SAVING & PAYING FOR COLLEGE 

Smart Saving for College—Better Buy Degrees (FINRA)
 This guide from FINRA gives you the information you need to wisely save and invest for college.

College Savings Resources (FINRA INVESTMENT CHOICES)
Learn about Section 529 Plans and other college savings options through these FINRA approved resources.

Financial Aid Center
This is a good site for information about how to finance your education and/or career training.

529 Plans vs. Other College Savings Options
The 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy Web site offers an overview of all options for financing college costs.

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MANAGING YOUR FINANCES WHILE YOU'RE IN COLLEGE 

Life Stage:  College
“College is a time of new found freedom for many students.  But that can spell trouble if that freedom applies to personal finances too.  Students need to understand basic money management skills such as living within a budget and handling credit and debt.  A solid financial foundation can lead to a lifetime of financial success.”  Sponsored by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, The 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy Web site provides an excellent web portal to general information for managing personal finances.

Tips for College Freshmen
“Freshmen, take charge of your finances!  Follow these four tips to keep your bank account in the black.” An article from CollegeView with some timely tips for managing your money when you’re in college.

Freshmen Finance
The Today Show’s financial editor, Jean Chatzky, gives advice to parents and first-year college students about controlling their cash and managing their money.

Self Control is the Key to Managing Credit Cards
“College offers a unique opportunity to experiment. Away from your parents' watchful eyes, you can shave your head, join a rock-climbing expedition or get a tattoo. But if you use credit cards to finance your adventures, you could end up with debts that will linger longer than the Harley-Davidson logo adorning your backside.” USA Today Columnist gives some advice to college students….

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AFTER GRADUATION

Managing Student Loans After Graduation
Life after college holds many opportunities and challenges — getting a job, living independently, and paying bills. You need a plan for your financial future. Careful management can save you money and provide a good credit history that will make getting your next loan — for a car or house — that much easier.  You can manage your debt and credit, shop for a wide variety of financial products, get great prices on cellular and long-distance communication, and check out offers for small businesses.

Learn to Earn
Know what to do with your money once you have it.  The financial aid is out there. But will you know what to do with it once you get it?  If you're planning to borrow money for college, it's a good idea to think about how you'll pay it back when you leave college. Payments on student loans are usually delayed until after graduation. But each loan is different and it's important to find out the terms of the loan, when repayment starts, and how much your payments will be before you agree to borrow any loan. 

College Grad:  Life Lesson
“You got your diploma, moved out of your dorm or college apartment and are starting a new chapter in your life. One hopes you're earning a nice fat paycheck, too. What a great feeling.   If you want to be able to hang on to some of the cash, spend a night setting up a budget.  Bankrate.com, the Web's leading aggregator of financial rate information,   has the lowdown on managing your money after college -- from budgeting and getting the most from your paycheck, to paying back your student loans and establishing credit.”

This program is made possible by a grant from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation through Smart Investing @ your library®, a partnership with the American Library Association. The PLYMC has formed  local partnerships with the following community agencies to promote financial literacy initiatives especially to young families: Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way, Mahoning County  Financial Stability Partnership, Mahoning/Youngstown Community Action Partnership (MYCAP), Junior Achievement of Mahoning Valley, Inc., Mahoning County Coalition for Community Reinvestment, Child Care Connection, Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority, Youngstown Economic Development Office, WFMJ-TV 21, WKBN-TV-27, and WYTV-TV -33.