academics, Guest Posts

What is Plagiarism and How Do You Avoid It?

 

This article is timely, considering all the discussion about Melania Trump’s speech at the Republican National Convention.

plagiarism

We always use the word “ethical” if we want to describe something that is right, made or done according to rules and involves some moral values. Why then should we refer plagiarism to ethical issues too? Let us specify what plagiarism is. There are several activities that are referred to the notion: substantial copy-paste, intentional paraphrasing, use of one’s ideas representing them as your own ones, avoidance of crediting the source etc. All these actions are immoral and can be considered to be a violation of widely accepted ethical rules, consequently, plagiarism is one of the main ethical issues nowadays. At the same time, there are such cases that can’t be called unethical. Think only about self-plagiarism or accidental one: these issues can be hardly called intentional, so plagiarism remains a rather controversial term.

Gray areas or inability to give a definite answer

Is it always possible to answer the question: is it plagiarized? Despite the number of various software like Noplag.com Plagiarism Checker, for example, it is always difficult to give the only right answer to this question. The standards of plagiarism depend on many different points: this might be a genre of writing, the field of writing (lawyers are allowed to copy some pieces into their speeches, while politicians are not), a person, who has written the text (a school graduate or an experienced philologist) etc. Many people will admit that some of these cases can’t be called unethical, but in reality, everything must be decided only in the court. And if the situation is recognized to be a fraud or even a crime, the punishment will be rather severe. On the other side, plagiarism does not belong to the list of crimes and copyright does not cover all the misdeeds that are regarded to be this illegal activity. That is why it is extremely important to draw a line between what plagiarism is and where its ethical boundaries are located. Let us look at the gray areas of this notion that despite being extremely controversial are not considered to be plagiarized:

  1. Self-plagiarism: a situation, when a writer uses his thought or statement, which has already been published in the different source, in his next text. It is impossible to convict the writer as it is his own idea, but it is always advisable to recycle the content.
  2. Patchwriting: composing a text of passages from various sources. It can be called a unique style of writing, though it can’t be called an original piece of writing.
  3. Paraphrasing: rewriting some piece using your own words. Though this point has some connection with stealing ideas or viewpoints, all of us are taught to paraphrase at schools, so consequently, it might be called a criminal activity.
  4. Allusion: offering another source as an example is a very tricky thing, but it is also a good way to clear off the accusations of plagiarism.
  5. Ghostwriting: the process of creating some content under the another author’s name can’t be called plagiarism too as you still create something new even calling yourself a different person.
  6. Collaborative writing: if a book or article has several authors, it does not mean that all of them are credited the same and each of these representatives can pull a suitable part from other works.

All these issues can’t be evaluated only as completely right or completely wrong ones, so our relation to them is the only right answer for us personally.

How to spot plagiarizing

There are several indicators to help you to recognize a plagiarist:

  1. Intentional omission of citations and references;
  2. Figures of a completely different style than previous ones;
  3. Very old researches and information according to which there have been no other ones conducted recently;
  4. Sentences are not connected by content;
  5. Abrupt changes of writing style etc.

At the same time, the best thing that may help you to spot plagiarizing is a free online checker such as Noplag.com, for example. It will show you all the parts that were copied from other writers or intentionally paraphrased. By checking each your text your moral state will be always perfect and you will never suffer from self-reproach.

Plagiarism: ethics of stealing

In any case, if you make intentional efforts to use one’s work, idea or statement and avoid citing it, this action can be considered a literary theft. You commit an immoral illegal crime, which is known to everyone as a theft. Each original work is protected by copyright laws and violating intellectual property you commit a crime. As a result, if to speak about ethics, you must realize that plagiarism is the ethics of stealing and it may result in not very good consequences both for a plagiarist and the author of the original text.

__________________________

Lesia Kovtun is an ex English teacher who helps parents/students and organizations with educational planning. She is tech savvy, loves education and technology that makes studying process more convenient and collaborative. She currently works with Noplag.com team as a consultant.

parenting, social networks

What Lessons Can Your Teen Learn from the 2016 Election?

 

2016 election

This has been an emotionally charged 2016 election process. Most of us are ready for all of it to be over—from the talking heads, to the vicious mud-slinging, to the hate speak on social media. But within every negative experience, there are always teaching moments for our children.

At some point, your student will be leaving home for college as an adult. Before she goes, use this election to discuss some key values in hopes she will take them with her. These values are more important than grades, essays, and college applications.

Don’t exaggerate, bloviate, or inflate

My how both candidates have ranted, yelled, name-called and gone on and on without saying anything relevant. We’ve heard lies from both sides and attempts to cover them up or minimize them. The lesson here is simple: speak the truth. Use your words to “say what you mean and mean what you say”.

Social media is a game changer

This election has been driven by social media. Tweets from both candidates and from Wikileaks,  blasting one another on Facebook, posting videos, newspaper articles, and memes about each of the candidates. If you think no one pays attention to what you post, think again. This election was played out online this time and could very well be won or lost because of it.

The poor choices you make always have consequences

Each candidate has been embarrassed by some of the poor choices they made in the past. Their actions came back to haunt them. Their choices had consequences. This is perhaps the most important lesson to teach your college-bound teen—think before you act. Are you willing to accept the consequences of your actions?

Think before you post, tweet or email

Everything, and I mean everything, you put online will come back to haunt you. Social media is your resume and everyone is reading it—college admissions officers, future employers, family, and friends. Before you hit the “submit” button, consider the ramifications of what you are saying.

Respect has to be earned

The country has little respect for either candidate. This is an election where most people will tell you they are choosing the “lesser of two evils.” Respect is earned when you exhibit truthful, honest, moral behavior, kindness to others, and respect for authority. You have to earn respect by your actions.

And lastly, “decisions are made by those who show up”.

Harry Truman said, “Decisions are made by those who show up.” Teach your children that voting is a crucial freedom and they should exercise their right to vote in every election. And once the decision has been made, they can rest assured they did their part to express what they feel and believe.

social networks

Social Media is Your Resume

 

HubSpot recently published their 2016 Social Media Conduct eBook based on a recent studies on social media conduct. The study focused on employers and their use of social media. This applies to college applicants as well, hoping to be admitted to a college or university based on their resume. The bad news for some, according to HubSpot, is “social media is your resume”.

______________________

According to a survey by careerbuilder.com, 41% of employers say they are less likely to interview job candidates if they are unable to find information about that person online. Job seekers should think of social media as an integral piece of their resumes and each should use social media to establish and showcase his or her personal brand. Employers aren’t necessarily scanning your social media profiles to look for problems, they’re looking for insight into how you’re living your day to day life. Val Matta, vice president of business development at CareerShift, describes it like this:

“What candidates do in their spare time and broadcast to the world through social media speaks volumes about their personal values and culture. The hiring manager knows that, in hiring that person, they’ll likely bring those values and culture into the office. So it must align with, or contribute positively to, the organization’s current culture.”

There are some positive aspects to the trend of connecting social media to employment. According to Jobvite, one in three employers who research candidates on social media have found content that made them more likely to hire a candidate. And, 23% found content that directly led to hiring the candidate. The trick is, then, to not avoid social media, but to be on social media and be thoughtful about what you post.

Your social media profiles, or lack thereof, tell employers so much about you. JobVite found that 55% of recruiters have reconsidered candidates based on their social media profiles. 61% of those reconsiderations were negative. That means 39% were positive. Those who got a positive reconsideration likely put some care and consideration into their personal brand. Make sure you’re controlling your personal brand and building up your social media profiles so they tell your story the way you want it to be told.

Related: Social Media: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

Facebook Privacy Pitfalls

In an article called “Watch Your Mouth on Social Media,” Scott Kleinberg, nationally syndicated columnist and the former social media editor at the Chicago Tribune, wrote:

“I read a story not too long ago where someone tired of being the subject of abusive Facebook comments reached out and complained to that person’s boss. The company subsequently fired the person.” How did that happen? Kleinberg explains: “Your place of employment shows up next to your name on a Facebook comment when a website uses the Facebook commenting plug-in. So if you’ve ever seen a story online and noticed the comments look like Facebook, that’s why. But even outside of the plug-in, hovering over your name or anyone else’s name on Facebook proper can reveal the same information.”

“Nine times out of 10, what you say is being read by a much wider audience and information about the person saying it is more widely shared than you’d ever imagine.”

The advice in Mr. Kleinberg’s article is a must-read for anyone who uses social media.

 

social media
photo Courtesy of HubSpot

Harsh Judgements

A social media page that makes your life look like a non-stop party is probably going to be judged harshly.

A study conducted by North Carolina State University concluded that:

A lot of employers and companies don’t really understand online behavior and many Facebook users aren’t getting hired as a result…Companies often scan a job applicant’s Facebook profile to see whether there is evidence of drug or alcohol use, believing that such behavior means the applicant is not ‘conscientious,’ or responsible and self-disciplined. However, the researchers found no significant correlation between conscientiousness and an individual’s willingness to post content on Facebook about alcohol or drug use. Will Stoughton, Ph.D. and lead author of the paper added, “This means companies are eliminating some conscientious job applicants based on erroneous assumptions regarding what social media behavior tells us about the applicants.”

Slang and Text Speak

The use of internet slang, texting language, poor grammar and misspellings is ubiquitous on social media and can signify poor communication skills. According to careerbuilder.com 29% of employers do not like to see posts that demonstrate poor communication skills.

Though 29% of employers are turned off by poor communication skills, the careerbuilder.com survey also found that 37% are more likely to hire a candidate whose social media profiles indicate great communication skills.

So, a serious job candidate who showcases his or her strong communication skills by submitting a professional resume undermines that effort when his or her social profiles are littered with internet slang, poor grammar, and misspellings.

It may not be a bad idea to keep up with trending internet slang words because today’s teenagers will soon be in charge. Gavin Hammar, CEO of Sendible.com, believes that “As this language becomes more allowed in educational settings, it will leave a lasting impact on the future generations. The young adults that are in high school right now are being directly affected by social media slang. These are the same people that will become the next business professionals, politicians and leaders of our world.”

Bottom line: if your student is applying to college and wants to be gainfully employed after graduation, it’s a good idea for them to “mind their manners” on social media.

tech gadgets, technology

Tips for Buying a Laptop for Your Student

 

buying a laptop

Access to computing power is an essential for any scholar heading to college. When those Black Friday sales begin to show up, then, you may be inspired to act quickly, and pick up a deal. It might work out well. There’s plenty of room for mistakes, however. It’s important to do your homework before you commit yourself to buying a laptop.

First, talk to the school

When a student uses a computer at college, he or she needs it to connect to the school’s network, and the network at the library. When there is a problem connecting, the tech support department at the college needs to be able to help.

With a view to keeping the tech support complexities involved to a minimum, educational institutions tend to limit themselves to providing support for one operating system. Should a student come in with an operating system that the school isn’t prepared for, there is little support likely to be available.

College courses can come with special computing requirements, as well. It’s important to keep those in mind.

Talking to the school can come with practical benefits, as well. You may learn that the school has a discount program for its students. You could get both the laptop and all the software needed, at low, negotiated prices. School-sourced computers come with easy-to use warranties, as well.

 If what the college supplies isn’t good, get your own

When colleges offer deals, they tend to be on good models. Sometimes, however, colleges do lose the plot. Whatever model the college offers, you want to look through the specifications, and make sure that there’s nothing wrong with them. If they seem less than adequate, there are always plenty of quality, cheap laptops available online. You only need to make sure that what you get is compatible with the school’s needs and abilities.

Here’s what you should look for

If the school asks for a Windows or Linux laptop, these come cheaper now than ever before, and you can get astounding quality and performance at no more than a few hundred dollars. If you can afford it, you want to choose nothing less than a 1080p, IPS LED screen that offers sharp resolution and wide viewing angles. An Intel Core i5 processor for processing power, 8 GB RAM for speed, a 2 GB graphics card that keeps up with moderate demands, a 1 TB hard drive for storage, and a backlit keyboard for nighttime work. A capacious battery is a great plus. If it’s a Mac that’s required, the choices tend to be clearly stated.

Ask the student that you’re buying for

The school’s recommendations may help you learn about the minimum requirements for the course. Such a computer may not meet the minimum requirements that the kid has in mind, however. If it’s a gaming enthusiast that you’re buying for, it’s a whole other ballgame.

Many students heading out to college decide to buy two computers: a light, inexpensive laptop for everyday work at college, and a powerful desktop for gaming purposes. Only a desktop can handle a gaming-level graphics card, after all. In some cases, a desktop maybe all a student wants.

Buying a fine laptop isn’t hard work. You only need to head in armed with information.

______________________

Today’s guest post is from Aimee Kirk. She has some extra time on her hands now the kids are grown, her youngest now at college. So she is spending that time writing articles and has taken up a new hobby in the form of digital art.

financial aid, scholarships

Crowdfunding to Pay for College

 

crowdfunding

Crowdfunding. It’s the new way to raise money for all kinds of worthwhile endeavors. But did you know that your student can use it to raise money for college? In the spirit of the famous quote, “It takes a village to raise a child”, crowdfunding takes college savings to a whole new level.

Though it might seem awkward asking for money for college, crowdfunding sites act as intermediaries. These sites allow students to submit a personal appeal for funds. Much like wedding registries that everyone is familiar with, crowdfunding sits act as a college registry to seek money to pay for college.

Is this something that interests you and your student? Here’s a list of crowdfunding sites to explore and help you get the ball rolling:

Acentive

Acentive, is a unique crowdfunding platform designed to help students raise money for college from their community, allows pledges to actually incentivize students to excel academically. Pledges from family, friends, and the community are tied to academic performance (such as $25 for every A earned); this means the better the grades, the better the payout.

Other crowdfunding platforms generically ask donors for money. Acentive provides a way for donors to set academic targets and reward students for success so they feel good knowing students had to work hard to earn those donations.

The company believes that monetary rewards are a great way to incentivize academic performance and have found that family and friends are excited to offer support when it gives students a goal. The short-term rewards help students focus on short-term performance, particularly during freshman year when the pressures of college are high. According to co-founder Jeremy Bolian, “Acentive is the best way to raise money for college because it leverages community support in a way that actually incentivizes students to excel in school.”

YouCaring

Is the cost of college standing in the way of your educational goals? Every year, the cost of education rises twice as fast as medical care costs! College costs show no signs of slowing. In your lifetime, the price of attending college has increased over 1100%. Student loan debt has doubled in the last 10 years. YouCaring makes raising money for college tuition fast, easy—and free. Students on our fundraising platform get the tools they need to offset the rising costs of getting a quality education, absolutely free.

Indiegogo

Indiegogo is a crowdfunding platform that doesn’t decide who does or does not get funded – it’s all in the hands of the public. With it, you can raise money for college.

Gift of College

If you’re reluctant to solicit gifts for their children’s college funds, Gift of College would be an excellent crowdfunding source. With this unique offering, friends and relatives have an option to contribute to a 529 saving account by purchasing a gift card for special occasions and holidays.

The cards offer a tangible way to contribute to a college fund, rather than simply writing a check. You can purchase these gift cards online at their website or at various merchants to use as gifts.

GreenNote

You may not realize it, but there are lots of people out there rooting for you. Friends, family, friends of family and your community. Even people you may not know directly. People want you to get an education, they want you to graduate and they want you to have a successful career.

So why not consider asking them for help? Using the GreenNote online service, you can request donations from your social network and provide them with a really simple and convenient way to send funds just when you need them the most!

Go Fund Me

GoFundMe is a popular fundraising/crowdfunding site. Why not use it to raise money for college? College is expensive. Ease the financial burden by fundraising for higher education costs, including those not covered by financial aid or scholarships, such as room and board or study abroad trips.

PigIt

PigIt’s co-founder describes the site as “education’s entrepreneurial piggy bank.” On the site, students are able to offer their personal skills, abilities or products in exchange for financial contributions. It’s a great way for students to actively gain control of their current debt situation, without the temptation of spending the funding elsewhere.

Rally

Rally.org makes it easy for individuals, groups, social causes and non-profits to fundraise online with no tipping points or hassle. It’s easy to create a beautiful, inspiring, online-fundraising page with Rally.org. Simply upload a photo or video with your fundraising story and you’re ready to go! Their expert team has designed a fundraising website with your goals in mind.

Uncategorized

Don’t Be Afraid of College Prep

 

college prep

What lurks in the dark—the unknown? We have so many things to be afraid of these days. Parents live with fear every day. Who knew clowns would be at the top of the list? Can you believe the violence these once happy characters are responsible for? I long for the days of Ronald McDonald.

One thing you do not have to fear is college prep. As with any goal, it’s important to remember the only way to remove the fear and anxiety is to be prepared and organized, know the facts, and have the conversations. Once you do these things, you can enjoy the experience.

Be prepared

Stay organized and prepare for senior year. College prep begins early in high school and culminates with senior year college applications. Create a college landing zone early, set up files (either in a file cabinet or on a zip drive), and start collecting information on test prep dates, AP test dates, volunteer opportunities and any other aspects of college prep.

Know the facts

Get expert advice when you need it. Parents can take advantage of all the social media outlets to educate themselves about college prep. Experts abound on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Pinterest. Once you connect, sign up for their mailing lists and follow their blogs. If you have a question, just ask. Most will be willing to help. Need to know where to find them? Check out these lists from my blog:

50 College Info Websites

50 More College Prep Websites

56 College Info Websites

Have the conversations

Don’t let fear of the unknown cause you added stress during the process. Have conversations about money before they leave for college. Once your student knows what you can afford to pay and what you expect him to pay, the college search becomes more focused. This alleviates any surprises when the offers of admission arrive and it’s too expensive to attend. Discuss budgeting as well.

Don’t forget the conversations about risky behavior. This will be the first time your student is living on their own and there will be many temptations to participate in this behavior. Explain the consequences for each and devise a plan to avoid these dangers.

Enjoy the experience

Lurking in the shadows is the inevitable moment of saying goodbye. Focus on the positive and embrace each and every experience. This is a monumental moment in your child’s life (and yours). It’s the biggest “treat” of all. Don’t let fear and anxiety about the future rob you of the joy of the journey.

For many parents, college prep is scary. They wonder if their student will make the right decisions, be ready for this future step, and how they, as parents, will respond to all these emotions. But don’t be afraid. Get help, talk to other parents, and ask questions. We’re here to help!

financial aid

5 Ways to Save Money for College

2 Comments

 

save money

Saving money for school is getting more and more difficult as the prices of school tuition get higher and higher. While some students are given a free ride with an academic or athletic scholarship, others rely on their parents or grandparents to pay for school.

For the rest, it is becoming a common occurrence for students to live at home with their parents for the first year while living frugally and trying to save up for the following semesters. While these students may save a lot of money, it is still possible to get private alternative loans to help cover the expense. Here are five ways to frugally save money for school and contribute to paying for room and board, books and tuition.

1. Save change in a bucket at the finish of each day. Never take it out to spend. Roll the coins periodically with free wrappers from the bank. Do not use a coin conversion machine. It removes a small percentage. Every coin counts.

2. Enroll in a 529 tax deferment plan. The student may be able to shop at certain stores and use their coupons to save money. A percentage of the money will go into a college savings account.

3. Pick up a part-time job. Any earnings will be directly deposited into an individual bank account used only for school. If the student already has one, this could be a second income set aside only for higher learning.

4. Spend less money on fun activities. Rather than going out bowling or to a movie, go to a free concert at the local park or go for a bike ride. Rather than going out with friends, invite them over instead.

5. Use coupons. Clip or download coupons on food, auto repair, and restaurants. Do not spend more money to save more, simply spend less. Using coupons to save money on clothes such as stores like even Jet.com can be of great deal and also using coupons for stores like Target.com; You can save a lot of money.

Those looking to increase their financial well-being and savings should check out these money saving tips.

essays, Guest Posts

How to Write a Personal Statement

personal statement

If a private university or college is in your future, the Common App is your one-way ticket. You’ve got one shot at a winning application, and Ethan Sawyer, the College Essay Guy, is here to help!

How to Write a Personal Statement: A 3-Day Live Online Course is the ultimate course for students and counselors to help you knock out your Common App in one weekend.

Throughout the weekend, you’ll have access to:

  • Over 10 hours of LIVE sessions with Ethan, the College Essay Guy
  • Everything you need to write (or help a student write) a beautiful personal statement
  • Daily Q&A sessions to ask ANY questions you like
  • A chance to get feedback on your essay during Ethan’s live workshops
  • Links to recordings of the lessons so you can go back and watch them for a full year
  • The feeling of having completed your Common App essay. #nice
  • So much more goodness.

Click here for more info.

Can’t make a particular session? No worries: You’ll have video recordings of EVERYTHING.

Can’t afford it? Don’t worry, there’s a pay-what-you-can option.

Are you a counselor? You’re invited too!

Click here to reserve your spot.

Scholarship Friday, scholarships

October Is a Busy Scholarship Month

 

october

While you are thinking of fall colors and Halloween, there are so many opportunities to apply for scholarships. October is a busy deadline month for scholarship seekers. Take advantage of the many scholarships with October deadlines and score some free money for college.

According to Jessica Velasco of JLV College Conseling, “attending college can be quite expensive for students and their families. Luckily, there are many college scholarships and contests available to help pay for a college education. Students should seek out and apply for scholarships in which they meet the eligibility requirements.” Jessica provides a full list of scholarships with October deadlines.

Niche’s scholarship list of October scholarships allows you can choose a category and filter by states, majors, minorities and easy to apply. Or you can look at the entire list of scholarships with October deadlines.

Allen Grove, a college admissions expert for About Education says, “October is one of the busiest months of the college admissions process, and many applicants are so preoccupied with their college applications that scholarships aren’t on their radar. They should be. Many scholarship opportunities expire in October.” Allen provides a sampling of 42 scholarships with October deadlines.

Although October is full of frivolity, it’s also one of the best months for you to ‘carve out’ some time for scholarships. There are many fall programs available to high school and college students, but just like ghosts, they will evaporate soon. Unigo has compiled a list of “Spooktacular Scholarships with October Deadlines”.

DoSomething.org provides unique scholarship opportunities for you to make a difference in your community. After you participate in one of their campaigns you are entered to win a scholarship. These scholarships are great opportunities to blend community service with scholarship awards. Check out this list of DoSomething’s scholarship campaigns with October deadlines,

Scholarships.com has an extensive list of scholarships for students who need funding for college. They have provided a list of scholarships with deadlines in October. While you are there, check out their other lists of scholarships listing deadlines by the months.

Uncategorized

Supporting Your Child After College Graduation

 

college graduation

If you have children who will be graduating from college, you may be wondering how you can support them on their journey as they enter into the real world and make adjustments to their new lives.

It is a scary world out there and if your child is entering a completely new career field, he or she may be nervous and unsure of what to do.

When it boils down to it, many students face college graduation with an enormous amount of student loan debt and what this does is it sets them up for failure in the real world if they are unable to pay the debt down quickly.

Imagine if your child had $30,000 in student loan debt and could not transition out of their minimum wage job and into their chosen career even with a degree. That is tough to think about, right? Unfortunately, it is the real world and this happens all of the time.

You may be sitting back right now scratching your head and wondering what it is you can do to help support your child once they have graduated college. We do have some ways that we think are feasible for the both of you and will help you two form a closer bond in the process.

Let’s take a look at some of the ideas below.

  1. Cosign on Student Loan Refinancing

If you have never dealt with student loans before, then you may have never heard about student loan refinancing. This is okay.

Student loan refinancing is a way for your child’s student loans to be reworked and the interest rate to be lowered. This results in a lower monthly payment and lower overall interest that needs to be paid on the loan itself. Sometimes, students are able change their student loan term period as well.

When it comes time to refinance, your child will quickly realize that there are some strict requirements to do so and if they do not meet these requirements, they cannot refinance. Your child must have a good credit score, good credit history, and a stable job.

Many new graduates do not have the minimum requirements for a bank or private lender to refinance them and they are told they need a cosigner. If you want to help support your child, you may want to consider being a cosigner on the loan, so that they can refinance it. It is possible to have your name removed as the cosigner later on down the road too.

Let’s look at an example to show you how much your child could save. Let’s start out with a loan balance of $20,000 at an 8.6% interest rate with 10 years to pay on the loan. The current monthly payment on the loan is $249 and the total interest paid over 10 years is $9,885.

If we refinance that loan, so $20,000 at a 3.25% interest rate for a period of 10 years, the new monthly payment would be $195 and the total interest paid over 10 years is $3,453.

Simply helping your child refinance in the scenario above would save your child a total of $54 per month and a lifetime savings of $6,433 in interest payments alone.

  1. Make a Payment Agreement for Debt

Another way you can help you student is by helping them pay down some of their debt. For instance, if their debt totals $15,000 and you have the money to spare, maybe you can use the money to pay off their debt and then work out a payment plan with them to pay you back.

This will benefit them because they will save money on interest payments. If you wanted to, you could charge interest on the amount you pay off too, but your interest charge is not going to be anywhere near that of a bank.

In addition, you may be able to work something out with your child where you will help pay off a credit card bill and in return they can install new fencing around your home and so on.

It is important that you and your child lay out the terms of the deal BEFORE any money is paid out or BEFORE any benefits have been had. You want to make sure you have a commitment from them that they will pay you back.

  1. Help Your Child Budget and Build Credit

If you have never taught your child about personal finance, now is the time. It is important for your child to have a solid foundation to build upon. Finances are not easy to manage when you do not know what you are doing.

You can help your child budget with the money they have as well. For example, sit down with your child and determine how much money they make, how much their bills are, and their necessities. From there, work with them on how to create a budget and where they should be sending their money. The more you help them, the more they will learn.

Lastly, make sure you help them build their credit and teach them about credit. The worst thing you can do for your child is let them blindly get a credit card and treat it like cash or like it does not have to be paid back. This will only breed bad financial behavior and your child will be confused when his or her credit score is in the 400 or 500 range.

Final thoughts on supporting your children after college graduation

As your child enters into the real world, he or she will need your support and it would be helpful for them if you were there. If you are unable to help them financially, you can still support them by providing them with the guidance they need to make payments on time, build their credit score, and not allow their loans to go into default.

Helping parents navigate the college maze