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8 Ways to Get Your ‘Game of Thrones’ Fix Without HBO

By U.S. News & World Report

Even though it’s technically summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the Seven Kingdoms of “Game of Thrones” are about to face a terrifying blizzard. If you’re all caught up on the beloved HBO series, you know that the story is no longer following the books, as author George R.R. Martin is still writing them, and that the forces of good and evil are descending on the mythical land of Westeros for an epic showdown.

But being able to afford access to this amazing show is a luxury, and if you’re looking to keep your budget tight and clean, you might not be able to swing it. That’s OK. You don’t need to shell out the cash for the HBO channel or app to immerse yourself in the magic of this world. Here are some cheap, or even free, ways to get lost in Westeros. (Warning: This article may contain some light spoilers up to season six.)

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

Cook up a “Game of Thrones” feast. Many key scenes of this show take place at weddings and parties, and the food served at these events is amazing. Whip up your own feast from the North, including beef and bacon pie, honeyed chicken or baked apples. Or cook a dinner fit for Cersei at King’s Landing with lemon cakes, quails drowned in butter and iced milk with honey. Find those recipes and more in “A Feast of Ice and Fire: The Official Game of Thrones Companion Cookbook.”

Attend a weekly viewing party. You already know “Game of Thrones” is wildly popular, which means you may know one or two people in your circle who are fans — and who subscribe to HBO. Perhaps someone you know may already host a weekly viewing party you can attend. If they don’t, maybe they were waiting for someone like you to organize it. Offer to bring appropriately themed snacks. If the people in your circle don’t know their Westeros from their Walkers, check in with local comic book stores and bars, which may host their own viewing events.

Read the books. If you’ve followed the series at all, then you know how hard it is to track all the characters across the realm. There are so many, but once you put a face to a name by watching the show, it’ll be even easier to identify each character in the books. And even though the showrunners are no longer using Martin’s series as source material, it’s still the basis of the show itself, so you can bank on discovering some wondrous little Easter eggs hidden within the pages.

[Read: 7 Best Inexpensive Netflix Alternatives.]

Let podcasts guide you. You can relive every episode, dig deep into fan theories and compare obscure book details to what’s currently happening on the show with the help of podcasts. ” Game of Owns” on iTunes interweaves plot discussions, interviews and speculation into high-energy episodes that make you excited to be a member of this fandom. ” Binge Mode: Game of Thrones” on SoundCloud does an hour-long podcast episode dissecting each episode of the show. You get to relive the moments you cheered for and glimpse some of the subtle things you may have missed. However, make sure you are very careful when downloading any podcasts. While many podcasts are great at labeling spoiler information, sometimes even the title or description of certain podcasts may give away key plotlines.

Try similar shows. This series has set the tone for what makes great TV during the last seven years and has inspired the creation of similar shows. If you can’t find out what Jon Snow is currently up to, get acquainted with other noble, unwavering warriors on “Vikings,” “The Last Kingdom,” “The White Princess,” “Outlander” or “Spartacus.”

You could also get caught up on the other work by your favorite characters. With the show’s worldwide success, these actors are now household names and are more prominent than ever. For example, check out Peter Dinklage, who plays Tyrion Lannister, in “The Station Agent,” Natalie Dormer, who plays Margaery Tyrell, in “The Tudors” or Sophie Turner, who plays Sansa Stark, in “X-Men: Apocalypse.”

Of course, you can always watch previous “Game of Thrones” seasons for free on DVDs borrowed from friends, family or even the library. You might score some for cheap at a yard sale, thrift store or online store such as eBay.

[Read: 7 Ways to Save Money on Your Internet Bill.]

Keep an eye out for free trials. HBO has a lot of wonderful television shows to offer and will occasionally offer free trials to lure in new customers. As long as you pay attention to the deals it’s offering, you can jump into a free trial, get all caught up on the latest episodes, and jump back out before you owe any money.

Watch the Cons. “Game of Thrones” has been a huge part of Comic-Cons across the country since the series first aired. Stars of the show will attend, along with the writers and creators, and you’ll often get some killer clues as to what they have planned for the coming season. While you will have to be wary of spoilers, you can get in on the fandom by following each city’s Comic-Con on Twitter and Instagram for the latest. Plus, it’s always fun to see babies dressed as the Mother of Dragons.

Learn Dothraki. Penguin Random House has developed an iTunes app that teaches you to have full conversations in Dothraki, the native language of the nomadic horse warriors of Essos. And if Daenerys Targaryen does eventually end up on the Iron Throne, it could become the dominant language of the Seven Kingdoms. Might as well bone up now, right? Her reign has just begun, after all.

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8 Ways to Get Your ‘Game of Thrones’ Fix Without HBO 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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