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How to Get Around Safely and Cheaply When Traveling

By U.S. News & World Report

Traveling to a new place can be an exciting adventure, whether it’s a few states away or across international waters. When you arrive at your destination, the best way to keep your spending under budget and your trip safe and stress-free is to have a plan for getting around. A little planning ahead of time can take care of many issues that arise. Follow these steps for a successful and affordable trip.

[See: 12 Frugal Ways to Save on Vacation.]

Get your finances in order. Before you depart, think about how you will spend your money while traveling. No matter where you’re headed, it’s a good idea to notify your credit card companies before you travel. You’ll avoid the banks shutting off your cards on the suspicion of fraudulent activity. It only takes a few minutes to call and let them know your travel dates and destinations. Some companies allow you to do this online when logged into your account.

While you are in touch with your banking institutions, brush up on your checking account’s rules for ATM fees. Some banks will reimburse you for all ATM fees, including international ones. Others won’t reimburse you and might even charge you their own fee for using a different bank’s ATM. If you are traveling internationally, find out whether your credit cards tack on any foreign transaction fees.

Knowing which credit and debit cards to use on your trip ahead of time, and how to get cash without fees, will protect you from surprise charges.

[See: How to Live on $13,000 a Year.]

Cheap connections. Another consideration for international travelers is how to connect to the internet for maps and directions, searching the local area, locating nearby restaurants and more. If you are staying in a hotel with WiFi, you can load maps on your phone and tablet and take screenshots of the surrounding roads to reference the next day. This works best if you are getting around on foot.

If you’re driving to your next destination, many rental cars now offer WiFi hotspots in your car for an additional cost. Depending on how often you need an internet connection, this is a smart add-on and far cheaper than international data roaming charges. Of course, picking up printed maps wherever you are traveling won’t cost much and will be crucial when technology is unreliable.

Deals on planes, trains and cars. If you need transportation to your hotel from the airport, try to make arrangements before your trip. In high tourism areas, transport companies will pounce on weary travelers right after they get off the plane, looking to sign them up for a shuttle or car service that is much pricier than necessary. If you arrange a service ahead of time, you should have your voucher printed and ready upon arrival.

Before you book any travel during your trip, even a short train trip or a weekend car rental, look online and compare rates. You probably spent a lot of time searching for inexpensive plane tickets to get to your destination, so don’t spend more than you have to once you get there. Google Flights is a helpful tool to compare rates for different days and airlines. When booking a car rental, first compare rates on a travel booking tool such as Priceline or Expedia for the best possible price, and then check your favorite coupon website for a promo code.

[See: 10 Fun, Frugal Ways to Spend Your Free Time.]

Stay safe. If you’re visiting a new city, you may be able to get around with a public transportation system, which is often the least expensive method of transit. Get hold of a map ahead of time and figure out your route before you get to the station to avoid getting lost and spending more than necessary. Another way to travel around cities is through ridesharing services and cabs. Before your trip, do your research on the most reliable and safe method of transit in your destination city.

One precaution to take when traveling overseas or in a new place is to stay in touch with your hotel or hosts. Let them know when you plan to arrive and when you are likely to return if you head out to explore for the day. Grab a few business cards from your hotel with all its contact information in case you get lost or need to communicate with a driver who speaks a different language.

Take a few precautions and a couple of hours to prepare ahead of time, and your travel will be less expensive, less stressful and a lot more fun.

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How to Get Around Safely and Cheaply When Traveling 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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