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9 Apps, Tools and Items to Make Holiday Travel Smoother

By U.S. News & World Report

The holidays are stressful enough without traveling during some of the busiest days of the year. And while these tools may not be able to help with crowded highways or family arguments, they can reduce your travel stress level and make getting from place to place a little easier. Don’t hit the road or head to the airport without these coveted apps, tools and products.

My TSA App

Airport security lines have become one of the most unpleasant and challenging parts of air travel, but the guesswork of how early you need to arrive to get through a line is one barrier you can remove. Download the My TSA app to receive up-to-date wait time alerts at airports around the country, as well as notices of airports that are experiencing flight delays. The app also showcases which airports accept TSA PreCheck and explains what you can and can not bring on the plane.

HomingPIN

Losing your luggage when you arrive at your holiday destination could be even more disastrous than normal if it’s packed full of gifts for friends and loved ones. While some airlines like Delta Air Lines have put tracking in place to help monitor bags on their journey, in most cases, it comes down to luck whether your luggage arrives where it should on time.

To avoid losing luggage and important electronic devices, try a service like HomingPIN (available for $10), which provides stickers and technology to affix to bags, phone, laptops, iPads and more, each of which have a unique code that ties to your contact information without publicly sharing it. If someone finds your item, he can go to HomingPIN.com and enter the code, and you will be sent a text or email securely connecting you to that person to retrieve your lost item.

A Downy Wrinkle Releaser

Ironing at home is no fun; ironing on the road is even less so, but inevitably clothes get wrinkled when stuffed and shuffled around in suitcases. Fortunately, the Downy Wrinkle Releaser (available for $1.99) features a portable solution that you spray on your clothes. After saturating your garments, along with some smoothing and tugging on the fabric, most wrinkles will come out, especially for cotton items. The Downy Wrinkle Releaser comes in a handy 3-ounce bottle — the perfect TSA-friendly size to take in carry-on bags through security.

Multi-Attraction Passes

If you’re planning to do some sightseeing at your holiday destination, you’ll likely be battling heavy crowds. With kids out of school and many people traveling, lines can be long and prices can be steep. Taking advantage of multi-attraction passes like Go City Card, CityPASS and the New York Pass enable you to save money by purchasing multiple attractions at once, as well as bypass ticket lines, getting you directly into the attraction.

The AAA Mobile App

The free AAA mobile app offers a variety of helpful services, particularly for AAA members. You can check gas prices, see companies near you that offer AAA discounts, map a route and even request roadside assistance and get battery replacement quotes directly from the app. The app also enables you to search for AAA Diamond-rated hotels and restaurants in the immediate area.

A Travel Cardigan

It’s always a great idea to carry a cardigan with you when traveling. You never know if the temperature will drop from day to night, if the plane will be freezing or if you forgot how cold it actually gets in Chicago. The Poppet Company offers a portable and stylish cardigan that fits easily in a purse, backpack or suitcase. Plus, you can use the pocket the sweater comes in to securely carry items like money, a driver’s license or other travel documents for easy access. The sweater retails for $79 at ThePoppet.com and comes in a variety of colors.

The Figo Pet Cloud

If you have to leave your pet over the holidays, make the separation easier by being able to track your pet’s whereabouts. The Figo Pet cloud app gives you access to your pet’s medical records, pictures and shot reminders, along with a GPS-tracking collar, so you can monitor your pet’s movement at the kennel, at home or daycare. In case your pet does get lost, the app also lets those people contact you by entering the number on your pet’s tag.

A Travel-Friendly Computer

If you’re like many travelers today, you tend to work while on the go … sometimes even over the holidays. The new Razer Blade Stealth (available for $999.99) is built with the traveler in mind with a thin, light and durable design, along with backlit keys for working in low light. The computer, which runs Windows, is also powerful with a minimum 8GB of RAM, high quality graphics and audio, up to nine hours of battery life for long plane rides and a touch screen.

The AVIS Now App

Rental car lines are another hassle. After all, you don’t want you to end up like Steve Martin in the classic 1987 film “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.” AVIS has made waiting in long car rental lines a thing of the past with their AVIS Now app, which lets you skip the rental counter, view car availability in real time, exchange or upgrade your car, flash the lights to find your car in the lot and even lock or unlock the doors. There’s also a one-click return when you’re ready to drop off the car.

More from U.S. News

10 Hacks for Headache-Free Travel This Holiday Season

9 Creative Ways to Cut Costs on Holiday Travel

7 Free Apps to Make Travel Easier

9 Apps, Tools and Items to Make Holiday Travel Smoother 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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