Your student is off to college this fall, and The Bank of Mom & Dad takes a hit.

Ugh, you say? This needn't be a cringe-inducing, budget-busting event.

Minyanville offers tips on how to help your student better handle money, search for scholarships and avoid the "stupidity tax."

You can't plan without a budget and we have some suggestions on how to draft a spending plan and stick to it. We've also got some ideas on how to safely and quickly get needed money to your student each month.

We offer suggestions on how to give your student a stake in completing a degree. This will focus the mind and probably boost academic performance. (Hint: Money doesn't study, but it continues to talk.)

We also get down to the nits and grits of phone cards, budgeting, eating out, books, supplies, entertainment, insurance and (think back to your own school says) all that stupid stuff undergraduates seem genetically coded to do.

What type of insurance does your student need before sitting down to freshman comp? Minyanville scopes out the territory and offers suggestions on how you can find the best deal.

Does it make sense to buy a house or apartment for your student near campus? Are you looking for convenience or appreciation? Can your student handle landlord duties? Minyanville lays out the proposition.

For parents preparing to send their kids off to school in the future, Minyanville offers insights on 529 College Savings Plans and tips on how to find a good one.

Minyanville talked to some of the top folks in the field of financing a college education and they shared their insights with us. Many parents have the broad outlines right and the experts offer suggestions on how to fill in the details.

Our ten-story package is part of the University of Minyanville's efforts to demystify money and give you needed information to make sound financial decisions.


A Good Budget Essential for College Success
Drafting a budget will underscore two basic points for your student: Everything has a cost and money doesn't drop from the sky.


How to Avoid College Credit Card Debt
Never put a tuition payment on the credit card in a pinch because the interest payments will eat you alive.


College Financial Tips to Survive And Thrive
You can't concentrate on your studies if you're always fretting about money.


College Costs: Paying Your Part
Many students will have to borrow some money to complete their studies and the Stafford Loan is a good place to start.


The Scholarship Search: A Guide
Use the Internet, read widely on scholarships and grants, draw on the experience of friends, talk to your prospective school, and work, work, work.