12/30: Auld Lang Syne, Pickup Lines, More Nursing Loan Forgiveness, Gifford, Negus, and Houston, Bill deRome, Chris Ayer, Friction Bailey, #150

Student Financial Aid News
+ The last episode of 2005!
+ Amusing article about pickup lines in academia
+ “When I’m nervous, I recite page 368 of Finnegan’s Wake”
+ Article link
+ Other than FAFSA stuff, the newswires are understandably dead.
+ Get ready and do a trial run at FAFSAonline.com
+ Trivia about Auld Lang Syne
+ Do you know the words? Probably not.
+ Auld Lang Syne Lyrics and Translation
+ Another Auld Lang Syne link

Scholarship Update
+ PHEAA Nursing Loan Forgiveness for Healthier Futures
Detailed page at StudentScholarshipSearch.com

Predicting 2006
+ Prediction #1: Budget reconciliation signed into law.
+ Prediction #2: Higher education act reauthorization is completed, but has far less impact.
+ Prediction #3: Balance of power shifts marginally to Democrats in mid-term elections.
+ Prediction #4: Alan Greenspan’s retirement takes a bigger toll than economists figure, possibly pushing the US into a mild recession.
+ Prediction #5: Pop goes the housing bubble.
+ Prediction #6: College tuition increases faster than inflation again.
+ Prediction #7: Energy costs continue to rise due to tightness in the supply chain and at least one disruptive event.
+ Prediction #8: Scholarships will be more plentiful and easier to find in 2006.
+ We’ll have $1 billion in scholarships next year!
+ Prediction #9: Alternative student loans will be more plentiful in 2006.
+ Look for our new Graduate Student Loan product at:
+ GradLoans.com/private
+ Prediction #10: The Financial Aid Podcast hits 300 episodes.
+ You can have a say in how 2006 turns out - send feedback to us!

Podsafe Music
+ Gifford, Negus, and Houston, Auld Lang Syne, from Garageband.com
+ Bill deRome, New Year’s Resolution
+ Chris Ayer, New Year’s Resolution
+ Friction Bailey, Auld Lang Syne
+ Support Indie Artists, Buy the Podsafe Album for only $9.90!
+ Via the Podsafe Music Network and Garageband.com

Financial Aid Podcast Show Notes at FinancialAidPodcast.com. The Financial Aid Podcast is a publication of the Student Loan Network.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Email me at financialaidpodcast {at} gmail {dot} com or visit http://www.FinancialAidPodcast.com

Listen now with Pupu Player!

Direct file download: MP3 file

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12/29: Rate hikes, Sallie Mae, FAFSA independent students, nursing loan forgiveness program, Matthew Ebel, Whirl, Jessie Commisso, #149

Student Financial Aid News
+ Schwarzenegger rescinds tuition hikes at CA public universities
+ More stories on student loan rate hikes
+ Look for our press release early in the new year or very late this week
+ Interesting quote from Sallie Mae
+ Consolidate now, says USA Today
+ StudentLoanConsolidator.com is the place to consolidate your student loans or call us at 877-328-1565

Mail Bag
+ Question from Darlene about nursing loan repayment programs
+ Question from Richard about the FAFSA
+ No parents, how to file?
+ Definition of independent student
+ FAFSAonline.com

Scholarship Update
+ Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program
+ $19M disbursed in 2005
+ Help to recruit and retain nurses
+ 60% of total loan balance over 2 years
+ Additional 25% for additional year
+ Detailed page at StudentScholarshipSearch.com

Podsafe Music
+ Matthew Ebel, Driveaway Podcaster Mashup Version
+ Whirl, Reborn
+ Jessie Commisso, Run Away With Me
+ Support Indie Artists, Buy the Podsafe Album for only $9.90!
+ Via the Podsafe Music Network

Financial Aid Podcast Show Notes at FinancialAidPodcast.com. The Financial Aid Podcast is a publication of the Student Loan Network.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Email me at financialaidpodcast {at} gmail {dot} com or visit http://www.FinancialAidPodcast.com

Listen now with Pupu Player!

Direct file download: MP3 file

Technorati Tags: loans money podcast education finance college financialaid credit podsafe

Hey folks…

Well, I decided to use Podtrac to see more info about my podcast audience; however, in the process, it radically altered the feed, forcing iTunes to redownload past episodes. So if you got a bunch of duplicates, my bad!

12/28: T-Bills, Do Not Vote Cards, Energy, Scholarship Update, Post Holiday Debt, Candy Butchers, Charlie Crowe, Amy Jo Doty, #148

Student Financial Aid News
+ T-Bill edged itself back up to 4%
+ Reactions to Senate Budget Bill
+ Do Not Vote cards - who not to vote for this year and in years to come
+ FAFSA season is 3 days away - are you ready?
+ Do all your prep work at FAFSAonline.com and be ready on January 1
+ Flat yield curve on Treasury Yields
+ Energy bills from $104/month to $254 in one month with no change in consumption?

Scholarship Update
+ Curtis Institute of Music Full Tuition Scholarship
+ Part of application and audition process
+ School of 162 students
+ Award value of $28,500/year
+ Detailed scholarship page at StudentScholarshipSearch.com

News You Can Use
+ Dealing with post-holiday consumer debt
+ Banks increasing minimum payment levels to 4%
+ FAFSA / debt relationship
+ Kill all debt spending
+ Cash is king
+ Figure out what you owe
+ Create a budget
+ Decrease all discretionary spending
+ Set up next holiday season’s savings plan with EFT
+ Vacation plans too
+ More savings ideas at StudentPlatinum.com

Podsafe Music
+ Candy Butchers, Hair of the Dog
+ Charlie Crowe, 007
+ Amy Jo Doty, I Love You
+ Support Indie Artists, Buy the Podsafe Album for only $9.90!
+ Via the Podsafe Music Network

Financial Aid Podcast Show Notes at FinancialAidPodcast.com. The Financial Aid Podcast is a publication of the Student Loan Network.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Email me at financialaidpodcast {at} gmail {dot} com or visit http://www.FinancialAidPodcast.com

Listen now!

Direct file download: MP3 file

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12/27: Top Podsafe Picks of 2005, #147

Top Picks of 2005 - a few of my favorites from this year!

Podsafe Music
+ Matthew Ebel, Drive Away
+ Adrina Thorpe, Fly Fly Fly
+ Brother Love, There She Goes
+ Bob Gentry, Upside Down
+ Cruisebox, On a Podcast
+ Planet of Women, Waking Up the Neighborhood
+ i:scintilla, scin
+ Support Indie Artists, Buy the Podsafe Album for only $9.90!
+ Via the Podsafe Music Network

Financial Aid Podcast Show Notes at FinancialAidPodcast.com. The Financial Aid Podcast is a publication of the Student Loan Network.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Email me at financialaidpodcast {at} gmail {dot} com or visit http://www.FinancialAidPodcast.com

Holiday Schedule
+ Show will resume regular format Wednesday, December 28

Listen now with Pupu Player!

Direct file download: MP3 file

Technorati Tags: loans money podcast education finance college financialaid credit podsafe

12/26: Classical Music Change of Pace, #146

Today I thought I’d explore the Classical Genre on the Podsafe Music Network. Low key, instrumental, classical music from the PMN and great arrangements. Enjoy!

Podsafe Music
+ Sascha Ludwig, Tribute to Mozart
+ Fumitaka Anzai, Forest in the Morning
+ Mark Heimonen, Celebration
+ Tom Byrne, Lost Times
+ Two Star Symphony, The Marionette
+ Mark Heimonen, Innovation
+ Support Indie Artists, Buy the Podsafe Album for only $9.90!
+ Via the Podsafe Music Network

Financial Aid Podcast Show Notes at FinancialAidPodcast.com. The Financial Aid Podcast is a publication of the Student Loan Network.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Email me at financialaidpodcast {at} gmail {dot} com or visit http://www.FinancialAidPodcast.com

Holiday Schedule
+ Show will resume regular format Wednesday, December 28

Listen now with Pupu Player!

Direct file download: MP3 file

Technorati Tags: loans money podcast education finance college financialaid credit podsafe

… college graduates are a net profit to the state.

From MSNBC:

“A high school dropout costs the state about $8,500 per year, the difference between taxes paid in and social costs,” said Thrasher. “A high school graduate costs the state about $5,000 per year. It’s not until [an Oregonian] graduates from college that there’s an $8,500 annual benefit to the state.”

You should not buy a property for more than 150 times the monthly rent.

You should buy a home for a maximum of 3 times your monthly income, not a penny more.

Your house payment should be no more than 28 percent of your gross monthly income.

12/25: Merry Christmas from the Financial Aid Podcast and the Student Loan Network, #145

Merry Christmas! As you might expect, it’s all Christmas music on Christmas Day!

Podsafe Music
+ Podsafe for Peace, If Every Day Were Christmas
+ Number One Fan, Christmas is Here
+ Jill Parr, Oh Come Oh Ye Faithful
+ Natalie Brown, Jingle Bells
+ Allison Crowe, Silent Night
+ Matthew Ebel, Walk a Thousand Miles
+ Support Indie Artists, Buy the Podsafe Album for only $9.90!
+ Via the Podsafe Music Network

Financial Aid Podcast Show Notes at FinancialAidPodcast.com. The Financial Aid Podcast is a publication of the Student Loan Network.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Email me at financialaidpodcast {at} gmail {dot} com or visit http://www.FinancialAidPodcast.com

Holiday Schedule
+ Show will resume regular format Wednesday, December 28

Listen now with Pupu Player!

Direct file download: MP3 file

Technorati Tags: loans money podcast education finance college financialaid credit podsafe

Make your predictions and suggestions!

What suggestions do you have for the Financial Aid Podcast in 2006?

and

What are your financial predictions for 2006?

Leave them here and email them to me at financialaidpodcast at gmail dot com1