Up to now, the media and the government seems happy to ignore the student debt crisis as it relates to parents. We’ve heard all about the difficulties students and grandparents face, but parents are generally left out of the conversation.

College campuses consist of a wide variety of rental properties, from high rises to multi-family homes. Each year, students must solidify their living arrangements in order to finish their schooling. When one class graduates, hundreds of new potential leaseholders move into town. It may be intimidating at first, but renting out space to students comes with unassuming benefits.

Many people find discussing money to be awkward or complicated, but engaging in money conversations is an important skill to learn. For couples, managing money can be a stressful and emotional issue.

As a financial counselor, I have always felt there is a strong correlation between a grateful attitude and financial health. In fact, I have taught students for years that one of the first steps to financial health is being grateful for what we presently have.

A whopping $579.5 billion was spent on the holidays in 2012. And much of that spending was done using credit cards. The key is not to let holiday debt stick. Don’t allow yourself to get buried by that debt or spend the next year paying off the purchases from this holiday season.

This infographic from ConsolidatedCredit.org contrasts the amazing changes in the cost of education throughout the years. The average debt that a graduate today can expect is $25,000 and that entire 4-year education can cost $414,000. I know you know this is crazy but here is a personal story.

There is no easy fix for having bad credit. It takes time to create a bad credit history, and it takes time to create a good one. But do not despair! With a bit of patience and a thought-out plan, it is indeed possible to turn your credit around.

It’s a common misconception that you cannot discharge student loan debt through the bankruptcy process. It is, however, very difficult. You must show that paying back the student loan will impose an “undue hardship” on you financially.

Good credit is all about having a good credit “history.” Lenders look at our past history as a predictor of how we will use credit in the future. Our past credit record is the basis for our “credit score,” which calibrates our degree of risk to the lender. The lower the credit score, the higher the risk.

If you owe a debt to someone else and they cancel or forgive that debt, the canceled amount may be taxable. The following are the most commonly asked questions and answers about The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act and debt cancellation…