Stephanie Halligan from EmpoweredDollar.com and other personal finance writers share their advice on how to college graduates can pay off their student loans. Join our weekly #CreditChat every Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET.

1. How to Handle
STUDENT LOANS
#CreditChat

2. Check out all the tweets here:
bit.ly/payoffcollege
Join our Experian #CreditChat every Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET.
This week, we tweeted with Stephanie Halligan about paying
off student loan debt.“
#CreditChat

3. #CreditChat
Stephanie Halligan draws comics about money at
EmpoweredDollar.com, a personal finance web comic
dedicated to crushing debt and creating financial freedom.
When she's not doodling or blogging, she's helping startups
and nonprofits design financial education apps and
programs. Follower her @EmpoweredDollar
FEATURING

4. COLLEGE LOAN STATS

5. #CreditChat
The graduating class of 2014 is the most
indebted in history, with 70% of the newly-
minted undergrad degree holders carrying
an average debt of $33,000 each.
“
#CreditChat
Source: Forbes.com

6. #CreditChat
More than 7 million borrowers are in default
on federal or private student loans.
Source: CFPB, 2013
#CreditChat

7. #CreditChat
More than 40 million Americans have
student loan debt, amounting to roughly
$1.2 trillion in outstanding debt.
#CreditChat
Source: FoxBusiness.com

8. Q1: What should students know before
taking a college loan?
#CreditChat

9. STUDENT LOAN TIP
Don’t borrow more than you need.
Tweet by @EmpoweredDollar
#CreditChat

10. STUDENT LOAN TIP
Don’t sign the dotted line until you’ve read the terms.
Tweet by @mikedelgado
#CreditChat

11. STUDENT LOAN TIP
Know the difference between a subsidized
Tweet by @Finovera
and unsubsidized loan.
#CreditChat

12. STUDENT LOAN TIP
Talk to the financial aid officer about your financial
Tweet by @EmpoweredDollar
aid package before accepting loans.
#CreditChat

13. Hat tip to @BrokeMillennial
BrokeMillennial.com
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
STUDENT LOAN TIP
Set-up a budget. Find out how much money
Tweet by @AdvantageCCS
you actually need.

14. Q2: What do you think about going
to junior college to reduce student loans?
#CreditChat

15. Regardless of where you go, picking a high value college is
Tweet by @EmpoweredDollar
one of the most important money decisions you can make.
#CreditChat
CHOOSING A COLLEGE?

16. #CreditChat
Always be picking based on the VALUE not the brand name.
Tweet by @BrokeMillennial
CHOOSING A COLLEGE?

17. #CreditChat
Students should always be evaluating the ROI of their education.
Tweet by @Magnify_Money
CHOOSING A COLLEGE?

18. Q3: What are ways to save
money while in college?
#CreditChat

19. Tweet by @Finovera
HOW TO SAVE MONEY IN COLLEGE
Don’t buy books on campus. Buy/Rent books online.

20. Don’t leave free money on the table.
Tweet by @EmpoweredDollar
Keep applying for scholarships and renew your FAFSA.
#CreditChat

21. It isn’t always cheaper to live on campus.
Tweet by @Finovera
HOW TO SAVE MONEY IN COLLEGE
#CreditChat
Find some friends and pitch for a house close to campus.

22. Q4: What tips do you have for grads
trying to figure out their finances?
#CreditChat

23. Tweet by @asmarterchoice
Track spending so you understand where your money is going.
#CreditChat

24. #CreditChat
Tweet by @EmpoweredDollar
Put even a little money aside every month.
#CreditChat
Start a savings habit.

25. #CreditChat
Avoid overdraft fees by always knowing how much is in your account.
Tweet by @BrokeMillennial
#CreditChat

26. Make student debt repayment a “need” expense to budget for
Tweet by @pjeg14
#CreditChat
and set-up an automated payment.

27. Q5: What are some ways to pay off
a student loan faster?
#CreditChat

28. Grads, please negotiate your salary! That’s extra money to pay off debt.
Tweet by @EmpoweredDollar
#CreditChat
HOW TO PAY COLLEGE DEBT FASTER

29. #CreditChat
Start paying down your student loan during your grace period.
Tweet by @AmericaSaves
#CreditChat
HOW TO PAY COLLEGE DEBT FASTER

30. Tweet by @BWFeldman
#CreditChat
HOW TO PAY COLLEGE DEBT FASTER
Use a tracking tool like @ReadyForZero
Do biweekly payments, get side income, pay highest interest rate loans first.

31. Hat tip to @BrokeMillennial
BrokeMillennial.com
Q3: Any favorite apps or sites to
help you research a home?
#CreditChat
Wednesdays | 3 p.m. ET
Before rushing into paying off your student loan faster,
Tweet by @FinEdChat
decide if it makes mathematical sense.
#CreditChat

32. Q6: How do you balance paying off student
loan debt while investing for the future?
#CreditChat

33. You can never rewind the retirement clock.
Tweet by @EmpoweredDollar
Get on the compounding returns while you’re young!
#CreditChat

34. #CreditChat
Try and save at least $500 for
emergencies while paying down debt.“ - @AmericaSaves

35. If you can only save $5 a month, do it!
Tweet by @magnify_money
Start the habit. That’s important.
#CreditChat

36. Tweet by @mikedelgado
Grads, start that 401(k) or IRA plan right away.

37. #CreditChat
#CreditChat
Paying debt vs. saving/investing?
Tweet by @EmpoweredDollar
You have to do both. Don’t ignore your retirement.

38. Q7: What should you do if you’re having
trouble paying your student loan?
#CreditChat

39. Tweet by @EmpoweredDollar
#CreditChat
If you run into trouble, whatever you do, don’t just stop making payments!
That can lead to trouble.

40. Tweet by @AmOneMoney
#CreditChat
If you have a federal student loan, learn about deferment and forbearance.

41. Q8: Any final tips for paying off
student loan debt?
#CreditChat

42. Tweet by @EmpoweredDollar
#CreditChat
Student loans can feel overwhelming.
Don’t forget to celebrate the small wins!

43. Know that you can write off loans and your expenses
from college in your taxes if you claim yourself.
#CreditChat
Tweet by @Finovera

44. Be aware of current legislative efforts to help student borrowers!
Tweet by @CarissaUhlman
Learn about the refinance act.
#CreditChat

45. Join us every Wednesday at 3 p.m. on Twitter!