A College Education Isn’t Priceless
College-bound high school seniors of America: You are about to embark on one of the most formative periods of your life, full of new friendships, personal growth and overcaffeinated conversations…
Brianna McGurran
Brianna writes about student loans and money management for 20-somethings at NerdWallet. She loves helping readers figure out how to budget, pay off student loans and find jobs they love. You can read her tips — and the occasional "RuPaul's Drag Race" reference — in her personal finance advice column, "Ask Brianna," which is syndicated by The Associated Press. In her free time she's usually either strumming the guitar or reaching for the nearest red velvet cupcake.
Posts by Brianna McGurran:
Read This Before Making Your First Student Loan Payment
The end of the student loan grace period means an end to the heady days of payment-free living. Now, every month, you’ll part with a chunk of money that perhaps…
How to Pay Off Student Loans Fast
The best way to pay off student loans fast is to pay more than the minimum each month. The more you pay toward your loans, the less interest you’ll owe,…
Should You Pay Off Student Loans or Buy a House?
You don’t have to choose whether to pay off student loans or buy a house. With the help of first-time home buyer programs, and if you’re able to build up…
Find Your Federal Student Loan Consolidation Interest Rate
Your federal student loan consolidation interest rate is the weighted average of your federal loans’ interest rates, rounded up to the next one-eighth of one percentage point. That means larger…
Are You Afraid of Your College Debt?
“Ask Brianna” is a column from NerdWallet for 20-somethings or anyone else starting out. I’m here to help you manage your money, find a job and pay off student loans…
Should You Save, Invest or Pay Off Student Loans?
The question to ask isn’t whether to pay off student loans or invest. It’s actually how much you have saved for emergencies. That should be your top priority. While it feels…
Should I Pay Off My Student Loans Early?
You’ll be ready to pay off student loans fast once you’ve built a solid financial foundation by: Saving at least one month of basic expenses for emergencies Setting up automatic contributions to…
What Is a Student Loan Grace Period?
A student loan grace period is a stretch of time, after you’ve graduated or left school, when you’re not required to make payments. Here’s how much time you’ll have before…
Which Student Loan Should You Pay Off First?
Pay off the student loan with the highest interest rate first. That will save you the most money over time. But if getting rid of small balances one by one…
