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Brianna McGurran

Brianna is a former columnist and staff writer for NerdWallet who focused on student loans and money management for 20-somethings. Much of her work helping readers with budgeting and debt is featured in her personal finance advice column, "Ask Brianna," which was syndicated by The Associated Press.

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Posts by Brianna McGurran:

How Do You Compare? Average Salaries by Age and Occupation

Anna Helhoski & Brianna McGurran
Sept. 12, 2019

Your salary probably doesn’t top the list of conversation topics when you’re at lunch with your co-workers. That makes it tough to tell whether you’re ahead of the curve or…

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How to Consolidate and Refinance Your Student Loans

How to Consolidate and Refinance Your Student Loans

Anna Helhoski & Brianna McGurran
Feb. 23, 2021

There are two types of student loan consolidation: federal and private. Private consolidation is often referred to as refinancing. These processes are often confused, but they’re very different. Here’s how: Federal…

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Do Student Loans Affect Buying a House?

Brianna McGurran
July 14, 2020

Your student loan debt affects whether you can buy a house, in both direct and indirect ways. Here’s how: Student loan payments make saving for a down payment more difficult…

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A College Education Isn’t Priceless

A College Education Isn’t Priceless

Brianna McGurran
Feb. 11, 2021

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…

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pay-off-student-loans-or-buy-house

Should You Pay Off Student Loans or Buy a House?

Brianna McGurran
Nov. 28, 2018

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…

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Find Your Federal Student Loan Consolidation Interest Rate

Find Your Federal Student Loan Consolidation Interest Rate

Brianna McGurran
Feb. 5, 2021

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…

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Starter Credit Card Options: Student Card or Secured Card?

To Make College Cost Even More, Pay by Credit Card

Brianna McGurran
June 29, 2019

Sure, your college may allow students to pay for tuition and fees with a credit card. But, like partying the night before a midterm, it’s probably not a good idea.…

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Classic Car Insurance

Student Loans for Community College: Compare Options for 2019

Brianna McGurran
Feb. 1, 2019

If you need student loans for community college, max out federal loans first. Private loans should be your last resort, after using grants, work-study, some personal savings, employer assistance and federal student…

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understanding-student-loans-story

Types of Student Loans: Which Is Best for You?

Brianna McGurran & Anna Helhoski
Jan. 22, 2021

There are three types of student loans: federal loans, private loans and refinance loans once you leave school. Federal loans are provided by the government, while banks, credit unions and…

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Student Loans Without a Co-Signer: Compare Options for 2019

Brianna McGurran
Feb. 22, 2019

Federal student loans don’t require credit history or a co-signer. They’re also the most flexible when it’s time to repay, so use them first. But to afford college, some students may…

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