Wayne State University

AIM HIGHER

Financial Tools

Financial literacy is an essential part of planning and paying for Law School. The links below are meant to help you understand your options in order to make sound financial decisions.

Financial Strategies

Build Your Own Budget

Allocate your funds to avoid over-spending

Semester Budget Worksheet
Save on Spending

Be aware of your spending habits

Semester Budget Worksheet
Save on Spending

Be aware of your spending habits

Review your cost of living while you are in school
Borrow the Minimum

Plan carefully now to avoid overwhelming debt later
Manage your Loans Responsibly

Know your interest rates and loan terms
Develop and Maintain Good Credit

Read your statements carefully

Sign up for auto-debit to avoid late payments & fees
Avoid Financially Destructive Transactions

Don’t sign up for a credit card just to get something free

Learn how to avoid becoming a victim of fraud

Get information on how to exercise your consumer protection rights

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tools and Tutorials

Your Plan 

PREPARING FOR LAW SCHOOL 

American Bar Association - Pre-Law Toolkit
FinAid.org - Calculators for help with school costs, savings and aid
Financing a Legal Education - Videos from the Law School Admission Council
Looking Ahead to Graduate or Professional School - An "Wise Borrower" checklist
Michigan Student Financial Aid  - State of Michigan resources for paying for college
Student Loans: Avoiding Deceptive Offers - Federal Trade Commission facts for consumers                            
 

Your Money

BUDGETING

CNN Money - Money 101: Making a Budget
Less is More: Smart Budgeting - e-Learning video help with short-term financial planning
Make the Money Last - Tips on managing your financial aid funds
Mint.com - Free online personal finance tools
Money Matters - Online Budget Worksheet
Smart About Money - 40 Money management tips every college student should know
 
MONEY MANAGEMENT
 
Balance Your Checkbook - Tips and tools to help you with your bank statement
BillShrink.com - 16 Depression era money saving tips
Financial Awareness Basics - Short podcasts on money-related topics for students
Financial Fitness Tools - Learn how to manage your money and take control of your life
Money Matters for Students - Smart tips for establishing credit
MyMoney.gov - U.S. government help from 20 federal agencies
VISA Practical Money Skills - Financial literacy for a lifetime
TheSimpleDollar.com - Everything you ever really needed to know about personal finance on just one page
Young Money - Learn to earn it, invest it, and spend it wisely
  

Your Credit

CONSUMER ACTION
 
Better Business Bureau - Check out a business or file a complaint
Call for Action - International, nonprofit network of consumer hotlines
Consumer Reports - Find product ratings for best buys
Consumer Watch Dog - Consumer group watching business and politics
Federal Citizen Information Center - U.S. Consumer action website
 
CREDIT BUREAUS & CREDIT SCORES
 
Annual Credit Report - The official site to help consumers obtain their free credit report
Equifax - One of the three major credit reporting agencies
Experian - One of the three major credit-reporting agencies
TransUnion - One of the three major credit reporting agencies
My FICO - Your credit ranking (or FICO score) may determine the interest rate lenders will offer
Understanding Your Credit Score - Free credit education booklets
 
CREDIT CARD ADVICE & CALCULATORS
 
Bankrate.com - Compare interest rates; assess your credit risk and your net worth
Consumer Protection - U.S. Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Consumer Protection
Federal Reserve - Choosing a credit card
Mapping Your Future - Advice for using your credit cards wisely
National Foundation for Credit Counseling - Get free & low-cost help from a certified credit counselor
State PIRGs - Truth About Credit
 
IDENTITY THEFT

Federal Trade Commission - Information to help you deter, detect, and defend against identity theft
Identity Theft 101 - Identity theft consumer information
 

Your Future

CAREER PLANNING
 
American Bar Association - Career counsel from the ABA
Monster Career Advice - Resume, interviewing and salary tips
Occupational Outlook Handbook - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 
 
LOAN FORGIVENESS, CANCELLATION, & DISCHARGE

American Bar Association - Law student debt and loan repayment options
Department of Education - Cancel or discharge a student loan
Income Based Repayment and Loan Forgiveness - Information about new loan repayment options
Mapping Your Future - Understand loan cancellation, forgiveness, and discharge
Equal Justice Works - Student debt relief webinars

LOAN REPAYMENT CALCULATORS

Federal Loan Repayment Calculators - Student loan calculators for various repayment plans
FinAid! - Loan calculator can be used to calculate student loan, auto loan or mortgage payments
Mapping Your Future - Estimate your payments and learn about deferments and forbearance to manage your loan debt

LOAN STATUS INFORMATION

Federal Ombudsman Department - Help with resolving disputes & solving other student loan problems
National Student Clearinghouse - Verify current enrollment status
NSLDS Student Access - National Student Loan Data System from the U.S. Department of Education

REPAYING STUDENT LOANS

Department of Education - What you need to know about repaying student loans
Debt/Salary Wizard - Decide how much you can borrow based on what you expect to earn
10 Steps for Managing Your Student Loan Debt - A national collaborative, free and neutral resource
FinAid! - Find out the costs of the interest that accrues when you are not making payments
 
TAXES
 
IRS - Internal Revenue Service
2008 Federal Education Tax Benefit Guide - Updated January 2009
WSU 1098-T  - Information from Wayne State University on the 1098-T tax credit
 
 
 
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