iMoved: Technological Tools to Help You Manage Off-Campus Fees

Now that the dreaded housing lottery is over with and it is the end of the school year, many students are finding themselves living off-campus with a group of roommates or housemates for the first time. This can be a pretty major change for students who have spent their first two years of school living in a double with a roommate on campus. Life off campus comes with new responsibilities, such as getting to campus every day, keeping common spaces clean, and paying for rent and utilities. Communication among roommates is necessary in making sure all of these responsibilities are taken care of. Whether your roommates have been your best friends for your whole life or are people you found to fill the space, it is important that all of you are on the same page in regards to paying for your place.

The busy college lifestyle makes it difficult for housemates to come together and discuss their collective finances. Because housemates may have trouble finding a time to work out payments, some housemates may forget about deadlines and miss payments, forcing other housemates to end up paying more. This could lead to fighting among friends and some negativity in the apartment. To keep cohabitation from turning into chaos, many smart phone apps have been created that help roommates keep their payments equal and on-time. Savvy Student has looked into some popular apps that we hope will keep your off campus housing payments equal and efficient!


1. Splitwise- This free smartphone app allows users to split any bill, from electricity bills to the tab at a restaurant, and ensures that every person makes their payment. With Splitwise, you can create your own checkbook for yourself that allows you to keep track of expenses you owe. If you owe money to friends who are also on Splitwise, you can then pay those expenses through PayPal, which is linked to the app. You can learn more about the app-- and even download it for free!-- on their website.

2. Bills Are In- For those who do not have smart phones or would rather work off of a website, Bills are In may be the resource for you. This allows you to manage your own personal account of what you owe and to whom. When dealing with shared bills such as rent bills, Bills Are In allows you to send an email to all of your housemates letting them know what they owe and when it is due. Your housemates do not need a Bills Are In account in order to get these emails. Check out this cool online resource here.

3. SpotMe- For those with an iPhone, SpotMe is a helpful app for splitting any type of bill. You and those who are in your group receive email notifications of expenses and can see balances due. Every individual's payment is tracked, and you can even lend and borrow money from friends and roommates.You can even connect your account to Facebook and keep track of your account through social media. To add a personal touch, you and your friends can add photos to your profiles. You can find more information about the app and download it on this website.


We hope that these apps can help you and your housemates find a strategy to effectively split your housing bills! If you know any other apps or online tools that can help manage off-campus payments, write them in the comment section below!

Happy house warming!
~Savvy Student



*Special thanks to a certain Brandeis class of 2013 graduate for inspiring this blog!*

Summer Storage Revisited

 As a follow-up to one of our most popular posts, we at Savvy Student have done some extra digging to get the scoop on summer storage for your upcoming summer holiday!

We are always on the hunt for the cheapest deals and newest ways to save, and we have a few new suggestions to take some financial strain off your wallet this summer. If you haven't yet figured out where to stash your stuff this summer you can check out the online offers below for storage units close to campus. In addition, we are doing a throw back to our original post below, so you can check out our advice from years past too!


1)  Sparefoot Storage
This unique site takes advantage of the amazing search capabilities of the internet to combine all of the best deals for storage units with one interface. You just enter your location, select the unit size you need (5x5, 5x10, 5x15, etc) and give the length of the rental period (starts at 1 month and goes monthly), and instantly, deals ranging from U-Haul Storage to Planet Self-Storage pop up. Not only does this site offer storage sales, but they include haul-truck rental pricing, as well, to make getting your dorm furniture an easy process!

2) Storage Squad - Brandeis
This second option does a refreshing new take on old summer storage units for college kids. Not only do they help you pack up, but they offer free delivery and.. wait for it... free re-delivery right on-campus! Boy does this make moving in and out of college easy! Brandeis University is one of many college institutions that Storage Squad had worked with for many years, and this program has had some great success. Because it is specifically offered to the institution, the rates give precise comparisons for everything from small boxes and suitcases to complete sets of furniture. The website overall is extremely effective and very easy to use - try it out before you move on to traditional storage methods.

3) Collegeboxes
Collegeboxes has been a tried and true storage method for most Brandeis students over the years. They always drive a great bargain, and their website even offers great tips for how to pack up, where to get moving help, and how to get your stuff to their storage units. What's more, they offer some great deals during the moving months of April/May, August/September, and, if you will be studying abroad, in December/January. They even offer a study abroad kit: CHECK IT OUT!
Collegeboxes - Study Abroad Kit

Finally, as we always say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, so we've included our classic advice in a nice, compact format below, for your perusal during finals- when you're procrastinating studying AND freaking out about where you're going to leave all of your dorm stuff over the summer! Not to fear, Savvy Student is (and was) here:

- Ask your CA what time is best to move out. CAs have participated in all move-in/move-out days and they're very knowledgeable! If you're unsure, hit them up.
- Get drop clothes and furniture covers. Dust can actually damage, believe it or not, and you don't want your drawers smelling musty after sitting in a cell all summer.
- Thoroughly clean your refrigerator and defrost it properly. Just trust us on this one... the clean up is not worth the struggle.
- Plan ahead: pack the heavy stuff now, stuff that you won't use again before you leave school (like a vacuum, because who really cleans before they go?) Clothing should also be packed away except for the essentials.
- Make sure you talk with your roommates for next year. It's possible that they are already renting a storage unit, and you could share and split the cost. Plus, it will save you both a headache when it's time to move back in next semester.
-Investigate your storage options NOW for study abroad. When it comes time to go on that Parisian adventure, you want to plan for weekend escapades to Barcelona and Rome!! Not think about where you're going to store your printer, desk, TV, and bedding before you go away.

As always, Savvy Student has your back, and so do these great storage companies listed above! They will move you in and out with ease and with little expense! So don't stress about storage because we know you're already going grey over that research paper, final presentation, and final exams next week.

Keeping summer storage stress-free,
Savvy Student

Are You Ready to Make the Pledge?

After a month of facebook posts, tweets, and blogs dedicated to financial literacy and responsibility, all of us here at Savvy Student would like to leave you with one question...


Are you ready to make the pledge?

What do we mean? If you have found any of the information we have provided compelling and you would like to accept responsibility for creating a better financial situation for yourself, you should visit the official Financial Literacy Month website to make the pledge today!

We have listed the criteria below...

1. I will make informed financial decisions, understanding the difference between wants and needs. 
2. I will communicate with my family about money matters so that we are all working toward the same goals. 
3. I will be aware of the effects of advertising on the financial decisions I make, and resolve not to be influenced by them. 
4. I will take care of my finances today by tracking expenses and creating a budget that is flexible and realistic. 
5. I will take care of my finances tomorrow by saving for my future. 
6. I will meet the credit obligations I have made on time and as agreed. 
7. I will continue my personal education about financial health, budgeting, credit, and personal debt. 
8. I will plan for periodic expenses, including the next holiday season. 
9. By good example, I will teach my children the importance of budgeting, saving, and the wise use of credit. 
10. If I am over-obligated, I will take the necessary steps to seek assistance. 

*List of criteria provided by the Financial Literacy Month website.*

With just a few clicks, you can make a promise to ensure a happy and healthy financial future. We hope that you have enjoyed our month of financial literacy education and we hope that you took away at least one useful piece of information.

Your friend and informant,
~Savvy Student

Loan Literacy 101

Our fourth blog for National Financial Literacy Month is all about the confusing world of student loans. Read on for some helpful information and tips for managing your debt once you graduate!


Loan Literacy 101

Understanding student loans can be a very challenging task. With so many different types of loans, interest rates, grace periods, and other miscellaneous loan information, it is completely understandable to feel overwhelmed by your student loans. However, student loans do not need to be scary or intimidating! In this blog, we will give you a quick overview of the most common federal loans that Brandeis students receive and we will help you start planning your debt payment so that you are not caught off guard after graduation.


Common Loans

Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan

Does NOT accrue interest while student is in school

Fixed interest rate of 3.4% (2012-13 academic year and subject to change every year)

Grace period: 6 months

Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan

Accrues interest while student is in school

Fixed interest rate of 6.8%

Grace period: 6 months

Federal Perkins Loan

Interest: Does NOT accrue interest while student is in school

Interest rate: Fixed interest rate of 5%

Grace period: 9 months

Debt Payment Planning

Loan FAQs

• You are required to complete entrance counseling at the beginning of your undergraduate career  and sign the Master Promissory Note. Likewise, you are required to complete exit counseling at the end of your undergraduate career.
• Monthly payments are determined by each specific loan holder.
• Most private loan interest rates are determined by your credit score.
• Depending on your situation, you may wish to consolidate your loans. If you are interested in learning more about loan consolidation, check out this pros and cons list!

Student Loan Calculator

We have found a student loan calculator from higherone.com that is a great resource to estimate your monthly student loan payments. Although this is only an estimate that will give you an idea of what your monthly payment might be one you have completed your schooling, it can be a great planning tool. For example, you can use this tool to make sure that your monthly payments are "less than 10 percent of your monthly salary in order to comfortably afford them" (HigherOne).

When you take the time to learn about your student loans, your future payments do not seem as daunting or scary as you may have previously believed. With proper planning and access to information, we can all have a better grasp on our personal finances. This is why Savvy Student so adamantly celebrates National Financial Literacy Month. We want YOU to be responsible for your own finances so that you can have a stress-free life after graduation.

Stay calm and collected!

~Savvy Student

What is "Tax Freedom Day?"

To continue with our month of financial literacy education, Savvy Student's latest blog focuses on a little known day of great importance in the United States.


What is "Tax Freedom Day?"

Today is April 18th. A day which does not generally suggest an international or national holiday or cause for widespread celebration. However, this year April 18th is a rather important, yet unknown day. It's Tax Freedom Day! If you're wondering what Tax Freedom Day is or why you should care about it, read on...

Every year, Tax Freedom Day marks the day of the year "when the nation as a whole has earned enough money to pay its total tax bill for the year" (McBride, William). For all of the people who like figures, here are some compelling numbers for you: "In 2013, Americans will pay $2.76 trillion in federal taxes and $1.45 trillion in state taxes, for a total tax bill of $4.22 trillion, or 29.4 percent of income" (McBride, William). At this point, you may be wondering why this day matters or why we're dedicating one of our financial literacy blogs to this day.

The interesting aspect of this year's Tax Freedom Day is that it is occurring five days later than it did last year. What does that mean? Essentially, it took us five days longer to earn enough money to pay our total tax bill for the year than it did in 2012. Why is this? William McBride credits this "mainly to the fiscal cliff deal that raised federal taxes on individual income and payroll" (McBride, William). While this may seem alarming, find relief in the fact that the latest ever Tax Freedom Day was on May 1st in the year 2000.

Whether you find this news alarming, irrelevant, or confusing, we hope that this small tidbit of information has allowed you to expand your understanding of your personal finances, finance in general, and your role in the financial situation of our country.

Happy learning!
~Savvy Student