Part 1 - How to attend College CHEAP

What was the last time gossip blogger like Linda Ikeji or Perez Hilton gave you students advice on MONEY? No offense to these likely wonderful people who have a role to play in society. But, why are should you waste time helping them create their dream career when you could do better than them? 

You don't need me to tell you that average cost of education for an undergrad degree in the U.S is $45,000. That's not including any "pre-university" school tuition costs for international students which can run anywhere from $30,000 to $55,000 per year. So after four years, your tuition has almost cost you or your parents $100K. Education loans are available through federal and state government source but, believe me, they can keep you locked down for years. President Obama didn’t finish paying his student loans until after his first term in office. 

It's time to figure where the heck you are going to get all the money from.  I did something a little different than most when I attended post secondary school. It saved me a ton of money headache and I think it is worth sharing. No, it's not strip tease. 

Take a moment to study this picture. Parents, where did you fit in when you attended post-secondary school? Students, where would you like to fit in. 

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After picking your preferred mode for funding your education from the diagram above, go through this slide show below to see if it matched your choice. Scroll and hover over the image to see the tips for each point.

For most of the readers of this slide, the SWEET SPOT of education funding is the center of the diagram above. DEBT FREE MONEY. How can you finish this journey in one piece? The following is an explanation of how to get in there. 

FREE STUFF IS BEST: Bursary!

Bursaries are essentially a special kind of FREE money.  This is because, usually, you don't need to have very high marks. The only condition is that you are regular in school and that you meet certain financial conditions. For example: if you a single parent with no support, living alone with low income, disabled student, victim of torture/abuse, from first nations etc…you might eligible for some ‘free money’ to further your studies. For more info on bursaries, ask the financial aid office at your chosen institution. Some might be eligible for up-to $1,500 per semester.There are literally MILLIONS of dollars allocated to fund Bursaries at each university.  I used this resource to fund my college education.

MAKE MONEY: Start a Blog

Most might not like what I have to say here, but let me ask you a quick question: Why are you wasting time following Linda Ikeji when you could be BETTER at doing what she does? What exactly does she do again? (Sorry, I digress). 

Many things that begin as fun end up being a livelihood maker. Do you have a hobby or a talent? Why not offer free advice/tutorials on these and post them on the internet? Advertising money you get from this source can add up to quite a bit of change. Don’t overlook this source of money. It has become a growing trend. Doctors (webMD), laywers, chefs, teachers have starting blogs as a way to share their experiences and in turn make some money in the process. 

MAKE MONEY: Become an intern

Money that students can earn from ordinary part-time work at a fast food restaurant is ok. But, sometimes, getting a job in the field of study can pay a you a bit better. Get familiar with all the agencies, websites, job fairs and community organizations that offer good opportunity for internship. When you first graduate it can be difficult to get a decent job because employers want the “E” word. Experience. But, an internship position before you graduate is a very good way to GET MONEY and EXPERIENCE.  Fastest track to a great career. Trust me. Check out these links...

            Talent Egg: http://talentegg.ca/employers/

            Learning enrichment foundation:

I will be posting more on HOW to get into the best internship postions in the near future. Stay tuned.

APPLY for a scholarship

APPLY! Just DO IT!  It shocks me how many students don’t even bother to pluck this fruit. Take advantage of it. Learn how to write a fantastic scholarship essay. Some sponsors of these scholarships are not necessarily looking for an over-achiever, they just looking for your drive. They want to see that you tried. They love to see students with resolve to complete their studies and the resourcefulness to fund it. Even if you a B average and the qualifications call for an A, apply anyway. You may be the only applicant and alone is the reason you get the money.

Huge Leaps begin with baby steps

Little by little, gather all the sources of money available out there. I advise, do not leave any FREE money stone un-turned. By the time you collect all the sources together, you would have gone through half of your academic career. 

The summary of these tips can be found on this link. But, they are only a small part of the complete advice. Part 2 of this series goes further into exactly WHAT you need to be doing. Part 3 will focus on HOW to do it along with a sample budge plan. Stay Tuned!