Bright Futures
Michelle Balaun2020-04-28T12:13:12-04:00The 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 long be [...]
Budget 101
Michelle Balaun2020-10-16T15:24:43-04:00Asking for Money? I can vividly remember being in college and having to make the dreaded call home to my father to ask for money after I blew through my [...]
Meal Plan and Other Ways to Eat
Michelle Balaun2020-09-08T10:57:15-04:00Burgers and Pizza and Fries…Oh my! A Guide to Meal Plans With college right around the corner, I see you fearfully envisioning your student’s diet as on [...]
Making the Most of Summer B
Michelle Balaun2020-04-30T14:42:54-04:00Summer can be the best season ever! Ask any older Gator what their favorite semester has been so far and many will tell you it was freshman year Summer [...]
Banks and Credit Unions at UF
Michelle Balaun2020-06-24T16:02:27-04:00Many Places to Grab Money, Banks Galore! Leaving for college comes with so many new things, but handling their own money can be one of the scariest. We [...]
Money, Money, Money
Michelle Balaun2020-08-19T20:49:04-04:00When Will Financial Aid Money Disburse? The time has come to pay for the first college bills. For some reason, this always cues panic. I remember receiv [...]
Grocery Stores
HUH Expert Parent2020-07-09T14:28:23-04:00Let's Eat Calling all Gator chefs de college cuisine! Here's where to find your grocery stores. Those of you from Florida -- or any of the Southeastern [...]
The ABC’s of 529 Savings Plans UF
Michelle Balaun2020-08-24T11:32:26-04:00What 529 Pays When you decided to have kids, I would bet your first thought was not, "How am I going to pay for college?" But it might have been your se [...]
The Best Apps For Students
Michelle Balaun2020-11-10T13:02:44-05:00UF and College Studying Apps Remember when you were in college and everything you needed was easily accessible via apps on your phone? No? Well, me eith [...]
Planning to Sublease an Apartment at UF?
Michelle Balaun2023-05-08T15:52:57-04:00Here’s How to Sublease - The Supply is Greater Than the Demand HaveUHeard that students generally sign a lease for twelve months when they move into an [...]
Eating on a Budget
Michelle Balaun2020-07-09T16:45:35-04:00Budget Eating Is Possible Keeping your college kid eating while at the same time balancing their food budget is a real challenge. Through the years, I h [...]
Books, Books, Books
Michelle Balaun2020-08-20T14:51:36-04:00Book Time A lot has changed since I was a student, but one thing has not: Textbooks are expensive! Sure, the format differs, but the cost for books and [...]
Searching for Scholarships – Find Your Way
Michelle Balaun2020-08-19T20:01:51-04:00Searching for Scholarships Congratulations on Your Child Being Accepted! Now that that’s settled, the idea of actually paying for college looms. Hopefu [...]
Working While in College
Michelle Balaun2020-11-10T13:02:16-05:00Working or Not Working, That is the Question. Some students have to work to pay for college. Some consider their school work their only job and are fort [...]
Honor Roll
Michelle Balaun2020-05-28T21:52:47-04:00My Student Made Honor Roll It's always something of a goosebumps moment when a gold-embossed, cream-colored, linen envelope arrives in the mail. At this [...]
Who You Going to Call?
Michelle Balaun2020-05-14T16:06:08-04:00...When You Need Answers Here is the important contact info you need to have. Over the years there have only been a few times that I, as a parent, have [...]
Having a Car at College
Michelle Balaun2019-12-19T15:39:44-05:00Can You Get By Without a Car? As a fourth-year student at the University of Florida, I have experienced college with and without a vehicle. While having [...]
Being Thrifty
Michelle Balaun2020-07-30T12:15:25-04:00When You Need to Stay on Budget, Be Thrifty! Being a college student, it can be stressful to be thrifty and stay on budget throughout the semester. Ther [...]