Free Yourself from Student Loan Debt: Get Out from Under Once and for All [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

by Brian OConnell (Author) "Woody Allen once said that when it comes to your financial situation, money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons..." (more)
Key Phrases: repayment campaign, nonessential debt, student loan borrowers, Department of Education, Uncle Sam, Wall Street (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
An estimated seven million Americans have accumulated nearly $81 billion in student loan debt over the past 30 years. Not all of these borrowers are fresh out of college; many are in their late 20s, 30s, and even 40s. Indeed, the amount of student loan debt facing Americans is pervasive, if not problematic.

Fortunately, a number of creative ways exist to pay off this financial burden that, for many, goes on for years and years. In Free Yourself from Student Loan Debt, business writer Brian O’Connell outlines the best ways to do just that-as quickly and painlessly as possible. He guides readers through often overlooked but perfectly legitimate loan management techniques, including how to:

• "Consolidate" loans for easier (and lower) payments.
• Defer loans with no penalty.
• Take a "break" from student loans through a mechanism called forbearance.
• Get out of default status by making as few as six minimum payments.
• Fix problems that result when a loan isn’t paid, with no lasting impact on credit or finances.
• Convince financial institutions to "forgive" loans.
• Fight the government and financial institutions that claim student loan debts weren’t paid years after they were.

With wit and wisdom, O’Connell backs up his guidance with case histories, anecdotes, information boxes, sidebars, and colorful industry profiles-all packaged together in one lively, user-friendly book. As a bonus, he offers 50 surefire tips to eliminating student loan debt.

About the Author
Brian O’Connell is a former Wall Street bond trader turned business writer. He is the author of eight popular books, including CNBC Creating Wealth,The 401(k) Millionaire, and Investing in Separate Accounts. He also contributes articles to a variety of publications, including the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, USA Today, and Bloomberg Wealth Advisor. When not writing, he appears on local, regional, and national television and radio programs discussing financial and investing topics.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Kaplan Business; illustrated edition edition (May 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0793187958
• ISBN-13: 978-0793187959
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #330,092 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars For the Green with the Green only, June 9, 2004

By	Tara L. Robinson (Arcadia, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you are unfamiliar with student loans and are not finance savvy then this book will help you. If you already have a student loan and know your way around this book doesn't have anything to offer. In one section it teaches you how to create a budget. That's fine for a kid fresh out of school but I am having trouble with an old student loan and this book had even LESS information than the student loan website !!!

Here is good advice... if your having trouble with your loan - call them they will help you, but dont waste the money for this book.

1 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every family needs this book, June 28, 2006

By	Jonathan Maberry "Multiple Bram Stoker Award-... (Bucks County, PA) - See all my reviews

This is one of those marvelous books that schools should send home with kids so parents have a fighting chance to get their kids into a good school AND afford to keep them there. Easy to follow advice is there on every page. I recommend this to any family who has a kid coming of college age.