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How to Kill Time Without Blowing Your Budget

By U.S. News & World Report

Two weeks ago, I had a full-fledged computer meltdown. My laptop started operating at speeds circa 1996 and deteriorated quickly from there. An appointment at the Genius Bar realized my worst freelancer fear: I’d have to part with my computer for the next three to seven days while the Mac Geniuses worked to repair it.

Being a full-time, online entrepreneur, I was professionally devastated by the news. I fumbled around on my phone, painstakingly typing out emails to clients and editors whose deadlines I wouldn’t be able to meet until further notice. With that small matter of business taken care of, I quickly came to realize that without my computer and the zillions of files I had foolishly failed to back up, there wasn’t much I could accomplish.

What would I do with myself? Binge watch Netflix with a side of red wine or maybe schedule some dates with the friends I hadn’t seen in ages. It was a dilemma I hadn’t encountered in a while, but the feeling was familiar: I needed to kill time, without blowing my budget.

Whether it’s waiting for a friend who’s running late or finding a way to spend an afternoon, aimless time has a tendency to lend itself to aimless spending. Sometimes minimally: a cup of coffee to enjoy while capitalizing on free Wi-Fi. Other times detrimentally: a spontaneous shopping spree born out of seemingly innocent window shopping.

Having a plan for directing your free time can be just as effective as having a plan for your spending. Though you may not know when instances of empty, unplanned time may arise, having contingencies on hand that align with your budget and personal priorities is simply good practice.

Kiss broke and bored goodbye with these cost-effective, time-efficient strategies.

Reassess and refine your goals. Down time is prime time for some quality introspection. The silence and stillness necessary to ponder big questions such as, “What do I want?” and, “What am I doing to get it?” doesn’t present itself too often.

Whether it’s an extra 15 minutes or a few hours, taking some time to reflect on these questions central to happiness and fulfillment is a great way to break the cycle of simply going about the routine of day to day living and checking in on big picture goals, making sure forward progress is being made and adjusting as necessary.

Write down whatever comes to mind along with next action steps for each item to get the momentum rolling in the direction of your goals and dreams. January doesn’t have a monopoly on resolutions; every interval of down time offers an opportunity to reset, restart or readjust, and it doesn’t have to cost a thing.

Practice healthy habits. Not enough time is the ultimate excuse for forgoing exercise, ordering in and other chronic, unhealthy habits. If you’re given the gift of time, don’t waste it on being bored. Instead, ditch the excuses and justifications and start a workout regimen or meal plan.

Start a Pinterest board of easy, healthy recipes. Go for a walk outside. Download a free meditation app to foster some mental clarity. Time that isn’t monopolized by the pressure of responsibilities and deadlines presents an opportunity to foster habits that support a healthy, optimized lifestyle that can save you thousands over the course of a lifetime.

Give yourself a financial physical. Speaking of goals and healthy habits, let’s not forget to include the occasional fiscal check-up. How are you doing on your financial goals? Do you need to make any adjustments to your current budget and habits to reach your targets? What other adjustments might serve to optimize your financial profile? Perhaps canceling the magazine subscription you’re not reading anymore? Renegotiating the interest rates on your loans and credit cards? Researching better deals on you recurring bills?

Effectively using just a half hour of down time to give your finances a once over can help you put systems in place to better manage your money and stay accountable to your long term goals, even as the craziness of day-to-day living picks back up.

Volunteer. You don’t have to limit your giving to monetary contributions, use moments of down time to make service contributions. There are endless ways to give back. Research organizations and causes that are meaningful to you and the tasks that you can do to contribute within the limitations of your idle time.

Learn something. Read a book, watch instructional YouTube videos, visit your local library — using your down time to learn new things and develop your skills is not only practical, it can prove highly enjoyable and may help you connect with like-minded people, often leading to even more exciting opportunities.

In the wake of my computer meltdown, I took to Twitter to get updates on a conference I knew was happening in my hometown. With a few strategic tweets and hashtag searches I managed to score a $25 ticket to the conference and spent the next two days soaking up valuable new information and perspectives while connecting with other entrepreneurs. I even scored a Kate Spade bag during a conference giveaway — talk about a sweet way to kill time!

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How to Kill Time Without Blowing Your Budget originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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