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5 Alternatives to Overpriced Vacation Souvenirs

By U.S. News & World Report

Who hasn’t experienced this: You’re traveling somewhere on a wonderful family vacation and enjoy something spectacular, something that you really want to remember. Somewhere, nearby, is a vendor offering goods of varying quality (most of it questionable). Overwhelmed by the desire to bottle this memory, you cave and buy something.

What happens to that souvenir? Maybe you display it somewhere in your home, but perhaps more likely, it winds up tucked away in a closet, forgotten. In either case, it gradually blends into the background of your life, scarcely remembered or considered.

[See: 12 Frugal Ways to Save on Vacation.]

A few years later, you might spot it again and wonder: Why on Earth did I buy that? The object itself means little, you realize. It’s the memory inside that counts.

The truth is: The best souvenirs don’t cost much money. Instead, they help us savor our experience. Most of the souvenirs you find at overpriced gift shops fail on both fronts.

Here are five alternatives that manage to capture both sides of the coin. These keepsakes are inexpensive, and are more directly tied to the moment we once experienced, helping us conjure up memories with ease. With any luck, they’ll allow us to relive that moment in time, if only for a little while.

“Found” items. Seashells, rocks, leaves and other materials you discover on your trip can be great souvenirs. These items provide free, natural decoration for your home or garden and offer vivid reminders of where you were when you found them.

The only potential catch? Many parks and nature preserves have strong restrictions on collecting such items, so make sure you have permission first.

[See: 6 Ways to Treat Yourself on a Budget.]

Documents. Have ticket stubs or programs from special shows you attended? What about menus or napkins from memorable restaurants? These types of souvenirs are free and very easy to include in scrapbooks or photo albums you might craft later on.

A travel journal. Kick off your vacation with a blank journal. Each evening, jot down five favorite things that happened that day, including landmarks visited and meals enjoyed. It’s a great activity to do while the kids are falling asleep after a long day of adventuring.

Bonus? Affix your prized travel documents directly onto the pages of your journal for later reference. The best part? You don’t need anything special to do this. Almost any old notebook and pen will work perfectly.

[See: 10 Fun, Frugal Ways to Spend Your Free Time.]

Photographs. Even those stored digitally make for compelling reminders of your journey. The trick is to manage those photos smartly.

For starters, take all the digital photos you want; just make sure to trash the discards each day to avoid overload.

After the trip, why not transform the family computer into a digital picture frame that constantly rotates images from your vacation? Just create a customized screen saver and you’re there.

Postcards. Yes, these are great for sticking on the refrigerator or in the corners of mirrors for a quick reminder of your travels.

Souvenirs don’t have to be overpriced and forgettable. They just need to be little slices of memory, things that take up space in your heart, not in your closet. Try collecting these souvenirs on your next trip; your wallet will be lighter and your memories will be brighter.

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5 Alternatives to Overpriced Vacation Souvenirs 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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