Blog

Relationships and money: what to talk about and why

Money is one of those subjects that everyone has to talk about, even though few people are comfortable discussing it. While you don’t need to lay out your five-year financial plan to every person you meet on the street, it is vital for you and your family to have appropriate discussions about money, your budget, and family spending habits. If you’re not sure how or when to have that discussion, we have a few ideas on ways you can get started.

You and your spouse

We’ve said it before, and we’ll keep saying it until the end of time: you need a budget. It just has to happen if you want to have any type of financial security, even if you are living paycheck to paycheck. You and your spouse or significant other need to be aware of your expenses and the plans you have for your collective financial future.

If you’re uncomfortable starting this conversation, start small. Sit down one evening with as few distractions as possible and list out your expenses. Include everything, from the electric bill to your estimated weekly gas usage for the car, and, if money is tight, look for places where you can trim some of the excess. You might not even realize how much you’re spending until you write it all down. This is a great launching point for creating a budget that works for your family.

You and your kids

Teaching your children about money is vital to helping them understand the idea of saving, budgeting, and spending. You don’t need to give your kids a list of every line in your budget, or ask them to audit your bank account. But you can still talk to them about money and why it matters to use it well. How you have this discussion will depend on the age of your kids:

Infants: Do nothing. Smile at them a lot. You’re done!

Young children: You don’t have to get into the math, but you can begin explaining to your children that it is your job to figure out the best ways to spend your money. The older your kids get, the more they will understand that money is not an infinite source, and just because you have money in the bank doesn’t mean you need to spend it all.

In fact, you can show your young children your budget to let them see all the items you need to account for when choosing how and where to spend your money. If you don’t want to them announcing to their schoolmates how much you spend at Target each month, you might just want to show them where your money is assigned, and not how much is spent.

Older children: Once your kids have a better grasp on more complicated math, like adding and subtracting in double digits, multiplication, division, etc., you can ask them for their input on your budget as a math exercise or help them make a budget of their own. If your children earn money through chores or an allowance or if they receive money as gifts, you can sit down with them and explain the process of deciding how to spend their cash.

Get them comfortable with the idea of not using every penny they have and show them the value of looking for deals on coveted books, games, or toys. You don’t need to insist they research for six weeks before making a purchase, but teaching them how to spot a good value is a skill they will use for their entire life.

Teenagers: While you don’t want your teen to take on the emotional burden of your financial responsibilities, you can still be honest with them about your financial situation as needed. For instance, if your teenager is hoping for a birthday gift that isn’t in line with your budget, you can explain that they need to choose a gift within a certain price range or encourage them to find a job that will allow them to buy the gift for themselves. In fact, one of the best gifts you can give your kids is the ability to understand the responsibility that comes with money.

What else should I discuss?

Starting these conversations is a great way to help your family gain a better understanding of your financial situation, especially as they begin to grasp the value of smart spending. You can keep the conversation going by checking in with your kids regularly and helping them with questions they have.

Normalize the money talk

It’s important to help your kids understand that discussing money is not a bad thing – in fact, it’s a great idea. You don’t have to turn every conversation into a lesson on finance, but by openly discussing age-appropriate money topics, you can help your kids become comfortable with communicating money-related questions or concerns. You can even consider having a weekly family budget discussion, where you talk with your family about new ideas for budgeting or show them how your savings helped them get a fun treat.

Speak openly and without judgment

If you and your spouse share a checking account, you both need to review it regularly, and speak to each other about any questions you have. The same goes for having separate checking or savings accounts – the goal is to understand how much shared money you have between you, and what you plan to use it for.

Address any concerns right away: for instance, if one of you goes over budget without discussing it first, work on a plan for an alternate solution that you could use in the future. Remember that staying calm and working smart next steps will aid you in making better financial choices moving forward.

When it comes to money, it’s always better to overcommunicate than to under-communicate. Your finances don’t have to dominate every conversation, but encourage everyone to ask questions and voice concerns so you can keep an open conversation going. Practicing the concepts now will go a long way in preparing your family for the future – and you might just learn something, too.

12 ways to make distance learning a success for your family

Distance learning has been an adventure for parents, students, and teachers alike as they work to maintain the high quality of in-person learning through a digital platform. This is new territory for a lot of people, and we have some ideas on how you can make the digital days a little more manageable.

1. Plan, Plan, Plan

There are so many unknowns that come with digital learning, so taking care of the known obstacles will help you free up some time. For instance, you might go ahead and plan and prep your meals for the week over the weekend, or arrange for work calls to be taken during school breaks if you are working from home.

2. Make a Schedule

You may think you can keep everything organized in your head, because that’s what you do as a parent anyway. But for distance learning, consider making a schedule that everyone can see. If your children aren’t reading yet, you can use pictures instead of words to give everyone an idea of how the day will go.

3. Set the Scene

If possible, create a space that is exclusively for digital learning. That way, you can keep your school materials organized, while also giving your kids the chance to leave school behind at the end of the day, just like they would if they were there in person.

4. Be Flexible

There will be a day where nothing works right. The laptop won’t turn on. A rogue tree limb will knock out the power. Your internet connection will be spotty. These days will be frustrating, but it’s important to go with the flow as much as you can. Distance learning is new to everyone, so keep an open mind and do some deep breathing to get through the tough times.

5. Communicate Often

The only way to get answers to your questions is to ask them! If you or your child are struggling to navigate the distance learning world due to a lack of understanding or communication, reach out for help, either to other parents or the teacher. Your question may be shared by other people, and working together will allow you to find a solution more quickly.

6. Take Breaks

If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that many people, and especially kids, do not love being trapped inside their houses for months at a time. Be intentional in planning and taking breaks with your family, whether that means taking a walk around the yard or having a movie night together. School will be waiting for you when you return, so go ahead and take five minutes to relax.

7. Get School Supplies

Just because you’re learning from home doesn’t mean you won’t need those glue sticks! Many schools have released modified supply lists that will allow your child to thrive from home. You can even let your kids be part of the fun and pick out some supplies of their own, like a hot pink pencil box or some neon markers.

8. Create a Local Group

If you have some neighbors or local friends who have children, why not create a group where you can all get together for distance learning? This will allow you to reach out to other parents who are in the same boat and give you some much-needed mental and emotional support. Meanwhile, your kids can benefit from having older kids to help them understand more difficult concepts.

9. Prepare for Video Calls

Many teachers are doing live lessons over video platforms to teach new material. This means your child will need to be able to access video calls – and it also means you need to remember that you may be on camera. It’s up to you to determine what that means for your family, but if your child decides not to wear pants that day, odds are high that his teacher and class will know.

10. Pretend Everyone is at School

No, we are not suggesting you leave your six-year-old at home and head to the store alone. But you and your children should act like a typical school day is in session. This means making appointments for after-school hours as much as possible, eliminating other distractions, and showing up on time and prepared to learn.

11. Set Expectations

When your child is on a computer or tablet most of the day, they will eventually find their way to Minecraft. Talk with your child ahead of time about what they need to be doing during school hours, and set up a time in your schedule for them to have some free time. This is a win-win – they get the information they need while still having the freedom to do what they love later in the day.

12. Find a Balance

While it is important to treat distance learning like a regular day, it’s also important to remember that some days will be harder than others. Don’t be afraid to skip a lesson and come back to it later if it’s causing your child to stress. You’re their caregiver and you know better than anyone what will help them thrive and learn.

Distance learning has been an interesting turn of events for everyone, but you can make it work! Prepare as much as possible and team up with others to handle the unique aspects that will make this school year a memorable one.

How to build your credit rating

You’ve seen all the commercials that talk about needing a better credit rating. But none of them seem to outline exactly which steps you take to make that happen. Read on for some practical ways you can improve your credit score and keep it growing. First, let’s look at some of the basic information you need to know about credit scores.

What is a Credit Score?

A credit score is three numbers, typically between 300 and 850, that are used to show potential lenders how often you pay your bills on time. Many times, lenders will only let you borrow money if your score is above a certain number, or they may require higher monthly loan repayments if your score is on the lower end. The score is determined by your past credit history and payment history.

What is a Good Credit Score?

Credit scores are divided by numbers into five categories:

• 300-579: Poor
• 580-669: Fair
• 670-739: Good
• 740-799: Very good
• 800-850: Excellent

You can use your credit score to determine where your rating will fall.

You know what a credit score is, so let’s talk about the ways you can find out your score and make it better.

Know Your Score

There are a few ways you can find out your credit score: You can check your credit card or other loan statement – many credit card and auto loan companies now put your score on the statement to allow you to keep up with it. You can also talk to a non-profit counselor, who can work with you to find out the info you need. Or you can use a service like Experian to check your score for free once a year, or use a website like myfico.com, which allows you to access your credit score more often for a fee.

Pay Your Bills

This may seem obvious, but if you want better credit, pay your bills on time. This means everything from your latest electric bill to your monthly car payment. Lack of payment will lower your score, and it can take a long time for those late payments to fall off your record.

Leave Your Credit Cards Open

If you decided to switch credit card companies, that’s great. Just be sure not to close your old card after paying it off, because a closed card can ding your credit score. However, if you’re paying a large annual fee to keep the card open, it may worth risking a slightly lower score instead of paying tons of money for a card you don’t use.

Lower Your Debt

Easy to say; hard to do, right? But whittling down your debt goes a long way in raising your credit score. Many experts say to start small – pay off your smallest debt first, and then go to the next-smallest, and so on. This will allow you to rid yourself of some debt without draining your bank account.

Stop Applying for Macy’s Cards

There is nothing wrong with a store credit card, but you do want to be cautious of how many you apply for, and how many times you try to get approved. When you apply for credit of any kind, it has the potential to lower your score, as it is a sign to potential lenders that you need a lot of credit and can’t pay for it all (even if you’re just applying for the card to get the discount).

Keep Up With Your Score

We mentioned some resources above that allow you to track your credit score without lowering it. It’s important to know your credit score and if/when it changes. For one thing, you want to know if your hard work is helping your score! You’ll also be able to monitor any potential suspicious activity, like identity theft, by checking on your score more often.

Maintain a Credit History

While you know you don’t want to open ten credit cards at once, you also don’t want to find yourself with no credit history at all. Lenders want to see a consistent history of paying your bills on time, and having no credit to your name doesn’t show them how reliable you are at repaying loans. Consider opening one credit card and paying it off monthly to build some credit that won’t send you into tons of debt.

Dispute Credit Inaccuracies

Remember how you need to monitor your credit score on a regular basis? One more reason to do this is so you can report and dispute any inaccurate information. It takes seven years to get rid of “bad” credit, so having these problems corrected will make a big difference in upping your score.

Consult an Expert

There are financial professionals who specialize in understanding and building credit, so if you still don’t know where to start, set up a meeting with one of these pros. You will walk away with some new information about how to build your credit, along with a solid plan for reaching your next credit score goal.

Financial matters aren’t anyone’s favorite topic to discuss, but you have to have a handle on your credit score to give yourself the best chance for financial success. Learn your score today and start taking steps to make that number climb even higher.

Get to know our 2020 What’s Ne[x]t Scholarship winners

Congratulations to Sydney, Massiel, and Hanna! Each of these women demonstrated an exceptional commitment to others, a strong academic background, and a bright vision for their future. We are beyond proud to have them in the Georgia’s Own community. So what’s next for our scholarship winners? Let’s find out!

$8,000 Scholarship Winner: Sydney Laws | Watch Video

Cultural Anthropology, University of Southern California

For our readers who haven’t seen your video yet, tell us what’s next for you, what your passions are, and what you plan to do after college.

My number one passion has always been telling a story. Only recently have I realized how effective film is at accomplishing that goal. I have always felt that film affects the internal. Yet, it has one fundamental flaw: representation. While most people understand its surface-level need, many do not see that representation is tied to livelihood. How we [under- or mis-represented communities] are represented directly impacts how the world sees us, which correlates to our mobility. So, it’s simple. As a filmmaker, my goal is authentic and accurate representation, showing humanity in its purest form. My focus is Black subjectivity: Black narrative, Black art, AND Black truth. I am uncompromising in my dedication to these goals, just as I’m uncompromising in the liberation of my people through the only way I know how.

After college, I plan to continue my education in graduate school, studying cultural and visual anthropology. It is my goal to further engage with academia; to learn how to affect the interpersonal in order to shape broader social structures. More than anything, I can put myself in a position to empower others to also use this craft effectively.

But, more than anything, what’s next for me will hopefully be a whole lot of happiness. Speaking for other “creatives,” it is not lost on us how many other paths we could take that would be much more lucrative than the ones we are travelling on. But, we do it because it makes us happy. Whatever I am doing, I just want to be living a life I am proud of: doing what I can to help others and simply being happy.

What does it mean to you to receive the $8,000 What’s Ne[x]t scholarship?

It means I can continue on my path of trying to enact change in this world, using the one tool in my arsenal: art.

How will this scholarship help you achieve What’s Ne[x]t for you?

With this gracious donation towards my future, I won’t have to prioritize the financial aspect when choosing a job. I can prioritize my craft and helping other people with my work. And, I can start finally living out my purpose.

Why did you decide to apply for our scholarship?

The cost of higher education is no joke. It was also really nice to see my credit union wanting to help me out! It was so amazing to see a staple in my community doing what they can to make it possible for students to continue their education. You don’t see that everyday. I’m glad to be a member of Georgia’s Own. If I am ever in the position to be able to more generously give back to others, I would like to contribute to the Georgia’s Own Foundation.

How did you decide on the University of Southern California?

Something in me knew that USC was the place for me. Like most creatives, it was always my dream to attend what many people, besides the folks over at UCLA, would deem the “best film school in the world.”

Film school is a very unique environment. While it is not everyone’s cup of tea, it definitely was the right move for me. I thrive in an environment where I can make mistakes and grow immensely from them: an environment with other like-minded creatives. USC was also a place that inspired a lot of personal growth within me. As much as I love Georgia, I truly think I needed to be in California for these very important, semi-formative years. It was the right place at the right time for growth in every aspect of my life. I also couldn’t give up the opportunity to be able to go to the beach everyday.

What was your first camera?

My first camera was an Olympus OMD-EM100. It’s a mirrorless camera that shoots very cinematic videos. But, truthfully, I bought it for the aesthetic. It has such a vintage quality about it. I still use it whenever I go on adventures and need to capture the moment.

How do you think your college experiences will influence and aid in your career as director and cultural researcher for films?

Humans are inherently storytellers. Telling stories is just what we do. We all have a story within us that is ready to escape; a story that has been shaped by our various environments and life experiences. So, like most people, college was another part of my journey that will most definitely aid in the stories that I want to tell. It will richen my perspective and the experiences that I bring to a film set or to my research. Those LA nights skating around campus with my friends, pulling all-nighters in the basement of our editing labs, sneaking into a building to quickly film the last shot of your movie…all of these experiences have made me who I am.

What do you think makes you one of Georgia’s Own?

Besides the fact that I bump Outkast 24/7…I think I carry a pride for Georgia that is characteristic of most people who reside within this great state. I’ve always been proud to be a Georgia Peach. We’re very optimistic and very strong—and never without our Southern hospitality.

Pursuing higher education is a wise investment in your future, but nonetheless a costly one. How do you manage the cost of college during school and after you graduate?

I currently support myself by working a remote job at a creative studio for online interactive content. However, in the past, I have had less interesting, work-study jobs. I am trying to put myself in the position where the cost of college stays in college; meaning, I won’t have to worry about these bills upon graduation. Thankfully, Georgia’s Own is helping me take another step in that direction.

What is a fun fact about you?

I am a twin! An identical twin, actually. My sister is named Kendall, and she is a senior at Harvard University studying economics.

$5,000 Scholarship Winner: Massiel Nunez | Watch Video

Journalism & Emerging Media, Kennesaw State University

For our readers who haven’t seen your video yet, tell us what’s next for you, what your passions are, and what you plan to do after college.

I am currently a full-time student at Kennesaw State University and am pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Emerging Media. I own an online magazine called PULP Magazine and plan on growing that platform after I graduate. I currently have a team of more than 50 interns and am hoping to grow the team and our clientele. My hopes are to become a household name in the media. I also plan on growing my podcast “The Broke But Woke Podcast” and publishing a second poetry book. I am in the works of starting my second company, Opulent Glamour, and plan on growing it as well.

What made you decide to launch a podcast and who has been your favorite guest?

I have always loved listening to podcasts while I drive. I enjoyed hearing the different perspectives and array of topics. I always visualized myself having a platform like that and allowing a safe space for open dialogue. I am so glad that I pursued it because I have learned so much from my guests. My favorite guests so far have been Dre and T. They spoke on my relationship episode and keeping a conversation flowing was so easy with them.

What are some things you’ve learned from starting your own YouTube channel that you feel has helped you confidently publish a book, contributed to your magazine’s success, and how you will approach future endeavors?

I always loved being in front of a camera, but filming YouTube videos has definitely helped boost my confidence. I have felt a sense of “community” from YouTube and an immense amount of support from my subscribers. It’s inspiring to have an extra push from supporters when pursuing your goals. I am excited to grow on YouTube and take everyone on my journey with all my endeavors.

Why did you decide to attend Kennesaw State University?

My senior year of high school, I visited different colleges to get a feel for the environment. Kennesaw State University was the first school that felt right as soon as I walked onto campus. Everyone was so nice and friendly, and the students there all loved it. I knew that KSU was where I wanted to complete my degree.

What does it mean to you to receive the $5,000 scholarship?

It was honestly such a good feeling to get the news that I won the $5,000 scholarship. I have been working a lot and paying out of pocket for school, so to receive this as a reward for all of my hard work feels amazing.

How will this scholarship help you achieve What’s Ne[x]t?

This scholarship will allow me to focus on school and not picking up extra shifts to pay the bills. It can be hard juggling a 9-to-5 job while being a full-time student. However, this scholarship allows relief and financial help with my classes.

What do you think makes you one of Georgia’s Own?

I grew up in Georgia, and I know that wherever life takes me, my experiences and memories in Georgia have made me who I am today.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.

I auditioned for Camp Rock when I was younger because I wanted to meet the Jonas Brothers. Totally didn’t get the role, though.

$2,000 winner: Hanna Paz | Watch Video

Financial Risk Management, University of Georgia

For our readers who haven’t seen your video yet, tell us what’s next for you, what your passions are, and what you plan to do after college.

I hope to go to graduate school to get my Ph.D. in mathematics after my last year at the University of Georgia. My passions are helping within my community by assisting the families from my local elementary school and inspiring younger generations to get into the field of higher-level mathematics. I hope to continue doing research and contribute to scholarly papers that can help future research in math. I plan to continue tutoring my peers and help them succeed in future math courses. I wish to go to math conferences in the future to learn about discoveries in real analysis and topology, and I also hope to mentor students in the future by assisting with undergraduate research.

What made you choose the University of Georgia?

Many factors led me to choose UGA. My sister went there for her undergraduate degree, and I remember visiting her on weekends and being amazed by the campus and sense of community. I also was a recipient of the HOPE Scholarship, and that was a factor that led me to choose UGA. I didn’t want to be too far away from my family, and I thought UGA had the perfect distance. Lastly, I went into UGA as a finance major, and the Terry School of Business is wonderful, so I was excited to be attending a great school.

How did you become interested in mathematics, and what led you to your dream of becoming a higher-education mathematics professor?

I was always interested in mathematics growing up. However, I never really realized how much I loved math until college. I took a break from math my first two years, and I enjoyed getting to help my classmates in my Calculus 2 class. It was then that I discovered my passion was teaching mathematics. It was the greatest feeling seeing my classmates begin to connect what we were learning and succeeding in our class with my help. I knew my calling would be to teach higher-level math and hopefully inspire others to get into mathematics.

How did your family’s history inspire you to pursue a career in education, and how do you hope it will impact your future?

My family’s history has inspired me as my mother works at an elementary school, and growing up I’ve seen the impact that she has had on the families she works with and that has inspired me to pursue a career in education. My parents moved to the United States and took English classes along with their regular college classes. My parents have told me how their professors pushed them to finish their degrees and follow their passions, and I hope I can do the same to others in the future as a mathematics professor.

How do you manage studying three majors—finance, risk management, and mathematics—while tutoring other students?

At first, it was rather difficult, but after a while (and a reality check about my time management skills) I’ve been able to handle my schedule. Tutoring my peers also helps me stay on top of what I’m learning—I find that if I can’t answer their questions at first, I brush up my skills to help them. I try to maximize my time by treating my schooling as a full-time job. I would stay on campus every day from the start of my classes until I finished all my work. I find tutoring others relaxing, so I would plan my studying around my tutoring. Tutoring others also helps to prepare me to become a professor in the future.

What would be your advice to someone interested in pursuing a career as a professor or a degree in mathematics?

My advice would be to always believe in yourself and follow your dreams. I went into UGA afraid that if I had chosen to be a math major, I would fail, but I pushed myself and now could not picture myself doing anything else. A piece of advice if you want to become a professor is to get to know your professors. They are a great help, especially if you are interested in academia and research, as that is what they do. They can explain what graduate school is like, provide opportunities for undergrad research, and help decide what school could be best for you. They also act as great recommendations for the future when you apply to grad school. One of my professors told me, “There will always be a point in studying math that you want to give up. Keep on pushing through.” That piece of advice has helped me over the years, knowing my professors have struggled in the past with the topics I am learning. Lastly, my advice would be to get involved in any math-related clubs your school has to offer to meet your peers and further learn about the different areas of mathematics.

What does it mean to you to receive the $2,000 scholarship?

Receiving the scholarship has meant so much to me. It has proved to me that anything is possible when you work hard and put your mind to something. It has also relieved some of the financial pressure that comes with attending college, and I will be able to further focus on my studies and my future.

How will this scholarship help you achieve What’s Ne[x]t for you?

This scholarship will help me by providing the opportunity to focus on my studies and research this year. Also, this scholarship has helped motivate me even more, as I feel that I now have Georgia’s Own believing in me to follow my dreams of becoming a professor.

What do you think makes you one of Georgia’s Own?

Georgia’s Own has always been there for me when I have any financial questions and whenever I need some assistance.  I feel connected to Georgia’s Own as they constantly give back to the community, such as their help in the Smart Lunch, Smart Kid program, and I feel very proud to be a part of a community that assists in issues such as food insecurity. It makes me happy to be one of Georgia’s Own.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.

I love to sing in my free time, and back in high school, I sang at my graduation! I also love to volunteer at the Humane Society on Mansell.

Five ways to celebrate National Financial Awareness Day

August 14th is National Financial Awareness day—a day dedicated to preparing for your financial future and building financial stability. It’s crucial to take the time to review your finances—sound monetary decisions can make a significant impact in the long run. Today, try to complete one of the items below so you can take control of your finances.

Check your savings

Take a look at your savings account—in the event of an emergency, do you have enough funds to get you through? If not, use today to set goals to ensure you’re saving for the future. Calculate your monthly expenses and develop a plan of action to ensure you have the recommended three to six months’ worth of savings.

Reevaluate your budget

Have you found yourself not sticking to your budget lately? Take the time to reevaluate your spending and make changes where you see fit. Periodically reviewing your budget is a crucial step that is overlooked. Make it a habit to frequently assess your budget and see what should be adjusted.

Brush up on your financial literacy

Financial literacy is key to being confident in the monetary decisions you make, and it can be easy to forget the basics. Take the time today to brush up on your financial literacy. There are dozens of free tools to help, like ACHIEVE, a free financial literacy program from Georgia’s Own. ACHIEVE offers various topics and videos on essentials like owning a home, financial caregiving, planning for retirement, and more.

Take steps to improve your credit

Your credit score is a critical representation of your financial past, present, and future. You need good credit for just about anything, like owning a home, applying for an auto loan, or applying for a credit card—your credit score can even determine the price of your auto insurance. Look at your credit score and see where you can improve. If you don’t know your score, visit the federally authorized site annualcreditreport.com to receive a free copy of your credit report.

Get a head start on taxes

It’s never too early to get a head start on taxes. Begin gathering necessary documents, like receipts, expense records, and donations, then put them in an organized folder, so you have them prepared for when you’re ready to file. Preparing paperwork beforehand will save you time—and sanity—when tax season begins. If you want to take it a step further, you can even organize your tax records from the past few years, so you have those prepared if the IRS ever needs to conduct an audit.

We hope these tips help you take control over your financial future. And, as always, Georgia’s Own is available to help—click here to find more resources to help you make smart monetary decisions.

Student loan forgiveness: separating fact from fiction

There is a lot of information out there on student loan forgiveness—but determining which material is the real deal takes a little bit of work. Luckily, there is plenty of accurate information available, and there are even steps you can take to determine what is legit. And once you are armed with that knowledge, you can move forward on the path of settling your student loans.

Consider the source

You don’t need us to tell you that celebrity magazines, while excellent for comparing who wore which clothing best, are not a good source of information for things like student loan forgiveness. The same goes for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and any app that allows you to turn yourself into a cartoon animal in a selfie.

Instead, look for reputable news sites and sites focused on helping people understand financial situations—consider resources like Forbes and Clark Howard, which can help you determine what kinds of resources are the best options.

Look it up

Now that you know which websites and resources are the best for gathering information, it’s time to get to work. Get on your favorite search engine and start reading. Don’t just take the word of the first article you read—look for different sources and the consistencies they each report. You can also consult with your student loan officer to see what they can tell you. But we know you have a lot going on, so we did some research for you:

Watch for scams

Even resources that pass your initial test for legitimacy may still need a second glance to ensure they are a reputable business. It’s not uncommon for scammers to create websites or other marketing materials that look like an agency that can help you, but the truth is that they may wind up costing you a lot of money.

If a company asks for sensitive information, promises that your student loans will be immediately forgiven, or wants payments made upfront before they provide you with services, run, do not walk, to the nearest state attorney general’s office and report the company for the scam.

Find the right people

There is a bright spot in the student loan forgiveness world, and that is those resources that can guide you to actual, real aid when it comes to your loans, whether that means reducing your loan amount or working with you to repay your loan on a schedule that works with your income.

Head to the Federal Student Aid website to submit a request for an income-driven payment plan for your student loans. And while you’re on the website, check out the sections on how federal aid works and the aid estimation calculator to get a better sense of how the process works.

What about possible political changes?

You have probably heard that one of Bernie Sanders’ campaign platforms centers around total student loan forgiveness. His plan is to cancel all current student loans, regardless of how large or old the debt is. Everyone would be eligible, and he has not mentioned any type of limit to the loan amount.

While Bernie may out of contention for 2020, the idea continues to gain momentum in certain political circles. There are still questions remaining in regards to how exactly the $1.6 trillion of student debt could be canceled, such as the timeline and whether it’s feasible for universities to give up those funds.

Moving forward

It’s important to note that cancelling student loans would not mean they would be canceled forever—what people are talking about is current student loan cancellation, which means only those loans that have been currently taken out by students, parents, etc.

If a student needed a loan to continue their education, or decided to go back to school at a future date, they would still be responsible for procuring and paying the funds. There is also no repayment for those who have already paid off their loans.

Anything else?

Yes—just like your budget, you have to have a plan for your student loans. They will not go away because you ignore them. In fact, you are more like to end up in collections and will then have to deal with potential legal repercussions.

None of these steps will help you with your loans if you are not an active participant in making it happen. Start by opening up all that mail your student loan company sends you – they can probably answer a lot of your questions right off the bat.

Student loans aren’t anyone favorite topic to think about, but there are ways you can take control. Look for reputable resources that can guide you through paying off your student loan dent on a schedule that makes financial sense for you.