Tax Time
Michelle Balaun2020-07-21T13:30:43-04:00It seems like it always almost time for Uncle Sam. April 15th is right around the corner. As you are preparing your return or having a CPA prepare your [...]
Graduation Tips for the Seriously Graduating!
Michelle Balaun2020-10-29T14:17:06-04:00Seriously, Graduating Already? Remember how when our kids were little we couldn’t envision them leaving us and going off to college? Now, if you are lik [...]
They’ve Been Accepted, A New Knight!
Michelle Balaun2020-06-30T11:50:30-04:00Here's what you do now, new Knight! Your son or daughter is going to be a Knight!! Congratulations!! It is great to be a Knight for so many reasons. You [...]
The ABC’s of 529 Savings Plans UCF
Michelle Balaun2020-07-03T16:52:24-04:00What 529 Pays When you decide to have kids, your first thought is not how am I going to pay for college, but it might be your second. I made a decision [...]
What U Should Do Before Heading to UCF
Michelle Balaun2020-06-11T12:11:45-04:00Before You Leave Before you leave to take your kid to college, there are a few items you will want to take care of that are extremely important. Most co [...]
Planning to Sublease an Apartment at UCF?
Michelle Balaun2023-05-08T16:27:49-04:00The Supply is Greater Than the Demand. Here's How to Sublease HaveUHeard about how to sublease? Students generally sign a lease for twelve months when t [...]
Banks and Credit Unions at UCF
Michelle Balaun2020-01-29T15:50:45-05:00Many Places to Grab Money, Banks Galore Leaving for college comes with so many new things, but banks and handling their own money can be one of the scar [...]
Disney Aspire a great way to afford school!
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T13:33:42-05:00Working For the Mouse Pays Off! Disney Aspire! Just when you thought that going to college in Orlando, the home of Mickey and Minnie, couldn’t get any b [...]
Having A Car at College
Michelle Balaun2020-06-25T16:20:53-04:00Can You Get By Without a Car? If you have ever talked to a UCF student, you would know that the #1 complaint involves parking on campus. Whether your st [...]
Computer and Phone Repair, Yes they can fix it.
Michelle Balaun2020-09-20T12:57:33-04:00OMG. It's Broken. The day my daughter’s phone broke, and she thought the world would come to an end, was nothing compared to when her computer stopped w [...]
FAFSA, all you need to know!
Michelle Balaun2020-10-02T10:13:37-04:00What is – FAFSA? First Applicants Find Substantial Assets, of course! FAFSA is the national Free Application for Federal Student Aid but, based on how a [...]
First Time Student Loan Borrower?
Michelle Balaun2020-07-09T12:22:34-04:00You'll Need to Do This for a Loan. What is the Entrance Counseling? In July of 2016, the U.S. Department of Education made it a requirement that, in ord [...]
Auxiliary Fees for Online Classes
Michelle Balaun2020-06-23T18:21:02-04:00HaveUHeard of These Auxiliary Fees for Online Classes? There is no denying that college tuition, in and of itself, is a huge expense; however, on top of [...]
Money, Money, Money, Show Me The Money!
Michelle Balaun2020-06-23T18:55:51-04:00When will they get their financial aid, alias "money"? The time has come to pay for your college costs and panic sets in, where is the money? I remembe [...]
Food for Thought
Michelle Balaun2020-07-01T15:02:18-04:00No Student Hungry Much like the national campaign No Kid Hungry®, there are many students at colleges throughout the United States that are barely getti [...]
Budget 101
Michelle Balaun2020-09-21T17:36:31-04:00Money Doesn't Grow on Trees At orientation we were inundated with information about all sorts of things; from FAFSA forms to meal plans. No one ever rea [...]
Being Thrifty
Michelle Balaun2020-06-29T09:20:23-04:00When You Need to Stay on Budget Before coming to college, I knew I wanted an updated wardrobe. Being trendy and cute is important. So is being thrifty. [...]
Storage for your Stuff at UCF
Michelle Balaun2020-07-16T12:00:40-04:00Where Will They Put All Their Stuff? Is storage the answer? That time between semesters when they want to bring everything home for a few weeks or summe [...]
Bright Futures, Get Your Shades Ready!
Michelle Balaun2020-06-01T20:02:35-04:00The Future Is So Bright You'll Need Shades! SEE END OF BLOG FOR CHANGES EFFECTIVE WITH THE 2020-2021 ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR Bright Futures has been a grea [...]
Working While Attending College
Michelle Balaun2020-10-17T18:36:15-04:00Make Some Moola While at School. Some students have to work to pay for college, some consider their school work their only job and fortunately don’t hav [...]
Beauty & The Beast
Michelle Balaun2021-06-10T14:55:25-04:00Look Your Beauty Best! Beauty upkeep is important to your well-being. When planning for college, we rarely think about the fact that our kids may still [...]
Grocery Stores
Michelle Balaun2020-07-20T13:19:09-04:00Let’s Eat Whether your student lives on campus or off, they will need groceries. Orlando has plenty of places to shop right near UCF in this regard. For [...]
Get on the Bus
Michelle Balaun2020-06-25T15:19:06-04:00A Guide to UCF’s Bus System The bus could be your answer... If you’ve ever been to UCF’s campus, you know that driving and parking can be a hassle. Gett [...]
Supervise an Easy Budget for Your College Student
Michelle Balaun2020-10-19T10:27:35-04:00This is a budget lesson that will serve you in the future! Some students actually keep to a budget. Well, sort of. I admit, it was hard telling my daugh [...]
Sorting Out College Life – A Guide to Laundry, Dry Cleaning & Alterations
Michelle Balaun2020-09-21T16:24:40-04:00The least favorite chore! I tried to teach my kids to do laundry before they each left for college. Really. I did. Yet, somehow when they went away to s [...]
Health Insurance for Students at UCF
Michelle Balaun2020-06-25T16:30:48-04:00Insurance Plans and Requirements Students at many colleges today must have a health insurance plan that meets their university’s minimum requirement. T [...]
Dropping A Class
Michelle Balaun2020-09-20T15:12:53-04:00Grade Forgiveness to Drop a Class I’m not sure which class it was; business calculus or accounting, but the horror stories were coming true. When my son [...]
Eating on a Budget is More Than Just Ramen
Michelle Balaun2020-09-21T17:34:53-04:00This is a budget lesson that will serve you in the future! Some students actually keep to a budget. I know this is true because I have had three of my o [...]
Preparing for Grad School Exams
Michelle Balaun2021-05-07T13:12:33-04:00Exams, the fun never stops! Exams are right around the corner. I know it feels like you just finished studying for the ACT/SAT’s and left for college, b [...]
Moving Out
Michelle Balaun2021-05-12T15:11:45-04:00Time to be Moving On Moving out can be almost as hectic as moving into the dorms and apartments. It did not make sense for us to drag the entire dorm su [...]
Are Your Student’s Valuables Safe, Protected?
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T16:18:50-05:00But Is It Safe? Right up there with the call from my college daughter that she lost her phone, keys, student ID, (fill in the blank), is the call you ge [...]
What Not To Bring To College!
Michelle Balaun2020-06-30T12:50:19-04:00Nope, Don't Need It Actually what I wanted to share here was that given that this is my third child to head off to college, I have learned that there ar [...]
Getting There – All the Transportation Options
Michelle Balaun2020-06-25T15:54:07-04:00The First Time That first time you drop your student off at a college you will probably want to go with them and get them settled. Many of you will driv [...]
It’s All About the Delivery and Getting it to Your Door
Michelle Balaun2020-09-15T12:47:48-04:00There's a knock at the door... Taking time away from studying can be the difference between dinner or a bag of chips and a soda. Sometimes it pays to t [...]
Study Abroad UCF and See The Word.
Michelle Balaun2020-06-30T18:22:31-04:00The World is your Classroom so Study Abroad! The world is your classroom. I am a big believer in this adage. Apparently many students agree as Study Abr [...]
Trouble in Paradise
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T16:33:38-05:00Trouble, sometimes it happens. I began our conversations about walking alone at night, binge drinking, hazing, and drugs, among other things many months [...]
Technology Services
Michelle Balaun2020-08-13T13:29:40-04:00UCF Technology Services Students should create a Knights email account which you may use once you are fully admitted. Students also receive 50GB of stor [...]
Choosing or Changing Your Major
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T16:35:46-05:00You Can Always Change Your Mind (Major). Considering the University of Central Florida offers 101 bachelor degrees; how is one to choose? Most students [...]
Books, Books, Books
Michelle Balaun2020-08-20T15:47:44-04:00Reality Begins Now that our sons and daughters are settled at college the reality begins (not ours, which happened for me the second I got into the car [...]
Searching for Scholarships to Help Pay the Way!
Michelle Balaun2020-08-21T14:03:26-04:00Congratulations on Your Child Being Accepted! Now that that’s settled, the idea of actually paying for college looms. Hopefully, you have prepared in s [...]
Finding A Job During Senior Year
Michelle Balaun2020-10-09T12:24:12-04:00Start Your Job Search Soon if You Are a Senior! ***UCF wants students to know that Career Services says students shouldn't slow down on thinking about i [...]
Finding an Internship and Getting Experience
Michelle Balaun2020-09-09T14:35:13-04:00Get the experience you need with an Internship. ***UCF wants students to know that Career Services says students shouldn't slow down on thinking about i [...]
Dress for Success
Michelle Balaun2020-08-18T14:46:08-04:00Time to Step it Up As they get closer to graduation, one of the greatest changes our students are about to experience is abandoning their shorts, t-shir [...]