Loans, Taxes, and Business Oh My!

Loans:

College can be a scary, exciting thing when you first start out, but once you get the flow of each process down, it is much more simplistic and enjoyable. One of my first fears when thinking about college during my high school days was how I would afford tuition, books, housing, transportation, food, and the fun stuff. (And as you move into adulthood this list of expenses grows, but hopefully so does your paycheck!) 

~ I knew I would be getting certain scholarships if I went to Northwood. For example, there is a scholarship just for being a resident here in Texas! How easy is that? You just prove you live here and BAM first scholarship in the bag. 

~ Another way to help financially is done by completing the F.A.F.S.A. Based on your information you may be illegible to receive grants from the government (that you do not have to pay back!)

~ A third one is the L-word, loans. Many people I talk to, even family members, always get uneasy when I talk about loans, like how I took one out to help pay for my car's insurance. During the start of your school you do not want to be forced to work a full-time or even part-time job if it cuts into your school work. And if by taking out a loan your burden is lessened then DO IT! Subsidized loans are ones you do not pay off until you graduate, so you have time to pay it off if you can.  

Taxes:

Oh my word, I just did my taxes all by myself yesterday! It was really nerve racking at first, having to double check and triple check that I was putting the right numbers in the right box, but after a few pages I got the hang of it. Less than half of tax payers complete their own tax return and they soon find out it is quicker, cheaper, and more satisfying when they do it themselves. 

Since I am a student who does not own any stock in a company or have any special situations, my taxes are made simple. I only had one question come up that I was not sure about:

Q: I have my 1098-T from school, but where do I put my loans down at?

A: I looked and looked but could not find a box marked "loans", so I finally Googled it. Apparently, when you take out a loan that is subsidized, meaning I do not pay interest until 6 months after graduation, you do not claim it on your return. Not until you start paying it off with interest will you claim it. 

Now all I have to do is sit back and wait for my money to be directly deposited into my bank account! 

Business:

I just wanted to let you all know that I got hired on at the Grand Hyatt hotel at the DFW airport! I am super excited about this new full-time position for such an amazing group of workers. I will have to prioritize and unfortunately let go of a few organizations I loved being a part of, but now I am growing up and moving into the "real world". 

I heard about Hyatt through postings at Northwood and I am glad I applied. It is amazing how many students do not take the Career Services seriously when they say they are there to help us find jobs or internships. I highly recommend talking to your counselor about career options because they can help point you to the right person or link online.

I hope everyones weekend has been amazing and blessed! <3

-Shawna Grace-