Tax Time
Michelle Balaun2020-01-10T10:34:09-05:00Tax Time April 15th is right around the corner. As you are preparing your return or having a CPA prepare your return, do not forget to take advantage of [...]
The ABC’s of 529 Savings Plans USF
Michelle Balaun2020-06-14T15:14:21-04:00What 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 [...]
Finding an Internship
Michelle Balaun2020-09-09T14:23:29-04:00Finding an Internship One of the best ways to learn about a prospective career is to do an internship. Most colleges will require at least one, paid, or [...]
Career Showcase – A Student Perspective
Michelle Balaun2020-09-04T23:10:17-04:00How To Align Your Studies With Your Future Career Plans. When I attended USF, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to study. I was so excited to star [...]
First Time Student Loan Borrower?
Michelle Balaun2020-07-09T12:18:56-04:00You'll Need to Do This. What is an Entrance Counseling? In July of 2016, the U.S. Department of Education made it a requirement that, in order to have s [...]
Off-Campus Living and How to Manage
Michelle Balaun2023-05-08T16:37:35-04:00The Next Step to Off-Campus Living! Prepare yourself as you read this: breathe. Just when you think your student has figured out how to navigate the cam [...]
They’ve Been Accepted, WooHoo, Now What.
Michelle Balaun2020-04-21T14:03:48-04:00They’ve Been Accepted Congratulations on Becoming a Bull! Congratulations to the Class of 2024! Accepted! I mean, they made it, but it sure feels like w [...]
Who You Going To Call?
Michelle Balaun2020-01-10T11:18:24-05:00...When You Need Answers Over the years there have been only a few times that I, as a parent, have felt the need to call the campus to resolve an issue. [...]
What is – FAFSA?
Michelle Balaun2020-10-02T10:24:40-04:00What is – FAFSA? First Applicants Find Substantial Assets, FAFSA of course! FAFSA is the national Free Application for Federal Student Aid but, based on [...]
Budget 101
Michelle Balaun2020-06-01T11:10:51-04:00Budget 101 I’m going to start with the dreaded comment starting “when I was in college, we didn’t have…” (insert teenager eye-roll here). But, all of us [...]
Banks & Credit Unions
Michelle Balaun2020-06-24T16:05:39-04:00Places that Handle Money We all know that banks are where we store the cash. Leaving for college comes with so many new things, but handling their own m [...]
Fix it!
Michelle Balaun2020-06-11T16:01:04-04:00Fix it! You know you are having a cruddy day when your car, bike or motor scooter breaks down or gets a flat tire. Talk about being late for class, how [...]
Home Sweet Dorm Make it Sweet at USF
Michelle Balaun2020-09-24T16:21:30-04:00Home Sweet Dorm You may be surprised at how one can transition a mass-produced, industrial-looking dorm room into a warm and inviting room or suite. And [...]
Get on the Bus
Michelle Balaun2020-01-10T12:13:12-05:00A Guide to USF’s Bus System Getting to and from campus can be stressful-worrying about arriving to class on time with morning and evening traffic is tou [...]
Money, Money, Money
Michelle Balaun2020-08-20T14:38:29-04:00When Will Financial Aid Disburse? The time has come to pay for your college costs and money panic sets in. I remember receiving my tuition statement fo [...]
Move-In Day
Michelle Balaun2020-06-12T12:48:03-04:00Move-In Day Means - M.I.D USF’s move-in day is…well…a lot of work. Be prepared for many trips to the car and possibly one or two to the store for the i [...]
Supervise an Easy Budget for Your College Student
Michelle Balaun2020-10-21T14:53:19-04:00This is a budget lesson that will serve you in the future! When we attended orientation with our daughter, we were inundated with information from FAFSA [...]
Auxiliary Fees for Online Classes
Michelle Balaun2020-09-30T12:13:58-04:00Who Pays for This? **Due to the unprecedented Spring 2020, situations and circumstances continue to evolve daily. Please start all your planning for any [...]
More Veggies Please – Vegan/Vegetarian Dining
Michelle Balaun2020-11-05T12:11:23-05:00Eating Healthy is Possible at College. We LOVE Veggies! With our country’s focus on health and healthy eating, college students are growing up used to “ [...]
Searching for Scholarships
Michelle Balaun2020-08-20T13:58:37-04:00Congratulations on Your Child Being Accepted! Now that that’s settled, the idea of actually paying for college looms. Hopefully, you have prepared in s [...]
Bright Futures – Shining Bright
Michelle Balaun2020-07-01T12:40:44-04:00The 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 [...]
Thrift Shops for the Thrifty Near USF!
Michelle Balaun2020-06-29T09:23:51-04:00When You Need to Be Thrifty and Stay on Budget Thrifting isn’t just a hot trend right now, it’s an amazing way to stay in style while saving money. Bein [...]
Food for Thought
Michelle Balaun2020-07-01T15:05:24-04:00No Student Hungry Much like the national campaign No Kid Hungry®, there are many students at colleges throughout the United States that are barely getti [...]
Working While in College at USF, Here’s How to Cope
Michelle Balaun2020-11-10T13:40:15-05:00Working While in College To Work or Not to Work? Working while in college is a very personal decision. Each family will decide on the needs of their stu [...]
Preparing for Grad School Exams
Michelle Balaun2021-05-07T13:09:58-04:00Just keep going! Whenever you hear someone say, “four years fly by” believe it! Preparing for graduation comes as a shock to some, but then there is th [...]
Dropping A Class
Michelle Balaun2020-09-20T15:04:22-04:00Dropping The Subject I clearly remember my days at USF and having to make a hard decision about dropping a class. Back then, it seemed as if the world w [...]