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The Best Buys to Cure Cabin Fever

By U.S. News & World Report

The excitement of all the winter holidays is long gone, and yet we’ve still got another solid month of winter before we can start looking forward to spring. Rather than spend this time staring out the window, longing for warmth and sunshine, give these pass-the-time strategies a try. I promise, you’ll stop feeling cooped up and start enjoying every last minute of these cozy days.

Channel your inner Julia Child. Find a recipe you’d like to cook, invite some friends over (or don’t), turn on some music and enjoy the process of preparing a delicious meal.

According to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, women report feeling significantly happier and less stressed after eating at home, compared to when they eat out. What’s more, home-cooked meals are generally healthier, not to mention much easier on the wallet. It’s a triple win. Of course, cooking is more fun when you’ve got a fully stocked kitchen, so consider splurging on some new equipment.

Williams-Sonoma’s online Outlet is also offering up to 75 percent off select items, from a hard-anodized copper core sauté pan for $179.99 (regularly $450) to a Rabbit 7-piece wine set for $49.99 (regularly $99.95).

Have an ice-cold beer. In this weather, you’re not going to want to hop in the car and skid to your local beer distributor to pick up a six-pack. It’s just not worth it. But here’s the perfect work-around: Invest in your own home-brewing kit.

Making your own beer is not only a fun way to spend an afternoon, it’s also economical, too, especially given that you can find some top-notch sales on starter kits these days. Homebrewing.org is offering its Adventures in Homebrewing Beginners’ Homebrew Kit for $49.99 (regularly $79.99). NorthernBrewer.com is selling a more technical (but still beginner) setup, which includes all the ingredients you need for your first batch, for $99.99 (regularly $159.99).

If you prefer booze to beer, try making your own gin from a bottle of whatever vodka you’ve got lying around. The Homemade Gin Kit, which comes with juniper berries and a few other goodies, is currently on sale at Amazon.com for $35.47 (regularly $50).

Binge-watch movies and series… If you don’t already have Netflix ($7.99/month), sign up now. New members receive a free one-month trial.

Another option: Enroll in a one-month (or six-month, if you’re a student) free trial of Amazon Prime. Membership includes not only free two-day shipping but also access to thousands of free streaming movies and original TV series, like “Transparent,” which nabbed five Emmys last year, and “Mozart in the Jungle”, which recently won a Golden Globe. Then, sit back, make some popcorn and begin your marathon.

…Under a cozy blanket. I’m convinced that feeling just slightly too cold all the time, even inside, is what turns winter’s magic into misery. So rather than allow the chill to settle into your bones (and the subsequent dread to settle over your mood), invest in a luxurious blanket, and wrap yourself in it.

Retailers are practically giving them away right now. Faux-fur throws at Pottery Barn, and Italian wool and alpaca cableknit throws at Restoration Hardware are currently more than 50 percent off.

Plan a last-minute getaway. Of course, one of the best ways to escape the winter doldrums is to hop on a plane, jet to a warmer climate and escape the cold weather altogether. With the spread of the Zika virus in South America, Mexico and even the Caribbean, the Centers for Disease Control is urging travelers to these areas to use precautions or, in certain cases, to delay travel to these areas altogether.

Luckily, there are still plenty of Zika-free, sunny destinations to explore. Warmer cities like Las Vegas or Palm Springs, California, often have deals on hotels, and with a simple online search you can find different sites offering coupons for certain hotel brands.

Wherever you decide to go, know this: The act of simply planning a vacation has been shown to boost happiness, and sometimes, the anticipation is even better than the real thing.

More from U.S. News

10 Creative Ways to Cut Costs This Winter

10 Foolproof Ways to Reach Your Money Goals

12 Shopping Tricks to Keep You Under Budget

The Best Buys to Cure Cabin Fever originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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