Experian CreditChat Interviews with Steve & Annette Economides

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Experian is one of the 3 major credit reporting agencies in the U.S. Over the years we have met several really neat people who work there. We’ve participated in a number of their weekly CreditChat video Roundtables. 

This page contains several of these interviews.

How to Save Money on Groceries

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In this Experian CreditChat we answer these Grocery Shopping Questions.

Questions We Discussed:
Q1: What are some common mistakes people make when it comes to buying groceries for the week?

Q2: What are some best practices when budgeting for groceries?

Q3: Are there different rules of thumb for saving on produce, meat,
etc?

Q4: What advice do you have on couponing or shopping sales?

Q5: What is your take on expiration or sell-by dates?

Q6: How does the way we store our food contribute to food waste?

Q7: Rather than throwing groceries away that you know you won’t eat before they spoil, what other options are available?

Q8: What tips do you have for getting kids on board reducing food waste in your house?

Q9: What tips do you have for saving money on eating out?

Q10: What final tips do you have for someone trying to eliminate waste and reduce spending on groceries?

Financial Strength for Teens & Students


We were hesitant to connect with Experian because of their reputation as a credit reporting bureau. But when we connected with Mike Delgado, we discovered a group of people who are committed to empowering consumers to be MoneySmart. We were invited to participate in a panel discussion with some other MoneySmart people too:

  • Laura Levine – President of the Jump$tart Coalition: Financial Smarts for Students,
  • Debbi King– Personal Finance and Life Coach and Owner of http://www.abcsofpersonalfinance.com/
  • Rod Griffin – Director of Public Education at Experian
  • Mike Delgado – Social Media Community Manager at Experian.

This is a one hour video and contains some really great information for parents and kids (you may want to break it up into a few shorter sessions).

We discuss allowances, chores, whether it’s right to just give kids money and so much more.

Here’s a list of most of the questions we cover:

  • Q1: What do you wish you knew about money when you were young?
  • Q2: What is an appropriate age to start talking to your kids about money?
  • Q3: What are some tips for incorporating money lessons into everyday life?
  • Q4: How can parents model good financial behavior for their kids?
  • Q5: How can parents who are financially struggling talk to their kids about money in a positive way?
  • Q6: What do you think about an allowance? Pros/Cons?
  • Q7: What are your thoughts on teens working while in school?
  • Q8: Where can teens go to learn about money when their parents don’t talk about it at home?
  • Q9: How can teachers incorporate financial literacy into their lessons?
  • Q10: Any final tips for parents to teach their kids about money?

The insights and stories will motivate you to invest in your children so they can become financially independent and cash confident!


Smart Ways to Pay for College #CreditChat with Experian

For many millennials, graduating from college with staggering amounts of student loan debt has become the norm. But it doesn’t have to be. This week, we talked about how to save and pay for college and options to explore to eliminate high student loan balances.  Our panel included:  Steve & Annette Economides – New York Times Best Selling Authors and Founders of MoneySmartFamily.com, Kasasa– a national brand of free rewards checking accounts offered exclusively at community financial institutions, which reward consumers with ATM refunds nationwide, high interest, and no minimum balance,  Rod Griffin– Director of Public Education at Experian, and Mike Delgado– Social Media Community Manager at Experian.

Directory of the great info on this page:

Questions We Discussed Smart Ways to Pay for College:

  • Q1: What options are available to fund a college education?
  • Q2: How can you ensure that you are making a cost-effective college choice?
  • Q3: What factors should be included in an overall college budget?
  • Q4: Will a college savings account like 529 plans or scholarships affect your financial aid?
  • Q5: How can you minimize your college expenses while still in high school?
  • Q6: How can someone attend college for free?
  • Q7: How can someone pay for school while attending college?
  • Q8: When can you start paying your student loans and typically how long is the grace period?
  • Q9: What options are available for people struggling to pay student loans?
  • Q10: Any final tips for students preparing to attend college?

Here are some of the links we shared in the Blab discussion.

How can you minimize your college expenses while still in high school?

Q6: How can someone attend college for free?

24 Tuition Free Universities:

  1. College of the Ozarks (Hard work U)
  2. Cooper Union
  3. Berea College Kentucky
  4. Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia
  5. Webb Institute, Glen Cove NY – Ship engineering
  6. Alice Lloyd College, KY
  7. 5 military academies (build a resume in high school)
  8. Macaulay Honors College at City University of New York 
  9. Barclay College, Kansas
  10. Harvard (earn less than $60,000 – no family contribution expected)
  11. Yale
  12. MIT
  13. Columbia University NY
  14. Stanford University
  15. Duke University
  16. Brown University
  17. Cornell University
  18. Vanderbilt University
  19. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  20. Texas A&M University

Q9: What options are available for people struggling to pay student loans?
http://www.learnvest.com/knowledge-center/what-to-do-if-youre-struggling-with-student-loan-payments/

http://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/charts/public-service           

1) Communicate

2) Don’t avoid or ignore

3) Deferment or Forbearance

4) Apply for a hardship

5) Pay something

6) Look for a job that earns loan forgiveness

a. Teacher Forgiveness Program Up to $17500 for Stafford and entire Perkins https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/teacher#teacher-loan-forgiveness

b. Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) – full-time job with a federal, state or local government agency; at a 501(c)3 tax-exempt nonprofit; in the military; or in an AmeriCorps or Peace Corps position. 

Read our extensive blog report on how you can get your student loans forgiven. 


How To Plan a Wedding on a Budget


Get More Fantastic and Frugal Wedding ideas here:

In this video interview, we’ll share how Fabulously Amazing Weddings on a Frugal Budget are possible if you take away some tips and tricks from Steve & Annette Economides (MoneySmartFamily.com).

Topics include:
Q1: Once a couple gets engaged, what’s the best starting point for planning the wedding?
Q2: How should a couple go about deciding their wedding budget?
Q3: How can a couple manage familial expectations and input when it
Q4: How can a couple save money on the venue/location?
Q5: What’s the best way to save money on wedding invitations?
Q6: What are some inexpensive flower/décor options?
Q7: How can a couple save money on food/drinks/cake?
Q8: What are some tips to help accelerate your savings before the wedding?
Q9: How can the wedding party save money on their attire?
Q10: What are some common mistakes people make when planning a wedding on a budget?Q11: What are your final tips for planning a budget-friendly wedding?

 

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