you’re a freelancer doesn’t mean you can’t hire or seek help. Get advice from online groups, fellow entrepreneurs or a mentor.
Four terms you must know to understand your health insurance policy
Deductible: the amount you pay for covered healthcare services before your insurance provider pitches in. A $1,000 deductible means you pay the first $1,000 of covered services, and that usually excludes co-pays and premiums.
Co-pay: the fixed amount you pay for a covered service. If your co-pay is $20, you pay $20 during each visit.
Co-insurance: the percentage of costs of covered services you pay after meeting the deductible. So once you’ve reached that $1,000 deductible for the year, a 20% co-insurance plan would mean a $100 doctor’s visit costs your wallet $20 and the insurance provider $80.
Out-of-pocket maximum: the most you pay for covered services in a year. If set at $5,000, your provider pays 100% of covered costs after you spend $5,000 on deductibles, co-pays and co-insurance.
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ONE CHART ANSWER
The next time someone starts up about how millennials are ruining the economy by not moving, follow these talking points: Yes, mobility of those under 35 is at an all-time low. But it’s not just young folks staying put. The household mobility rate among all Americans in 2017 was 10.9%—the lowest in 50 years. Of those who did relocate, millennials led the pack, being 19% more likely to move than their gen x counterparts and 32% more likely than boomers. Marriage has historically been the primary driver for relocation among young adults, but since 2000, they’ve been nearly twice as likely to move just to be on their own, reports Trulia.