Zero Debt for College Grads: From Student Loans to Financial Freedom [Paperback]

lynnette Khalfani (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2007

As the cost of a college education continues to increase at a rate of about 9% annually—nearly three times the rate of inflation—more and more college students are taking out loans to cover tuition, fees, and other expenses. Median undergraduate student loan debt is currently close to $20,000, and graduate students end up with an additional $32,000 in debt upon graduation. Pile on thousands more in credit card debt, and many college students today graduate with massive financial burdens that they are not prepared to handle.

 

In Zero Debt for College Grads, noted personal finance expert Lynnette Khalfani provides a thorough roadmap for stress-free living that will allow recent graduates to focus on their burgeoning careers while navigating the ups and downs of their financial responsibilities.

 

 ""Zero Debt for College Grads,"" by Lynnette Khalfani, puts into plain English what many recent college graduates need to hear: lay off the credit cards and expenses and be a bit more realistic with your lifestyle. --The New York Post

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Though aimed at recent college graduates, the latest from Khalfani (The Money Coach's Guide to Your First Million) is divided into three main sections-bills, student loans and credit-of which only one is grad-exclusive; the rest is full of information useful to anyone in need of an introduction to personal finance. Packed with practical tips, Khalfani helps students still considering loans and those already knee-deep in debt-covering topics like payment schedules, loan consolidation, "savvy ways to put off payment" and little-known loopholes-along with anyone trying to keep up with monthly bills and build credit. Her conversational style keeps the dry material lively and makes it easy to understand complex financial concepts ("Re-aging is how you get a 'do over' in the credit card world"). Those who buy this volume for the graduate in their life may want to read up before passing it along.
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Review

 ""Zero Debt for College Grads,"" by Lynnette Khalfani, puts into plain English what many recent college graduates need to hear: lay off the credit cards and expenses and be a bit more realistic with your lifestyle.--The New York Post

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Kaplan Publishing; Original edition (May 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1427754640
• ISBN-13: 978-1427754646
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #343,833 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Nothing new here, you're paying for common sense, June 21, 2007

By 

Mariane Matera (Richmond, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: Zero Debt for College Grads: From Student Loans to Financial Freedom (Paperback)

I was very disappointed in this book after seeing it highly praised in my daily newspaper's finance section. The useful information would make a much smaller book. The first third wastes time and pages saying, "you will learn...this book will teach you..." Well, I already have the book. You've sold me the book! Get to the point! The info about different types of college loans and refinancing them I had just found myself on the college financing Website, so I was disappointed she had no new information there. And how to pay off your credit cards quickly...duh! Pick a strategy: pay off higher interest rates first, lower balances first, or highest balances first, whatever floats your boat. The problem with that is it all requires money. I never learned how she paid off $100,000 worth of credit card debt in three years unless she made $100,000 more than she needed to live on in those three years. All she is teaching you is how to manage your vast income so it quickly pays off your vast indebtedness. The book I really need is how to pay off vast debt with inadequate income. This is not that book.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful and Insightful, May 14, 2007

By 

Imara219 (Chapel Hill, NC) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Zero Debt for College Grads: From Student Loans to Financial Freedom (Paperback)

My mother loves saving money and making a budget so I grew up in an atmosphere of financial gain. After college, grad school, and entering the "real world" for the first time I found myself charging too much on my credit cards and having to pay high student loan fees. I heard Ms. Khalfani on the Russ Parr Morning Show and I decided to give her book a try.

Now there was a lot of information that did not pertain to me because I'm not heavily in debt, BUT everything she said was on point. She offers great money saving suggestions/options that I forgot about or was too lazy to actually do; she provides wonderful links and info on ways to "beat the system." For example, my mother has been nagging me for months to call my credit card company's to lower my interest rates. I slowed around to doing it but I was glad to read that Ms. Khalfani mentioned the same advice, she tells ppl how to get through to creditors, how to lower their interest rates, how to move their payment dates and why. Most of all she provides one of the best suggestions for credit card debt reduction.

Overall I found her book to be full of great information. This book is for those who truly want to pay off their bills and not just pay on them or live paycheck to paycheck. If you want to eventually, have more money in your pocket I suggest you buy this book.

Edited Aug. 7, 2007:

I strongly believe the author provides the readers with enough suggestions to bring in additional income. She spends an entire chp. discussing how to cut corners how to help you manage your debt. I can see her getting out of 100,000 dollars of debt by slicing her living expenses in half and getting another income flowing. I think anyone even with limited means can do this. Essentially what the author is saying is that if you live in a 1 bedroom, downgrade to a studio and get a part time job. Or move into a 2 bedroom with a reliable roommate. I think a lot of her tips are helpful. However, I do think for some who are aware with budgets and how they work I would recommend her other books, such as, The "Money Coach's Guide to Your First Million." If money is extremely tight and you are working on a really tight income with high debt I also recommend: "Girl, Make Your Money Grow!: A Sister's Guide to Protecting Your Future."

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is great!, January 20, 2008

By 

Christy Hoy "Candlelady" (Clinton, MS) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zero Debt for College Grads: From Student Loans to Financial Freedom (Paperback)

I recommend any one with college debt or any considering going to college to read this book. Its wonderful. I have alot of debt and this is helping eliminate it quicker thank I thought. Thanks!