Thinking Ahead: Paying for College and Staying Out of Debt

What If I'm Not Happy? (Episode 24)

You have the degree. You have the job. The struggle of getting to this point is over.  So why aren’t you happy? In this episode, I delve into my personal thoughts and experience over why reaching a finish line doesn’t mean you’re finished, and the mindset shift you can focus on instead.  #HappinessIsNotAFishYouCanCatch #LifeIsAProcess Helpful Materials:  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/purpose/202407/why-is-happiness-so-elusive [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/purpose/202407/why-is-happiness-so-elusive] https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mindfulness-insights/202503/the-overlooked-and-misunderstood-arrival-fallacy [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mindfulness-insights/202503/the-overlooked-and-misunderstood-arrival-fallacy] Music by NEST-BEATZ Official from Pixabay [https://pixabay.com/users/nest-beatzofficial-47608692/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=335823] Music by Aliabbas Abasov from Pixabay [https://pixabay.com/users/5xbeatz-39481357/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=204850] Music by OctoSound from Pixabay [https://pixabay.com/users/octosound-39205072/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=265141] Questions? Comments? Suggestions? I want to hear from you! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2463333/fan_mail/new]

Is Grad School Worth It? (Episode 23)

So you’ve finally got you’re undergraduate degree! You’ve taken off the pull-ups because Mommy WOW, you’re a big kid now! But wait, there’s the possibility of going further. Pushing your degree to the next level. Maybe even taking it TERMINAL (or the highest degree based on the latin terminus which means “the end”)! But is that necessary? Today, let’s dive into some of the reasons you should and should NOT attend graduate school.  WORKSHEET: Future Vision [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/nmla4odni4c5r6mg3i93t/WORKSHEETS_FutureVision.pdf?rlkey=fngm5dv3w15gogswh6ey71nf8&st=uens1p6y&dl=0] #GraduateStudies #MyGodLookAtTheSizeOfThatDebt   Sources: https://www.arrt.org/pages/earn-arrt-credentials/credential-options/registered-radiologist-assistant [https://www.arrt.org/pages/earn-arrt-credentials/credential-options/registered-radiologist-assistant] https://www.gradschoolcenter.com/grad-schools-best-corporate-partnerships/ [https://www.gradschoolcenter.com/grad-schools-best-corporate-partnerships/] https://freopp.org/whitepapers/is-grad-school-worth-it-a-comprehensive-return-on-investment-analysis/ [https://freopp.org/whitepapers/is-grad-school-worth-it-a-comprehensive-return-on-investment-analysis/] https://www.wisebread.com/stay-in-school-until-the-job-market-improves [https://www.wisebread.com/stay-in-school-until-the-job-market-improves] https://fortune.com/2025/12/16/job-market-so-bad-people-age-40-going-back-to-school/ [https://fortune.com/2025/12/16/job-market-so-bad-people-age-40-going-back-to-school/] https://www.fit.edu/levelup/ [https://www.fit.edu/levelup/] https://grantivia.com/grants-for-graduate-school [https://grantivia.com/grants-for-graduate-school] Questions? Comments? Suggestions? I want to hear from you! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2463333/fan_mail/new]

Community College Vs. Traditional University

Community College… far from being just the basis for a hit TV show with quirky characters, it is often a great way to get your foot into the door and make affordable and actionable changes to your life. In today’s episode, I discuss the difference between the state university systems and community colleges, and how you can potentially leverage both to achieve your goals quicker.    Sources: https://irsc.edu/search-programs/ [https://irsc.edu/search-programs/] (Indian River State College Programs) https://rose.edu/programs/ [https://rose.edu/programs/] (Rose State College) https://www.ruso.edu/ [https://www.ruso.edu/] (Regional University System of Oklahoma) https://okhighered.org/ [https://okhighered.org/] (Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education) https://www.fldoe.org/schools/higher-ed/fl-college-system/about-us/colleges.stml [https://www.fldoe.org/schools/higher-ed/fl-college-system/about-us/colleges.stml] (FL Community Colleges) https://www.flbog.edu/ [https://www.flbog.edu/] (State University System of Florida) https://www.wtcsystem.edu/about/wtcs-board/ [https://www.wtcsystem.edu/about/wtcs-board/] (Wisconsin 2 year board) BOSTON AREA: Bunker Hill Community College: https://www.bhcc.edu/tuition/ [https://www.bhcc.edu/tuition/]; Boston Univ:  https://www.bu.edu/finaid/undergraduate-students/undergraduate/ [https://www.bu.edu/finaid/undergraduate-students/undergraduate/];  UMass-Boston: https://www.umb.edu/bursar/tuition-fees/tuition-mandatory-fees/ [https://www.umb.edu/bursar/tuition-fees/tuition-mandatory-fees/] Niche.com #ChooseYourOwnAdventure  Questions? Comments? Suggestions? I want to hear from you! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2463333/fan_mail/new]

Student Loan Update April 2026 – Part 2: It’s A T.R.A.P

April 28, 2026: Do you like options? The more the merrier, right? The Department of Education has a different idea bout that when it comes to student loan repayment. In fact, they’re changing the standards and expectations when it comes to repayment in general. Will the new plans on July 1st save higher education and borrowers? Or are they trying to treat a symptom of the bigger cost of rising education?  Just have your knowledge of T.R.A.P. (Tiered or Repayment Assistance Plans)... https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/idr-court-actions [https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/idr-court-actions] https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF13075 [https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF13075] https://www.nerdwallet.com/student-loans/learn/what-is-the-new-repayment-assistance-plan-rap-for-student-loans [https://www.nerdwallet.com/student-loans/learn/what-is-the-new-repayment-assistance-plan-rap-for-student-loans] https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/higher-education-laws-and-policy/higher-education-policy/negotiated-rulemaking-for-higher-education-2025-2026 [https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/higher-education-laws-and-policy/higher-education-policy/negotiated-rulemaking-for-higher-education-2025-2026] https://www.studentloanplanner.com/repayment-assistance-plan-rap-calculator/ [https://www.studentloanplanner.com/repayment-assistance-plan-rap-calculator/] https://thecollegeinvestor.com/58820/repayment-assistance-plan-rap-student-loan-calculator/ [https://thecollegeinvestor.com/58820/repayment-assistance-plan-rap-student-loan-calculator/] Music by NEST-BEATZ Official from Pixabay [https://pixabay.com/users/nest-beatzofficial-47608692/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=335823] Music by Aliabbas Abasov from Pixabay [https://pixabay.com/users/5xbeatz-39481357/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=204850] Music by OctoSound from Pixabay [https://pixabay.com/users/octosound-39205072/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=265141] #StudentLoans #LoanRepayment  Questions? Comments? Suggestions? I want to hear from you! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2463333/fan_mail/new]

Student Loans - The Administration Has an ED Problem

EDIT: I accidentally uploaded the wrong audio the first time, so if you notice that it's a repeat episode please let me know and I'll reach out to the platform so that all files are updated.  April 16, 2026: One of the most frustrating and anxiety riddled facts about student loans is the repayment terms. And now the game has changed… again. Today, I take another check-up on the student loan terms and updates from the US Department of Education. With SAVE officially out of the picture, and a July 1 deadline looming, decisions must be made by borrowers. Court rulings and beautiful bills aside, you’ll want to listen whether you’re in repayment, or planning to take out a student loan.  Sources: https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/idr-court-actions [https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/idr-court-actions] https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF13075 [https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF13075] https://www.nerdwallet.com/student-loans/learn/what-is-the-new-repayment-assistance-plan-rap-for-student-loans [https://www.nerdwallet.com/student-loans/learn/what-is-the-new-repayment-assistance-plan-rap-for-student-loans] https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/10/save-plan-for-student-loan-borrowers-is-over-federal-appeals-court-.html [https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/10/save-plan-for-student-loan-borrowers-is-over-federal-appeals-court-.html] https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamminsky/2026/02/27/student-loans-in-save-plan-thrust-into-new-uncertainty-after-major-court-ruling/ [https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamminsky/2026/02/27/student-loans-in-save-plan-thrust-into-new-uncertainty-after-major-court-ruling/] AFT v Dept of Ed: https://clearinghouse.net/case/46244/ [https://clearinghouse.net/case/46244/] https://www.studentloanplanner.com/repayment-assistance-plan-rap-calculator/ [https://www.studentloanplanner.com/repayment-assistance-plan-rap-calculator/] https://thecollegeinvestor.com/58820/repayment-assistance-plan-rap-student-loan-calculator/ [https://thecollegeinvestor.com/58820/repayment-assistance-plan-rap-student-loan-calculator/]  Questions or Comments? Info@ThinkingAheadPodcast.com [Info@ThinkingAheadPodcast.com]  #StudentLoans  #LoanRepayment Questions? Comments? Suggestions? I want to hear from you! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2463333/fan_mail/new]