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The amount of student loan debt has risen steadily, even before the recession, as the cost of higher education rose dramatically. The average bachelor’s degree graduate in 2008 owed $23,186, according to FinAid.org, which has extensive statistics on student debt.

…Ron Lieber of The New York Times wrote earlier this year about 26-year-old Cortney Munna, who borrowed nearly $100,000 to get a four-year degree in religious and women’s studies from New York University. She makes $22 an hour and faces monthly loan payments of $700. Lieber wrote: So in an eerie echo of the mortgage crisis, tens of thousands of people like Ms. Munna are facing a reckoning. They and their families made borrowing decisions based more on emotion than reason, much as subprime borrowers assumed the value of their houses would always go up. Meanwhile, universities like NYU enrolled students without asking many questions about whether they could afford a $50,000 annual tuition bill. Then the colleges introduced the students to lenders who underwrote big loans without any idea of what the students might earn someday — just like the mortgage lenders who didn’t ask borrowers to verify their incomes. The financial reform bill approved this summer will bring private student loans and loans from…

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Student loans exceed credit card debt

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Expand the description and view the text of the steps for this how-to video. Check out Howcast for other do-it-yourself videos from wogelife and more videos in the Credit Cards category. You can contribute too! Create your own DIY guide at www.howcast.com or produce your own Howcast spots with the Howcast Filmmakers Program at www.howcast.com There are times when it’s to your advantage to use plastic. To complete this How-To you will need: Information about your credit and debit cards Step 1: Read the fine print Read the fine print. Find out exactly what sort of fees you’re being charged. Is there a per-transaction fee associated with your debit card? Does your credit card charge a very high Annual Percentage Rate, or APR? Step 2: Cover your charges Only use your debit card if you have enough money in your checking account to cover your charges. Your bank might have high penalties for dipping below your minimum balance. Step 3: Pay off immediately Pay back money as soon as possible. If you do have to carry a balance, make sure you have a low APR. A small amount of debt can multiply into something large and unwieldy. Step 4: Keep your cards safe No matter which card you use, be sure to keep track of it and to keep the card number safe, and the PIN number for you debit card in a separate, safe place. Be sure to alert your financial institution immediately if your card is lost, stolen, or if you suspect it’s being used fraudulently. Tip: If you use your debit card to make a

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