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As a parent, you’ve undoubtedly thought about your child’s college education”no matter what their current age is. And if you’re planning on paying their way, or at least helping them out, cost is certainly a factor.

Unless you’ve got a huge sum of cash to plunk down when it’s time to pay, chances are you’ll need to find multiple ways to fund your child’s education.

Here are seven options to consider:

FAFSA
Whether you or your child is paying, begin by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), even if you don’t think you’ll qualify for any aid. The form allows you to receive financial aid such as federal grants, work-study grants, work-study opportunities, student loans and even some state- and school-based aid.

Some colleges award this money on a first-come, first-serve basis, so it’s important to fill it out as soon as you can.

Scholarships
Encourage your child to start early if they’re thinking of obtaining a scholarship to help offset the cost of their college tuition. While the process involved with researching suitable scholarships can be overwhelming, use a scholarship search tool to narrow your selection.

These funds don’t have to be paid back, and most require an application in addition to submitting the FAFSA.

Grants
Federal Pell Grants are available, and the first step in getting one is to fill out the FAFSA. You must submit the FAFSA and renew it each year your child is enrolled in school to receive the Pell money if you’re eligible. Normally, these grants don’t have to be paid back.

The federal government has other types of grants, and many states also offer them.

Work-Study Job
A federal work-study program funds part-time jobs for college students with financial need. On the FAFSA form, select the box asking to be considered for work-study. If a college gives your son or daughter such funding, they will have to find an eligible job for the program and then work enough hours to earn the amount allocated to them.

Savings
Dipping into your savings account is probably something you’ve considered to pay for college expenses. In fact, the typical family covers 34 percent of college costs this way.

A 529 plan is a common way for parents to save money for college. These accounts offer tax advantages in an investment account meant to pay college expenses.

Federal Loans
Paying back student loans is the last thing any college graduate wants, but sometimes federal student loans are a necessity. Federal loans can allow college graduates to repay based on their income and can be forgiven in certain circumstances. Federal subsidized loans don’t accrue interest while a student is enrolled in school.

Private Student Loans
These should be your last resort to pay for college. Private loans don’t have the same benefits as federal student loans do, though they may have some.

Shop around at private lenders”look for one with the lowest interest rate and best protections such as flexible repayment plans or putting loans off for a period of time if your son or daughter is in a position where they’re struggling to make payments. Interest on private loans will likely be charged as soon as one is taken out, although repayment doesn’t begin until after graduation.

This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional or legal advice.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Puttering in the garden is an age-old hobby pursued for several reasons; it can keep you fit, provide food and flowers, and help you live in a more beautiful world. Experienced gardeners say mastering a few simple skills can get you off to a productive start to the home garden of your dreams:

Know your soil. Before you plant, it’s important to know the kind of plants your soil will best support. If you’re new to the neighborhood, ask a neighbor or local garden shop if the soil is alkaline, acidic or neutral. Or test the pH yourself with a commercial test probe you can buy. Once you know the soil’s pH content, local gardeners or an online search will help you choose the food and flowering plants that will thrive in that environment.

Seed or plant starting. Many gardeners say planting from seed has two big advantages; there are more varieties available as seeds, and it’s far more economical. It’s fairly easy to save seeds, as well, from one season to the next. A good gardening book can show you how.

Container gardening. If space is limited, or your soil is less than welcoming, it’s easy to grow vast amounts of food or flowers in containers”and not necessarily in expensive terra cotta pots. Use plastic storage tubs, old buckets, whatever.

Cuttings and transplants. Succulents and a host of other plants are perfect for cutting, which you can re-plant to expand your landscape and/or pot in attractive little containers to give away as gifts. A gardening book will show you the best candidates for cutting and transplanting.

Watering. Plants die from under-watering, but they can die from too much water. Local rainfall will impact your watering schedule and learning proper watering techniques will make you a more successful gardener.

Pruning. While tree pruning is best left to professionals, it’s easy to prune your own roses and other small plants, removing dead or dying parts damaged by insects or weather. Pruning regularly keeps your plants producing and looking healthy.

Tool maintenance. It’s useless to save by producing tomatoes and such if you spend a fortune replacing garden tools. Choose good rust-proof tools, clean them after each use and store them in a dry place and you will have tools that last a lifetime.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Some days, keeping a smile on your face can be a struggle. Whether youre dealing with a stressful career, medical issues or just feeling weighed down by your daily routine, repeating positive mantras can help shift your mood”if youre open to it.

Below are four helpful happy mantras to lift your mood.

You can do it. Whether youre under a huge deadline for work or trying to finish that last mile on the treadmill, telling yourself that you can do it will make your success more likely. Be your own cheerleader!

Just breathe. Feeling overwhelmed? Remind yourself to breathe. Pair this mantra with big, deep inhalations to feel calmer and happier.

Thank you. Gratitude goes a long way, and can shift your perception of things (and the way people perceive you) if integrated into daily life. Be thankful for getting to work safely, even if you had a longer-than-usual commute. Be thankful you have the funds to buy groceries, even when your list of errands seems endless. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

No judgements. This is easier said than done, especially in a world where other peoples lives are constantly popping into our news feeds. Annoyed at your co-workers cheesy engagement photos? Irritated that your college roommate seems to be traveling constantly, when you cant even afford a staycation? Remind yourself to pay attention to your own life, and dont judge or envy others for their choices.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Starting college is full of all kinds of new experiences. Students are left on their own for probably the first time in their lives, and it can be daunting.

Using a credit card can be one of those “firsts,” and parents can help by explaining how credit cards work and instilling good financial habits in them. Here are some credit card habits students should learn before they get to college:

Have a Job
To get a credit card in their name, students will often have to have a job and a credit history. Both of those may be hard to establish; some credit card issuers will only require an income. Either way, it’s important to have an income for the basic reason that they’ll need money to pay for what they buy with credit.

If not, and they still want a credit card, they can either be added to your credit card as an authorized user or apply for a secured credit card where they put down a deposit and can only charge up to that amount.

Track Spending
Students should keep a written total of everything they’ve bought with a credit card during each payment period. Credit card statements, as well as apps, will ultimately do this for them, but keeping a written record of every expense will let them know exactly where their money is going and can help them check the statement for errors. It can also help with budgeting.

Pay Off the Balance
To avoid fees and interest charges, pay the credit card balance in full each month. On-time payments will build a credit score, which will help them get the best rates on auto and home loans later in life, among other things.

Don’t Chase Rewards
Travel rewards, cash back and other credit card benefits can seem like a gift with their first credit card. They’re not. Tell your kids that they can be incentives to spend and should be seen as a reward for using their credit card wisely for what they’d buy anyway. Buying something just so they can reach a rewards level can lead to debt.

Published with permission from RISMedia.