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Where You Can Shop to Support Breast Cancer Research

By U.S. News & World Report

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual health campaign that aims to increase awareness of the disease and raise funds for research, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cures. Not only can you donate to the charity of your choice or participate in one of many fundraising events, you can shop to make a difference, too.

These stores are donating a portion of the sales of certain products to support the fight against breast cancer.

[See: 12 Shopping Tricks to Keep You Under Budget.]

Clinique. At stores such as Macy’s and Nordstrom where Clinique products are sold, consumers can find a limited-edition Great Skin, Great Cause moisturizer. The brand’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion is paired with a pink and white breast cancer awareness key ring. With each one sold, Clinique will donate $10 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Alex and Ani. The jewelry company released a Spiral Sun Charm Bangle as part of its Charity by Design line. Alex and Ani will donate 20 percent of the purchase price from each Spiral Sun Charm sold, with a minimum donation of $25,000, to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Gap. The clothing store revealed a line of women’s clothing meant to raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and will donate 15 percent of the purchase price to the organization. The line includes athletic apparel, sleepwear and intimate apparel in various shades of pink and gray.

[See: 10 Money-Saving Websites to Check Before Shopping.]

Teleflora. Have an occasion (or want to create one) for a flower delivery this month? Order Teleflora’s Pink Grace Bouquet in one of the three sizes, and the company will donate 15 percent of the purchase price to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The bouquet includes pink roses, pink spray roses, hot pink carnations and soft pink alstroemeria accented with greenery.

Estee Lauder. The cosmetics brand is offering two limited-edition products this month. For each sale of Advanced Night Repair with Pink Ribbon Keychain or the Pink Ribbon Knockout Eyes Collection, Estee Lauder will make a donation to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Bumble and Bumble. The hair product company is selling a limited-edition pink ribbon thickening spray and will donate 20 percent of each sale to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Fabletics. The athleisure clothing company co-founded by Kate Hudson recently announced a new collection benefiting the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer organization. The collection features three two-piece outfits designed in the signature colors of the organization.

J. Crew. During the weekend of Oct. 14 and Oct. 15, shoppers who visit J. Crew stores can mention the Breast Cancer Research Foundation at checkout to receive 20 percent off a purchase of $100 or more. A portion of the sales will benefit the foundation.

S’well. The brand of reusable bottles will donate 20 percent of the purchase price of the Bikini Pink bottle in its Satin Collection to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation during the month of October.

New Balance. The footwear company has long participated in Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This year, it released a new shoe to both raise funds and awareness. The New Balance 490 Breast Cancer Awareness Running Shoe is gray and pink, and retails for $60. The company will donate 5 percent of the suggested retail price of the Lace Up for the Cure Collection to Susan G. Komen, a breast cancer organization.

[See: 10 Signs You Shop Too Much.]

AmazonSmile. At Amazon, shoppers have the option to shop through smile.amazon.com to benefit their favorite charity. Upon visiting smile.amazon.com for the first time, you will be prompted to select a charitable organization — there are nearly 1 million eligible. Shop as you would normally, and Amazon will donate a portion of your purchase price to the organization you chose. Over time, you can see your overall impact, which can really add up if you do a lot of online shopping.

Stella McCartney. Fashion brand Stella McCartney designed the Louise Listening Post-Double Mastectomy Bra for women to wear post-surgery, and donates 100 percent of all proceeds of the item to the Hello Beautiful Foundation. The brand also recently announced a limited-edition lingerie set, and will donate proceeds to the Linda McCartney Center. Fashion designer Stella McCartney, daughter of former Beatles member Paul McCartney, is passionate about supporting breast cancer awareness since her mother Linda McCartney passed away from the disease.

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Where You Can Shop to Support Breast Cancer Research 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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