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Discover More Methods of Student Loan Forgiveness 08/25/2015 08:00pm • We recently devoted an entire post to explaining all the details, facts and myths surrounding the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. If you're a regular reader, you know that we talk about loan forgiveness a lot, but that's because we get asked about it -- a lot. And while we firmly believe Money Moves to Make Before Age 30 08/25/2015 08:00pm • Managing money isn't easy when you're in your 20s. You might face some serious financial obligations, from rent to student loan debt, while lacking the salary to leave a comfortable cushion each month. Then there's also the pressure to start saving early for retirement, especially if you have a ful How to Handle a Major Financial Disruption 08/25/2015 08:00pm • When Eric McClain had a new baby on the way in 2008, he found himself unemployed and in the middle of a home renovation. "This was just as the financial crisis was starting," McClain says, which only added to his stress. The unemployment was unexpected, due to a bad fit with a new employer, and it What to Expect From a First Meeting With a Financial Planner 08/25/2015 08:00pm • I'm struggling to save, my goals seem out of reach and I'm just barely getting by. What's stopping me from getting the help I need? As is so often the case, we fear what we don't know. It can be a daunting task to muster up the courage to finally face our finances head-on and make the decision to 7 Smart Things You Can Do Now to Cut Expenses the Rest of the Year 08/25/2015 07:00am • The best money-saving tips are things you can do once in a few minutes or in an hour and then have that action continually save you money over the next several months (or even the next several years). Those kinds of strategies can fill up an afternoon or a weekend, but thereafter you'll have smaller Money Lessons from a Scandal's Victim 08/24/2015 08:00pm • When actress and writer Christina McDowell was growing up, life seemed pretty perfect: Settled in an affluent Washington neighborhood, she and her sisters enjoyed private planes, vacations in Nantucket and a household staff to maintain their home and routines. "I was growing and being shaped inside 6 Retirement Tips for Millennials 08/23/2015 08:00pm • If you are a millennial, retirement planning is probably at the bottom of your financial priority list at this point in life. Finding steady employment, paying off student loans, mortgage payments and kids are all likely front and center when it comes to your finances. However, just because you hav 9 Ways to Invest on a Small Budget 08/23/2015 08:00pm • Have a close encounter with Wall Street.Perhaps you've tried to break the pull of Planet Low Budget to invest in something -- anything -- and felt like you were bowled over by a blinding light, as in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." If so, take heart: Cary Guffey understands that simile like no 5 Ways You Can Pay for Retirement in Advance 08/23/2015 08:00pm • In retirement your income is largely fixed. Your Social Security payments will increase only by the annual inflation rate. And you can safely withdraw only about 4 percent of your savings each year, perhaps also adjusted for inflation. Given these constraints, it can be difficult to cope with sudde Is Your Bank Account in the Red? Here's What to Do Now 08/20/2015 08:00pm • Nothing can put a damper on a day quite like logging into your online banking account and seeing a negative number. Unfortunately, account overdrafts are not rare, and they are not inexpensive. Banks collect more than $31 billion annually in overdraft fees, according to research firm Moebs Services 4 Ways to Recover From Summer Overspending 08/20/2015 08:00pm • Summertime is ideal for kicking back and unwinding. If you're not careful, though, that same easygoing attitude can take a serious toll on your finances. Whether it's barreling ahead with extravagant vacation plans or enjoying too many meals out, the result is often the same: a bruised bank account Homeless find new life through local running group 08/20/2015 05:42am • WASHINGTON — It's 5:30 a.m. on a recent Wednesday in Northwest. Under a streetlight at 2nd and E streets, a group of runners convene to share hugs, a few laughs and a quick jog before the sun rises. This isn't just another jaunt: Since 2010, the D.C. nonprofit Back on My Feet has used running Why Real Estate Could Be a Better Investment Than Stocks 08/19/2015 08:00pm • Once you're on track with your financial goals -- such as retirement contributions or repaying student loan debt -- you may find yourself exploring real estate investments in lieu of the stock market. Buying real estate as an investment can be lucrative, but it's also cash-intensive and carries ris 2016 Best Colleges Rankings Coming Sept. 9 08/18/2015 08:00pm • Prospective students and parents looking for the school that best fits their needs can check out the 2016 edition of the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings starting Wednesday, Sept. 9. New rankings for National Universities, National Liberal Arts Colleges, Regional Universities and Regional Coll Public Service Loan Forgiveness: Common Questions Answered 08/18/2015 08:00pm • Lately, there's been an uptick of consumers worried that the federal public service loan forgiveness program is going away, so the Student Loan Ranger thought it might be a good time to separate fact from fiction on that front. First, let's do a little refresher on the program as it stands today.