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7 Ways to Get the Most Out of Cutting the Cord

By U.S. News & World Report

Cutting the cable TV cord has been a pipe dream for many consumers looking to cut costs. You want to drop that monthly cable bill, but can you still watch live sports? What about the latest episodes of your favorite shows the moment they air? Are you really willing to wait until the following day to discuss the plot twists your co-workers are already talking about?

Luckily, consumers are enjoying a golden age of television, both in terms of content and the variety of services available to deliver shows whenever and wherever they want. What’s more, several digital streaming services are competing to woo cable subscribers over to the digital side, which makes it easier, and cheaper, to cut the cord than ever before. Here’s how to get the most out of canceling your cable subscription.

[See: 6 Ways to Treat Yourself on a Budget.]

Determine which streaming services are best for you. Cutting the cord is mainly a money-saving move to make, so you don’t want to eliminate that expense only to replace it with several monthly charges for streaming services you may not use. Suppose.tv is a website that helps you choose the best services for you, taking the guesswork out of assembling your streaming experience. Just choose your region and the channels you watch most, and Suppose.tv will show you the most cost-effective way to access your channels on your streaming device.

Consider Amazon Fire. If you’re still weighing your options on which streaming digital device to use, you should consider Amazon Fire. With its 4K video support and Alexa serving as a humble AI assistant, Amazon Fire TV has won the latest Editor’s Choice for Media Hubs and Receivers from PC Magazine. The smart voice search allows you to speak any title, artist, genre or even app name into the microphone, and Amazon Fire will give you search results. For example, you can tell Amazon Fire to “Show me action movies,” “Open Youtube” or “Watch ‘Moana.'”

[Read: 7 Best Inexpensive Netflix Alternatives.]

Simplify your show search. So, you’ve cut the cable cord. You have your streaming device all set up. You’ve logged into your streaming accounts. But then you discover that browsing titles via your remote is kind of a nightmare. There are so many options.

Save your precious browsing time for the internet with Instantwatcher.com. This site lists the current shows and movies available on Amazon Prime and Netflix, showcases which ones will soon be expiring and tells you the popular titles coming soon. Vulture Streaming is another great spot to browse the latest shows and movies available on each service by month.

Follow cord-cutting news and rumors. The latest news in cord-cutting, casting for your favorite shows, updates on net neutrality and more can be found on the helpful cord-cutting subreddit thread, r/cordcutters. This subreddit is not only a great source of news, but also a fantastic place to ask questions. The tech-savvy members of the subreddit are always ready to help you discover new shows, set up new apps or troubleshoot streaming problems.

Dive into podcasts. When you aren’t able to watch TV, you can still scratch that TV itch by listening to a podcast about your favorite shows and movies. There are tons of terrific weekly podcasts on iTunes, NPR and Spotify for just about every popular show, so you know you’ll get an immersive experience, even when you can’t watch the latest episodes. For example, “Pop Culture Happy Hour” from NPR does a fantastic job of finding and reviewing lesser-known shows on streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime before they become mainstream. This podcast often rotates in guest hosts from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, thus providing a diverse take on the popular syndicated and original shows available online.

[Read: 7 Ways to Save Money on Your Internet Bill.]

Download an episode tracker app. When a beloved show ends for the season, you want to know when it’s coming back. Good news: There’s an app for that. Television Time on iTunes helps you track your favorite shows, gives you an in-depth look at recent episodes and helps you discover new shows to watch.

Don’t forget YouTube. While paid streaming services can provide hours of entertainment, it’s important to remember the reach of (free) YouTube. You can find TV recaps, the latest movie trailers, gag reels from your favorite shows and millions of hours of original content to match every interest you can think of. And yes, there are lots of puppies doing adorable things, too. Add the YouTube app to your streaming device and fall down the rabbit hole from the comfort of your couch.

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7 Ways to Get the Most Out of Cutting the Cord 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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