The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (a.k.a. the FAFSA)

I’m almost absolutely positive that you DON’T WANT to file the FAFSA–who wants to spend a perfectly good afternoon filling out tedious forms? But according to our paying-for-college guru Deborah Fox, spending a few short hours on the FAFSA could potentially mean getting some free money.

What Kind of Money Can I Get?

The FAFSA helps the government determine who is eligible for government grants (free money), work-study (jobs that help pay for school), AND federal student loans (which have to be paid back).

In fact, it is the only way for you to apply for federal student loans, which tend to have lower interest rates (so less to pay back) and better protections of your rights as a borrower than private student loans (like the ones you see advertised on TV).

What does that mean? Well basically, no matter how much you or your parents make, you should DEFINITELY apply for the FAFSA!

Also many schools determine who is eligible for their own private grants and scholarships based on the FAFSA, so it is a great tool to open yourself up to lots of financial aid possibilities.

What Do I Need to Know to Prepare?

Okay, so if you don’t think you’ll be likely to file the FAFSA yourself, you might want to pass this info on to your parents. Here are a few things you need to know about filing the FAFSA:

• File as Soon after January 1st as possible. The earlier you file, the more likely you are to receive grants (the free money).
• File even if you are…
  • A high school senior (you’re filing for your first year of college which will start in Fall)
  • A college student (unless you are in your last year and won’t be doing grad school)
  • A grad or med student (you may not get grants but will be eligible for loans)
• Check out this top five list from the Pay for College Blog: What You Need to Know About How to File the FAFSA

This can make a huge difference in your college budget this year, so make sure you or your parents file it ASAP!!!

Christmas is less than a week away, and Hanukkah starts Monday, so this weekend is your last chance to get those DIY gifts ready and wrapped! Our last DIY Gift Roundup of the season is just for the mamas, aunties, and grandmas in your life.

Button Wreath Ornament. You know Martha had to get in on this-look how easy these adorable wreath ornaments are! (from Martha Stewart)

Shower Cap. Especially good for preserving those special holiday do’s, this shower cap is useful and surprisingly cute! (from Hoppo Bumpo)

Twig Serving Platter. Leave it to Design*Sponge to come up with a quirky and clever DIY platter-this makes for a simple-but-unique centerpiece with clean lines and a nice nod to nature. (from Design*Sponge)

Retro-Style Lined Apron. Baking, cooking, and even tidying up will be more fun with this charming little apron. Get your sewing needles ready and go for it! (from LuluLollyLegs)

Quilted Hexagon Flower Ornaments. Perfect for sewing beginners, these cute little ornaments will brighten up any tree, doorknob, or window! (from Lovestitches)

Hippie Chick Flower Soap. [Video] A fun little stocking stuffer, these hippie flower soaps are easy to customize with your own fragrances. (from WonderHowTo) Also, check out these sugary sweet Candy Heart Soaps [Video] from Martha Stewart!

And if none of these catch your fancy, I’d recommend poking around Craftster.org and MarthaStewart.com, which are both full of creative DIY gift ideas ranging from easy peasy to week-long projects!

photo: design*sponge

Packing up to head home for winter break? This trip might be a little different than spending a weekend there–so here’s your guide to making it through the holidays!

Prepare Your Parents
Your parents are probably still used to you as their high school student, so the transition to the more independent you that you’ve made over the past couple months may be a little shock to their systems. (I remember my dad asking if he needed to wake me up in the morning–I asked him how he thought I’d made it to class everyday if I needed a wakeup call!)

Make a point of discussing with your parents what they expect. Will your curfew be reinstated (and can you get it moved later)? Do they have family time scheduled that you should pencil into your plans? Is Mom going to be okay with you bringing home all your laundry?

Call, chat, text, or email, but just make sure you all know what to expect to make this visit fun & comfortable for everyone.

Schedule Your Fun
These precious weeks off will pass quickly, so be sure you plan out a few days to fit in those things you really want to do at home (don’t get sucked into using up your whole break on extra sleep and back-to-back sessions of Guitar Hero!)

So schedule a lunch meeting with your friends from high school, make time to play soccer with your little brother, and choose a day to get those last minute gifts bought and wrapped!

Make Some Cash
A few years away from home have probably opened your eyes to the expenses of independence, so take advantage of this homework-free time and earn some money! Check out this article I wrote about how to make money over winter break and my boss’s 5 ways to earn cash for college over at our sister site, the Pay for College Blog.

Re-stock for Next Semester
You know how you forgot your Foo Fighters CD, ate all of your Easy Mac, and just realized how badly you need that coat in the back of your closet at home? Well now is the time to re-stock for your next stint of school! Gather everything you need (and ask mom for help with that Easy Mac dilemma–they have a huge case at Costco!) and get packed up to go back well-prepared.

Happy Holidays–enjoy the time off!

photo: Suitcases by bb_matt

Flower Fairy Lights. Talk about economical-these fairy lights are made from regular cardboard egg cartons, but they’re actually pretty adorable! (photo above; from Esprit Cabane)

Felt Cupcakes. Perfect for little ones playing chef, these cute felt cupcakes are easy even for beginners to make. (from Rachael Rabbit)

Teeny Girl Doll. A pocket-sized dollie for a little sister, cousin, niece, or babysitting charge. (from Making it Lovely)

Owl Stuffed Animal. This stuffed owl-named Abraham by his creator-fits in the palm of your hand! (from LollyChops)

Lambie iPod Case. This little lamb knows hip tunes when he hears them. I love how creative people get with iPod cases! (from Hip Girlie)  — My favorite, though, is still the one I made for my brother last year. (Find the tutorial here.) He’s still using it a year later!

photo: Esprit Cabane

Ready for another roundup of DIY gifts? Here we go!

Floppy Disk Pencil Holder. Perfect for a techie (or former techie), this goofy gift is sure to bring a smile. (from Esprit Cabane)

Bantha Stuffed Animal. Even if your guy, brother, or dad isn’t usually a fan of stuffed animals, this Star Wars Bantha plushie is sure to get a laugh. (from StarWars.com)

Rock Candy. How can you go wrong with candy and a little blast from the past? A simple recipe for an old-school treat! (from Exploratorium)

Sketchbook. The perfect handmade gift for the artist in your life, this simple sketchbook is a lot of bang for your buck-and you can customize it to make it extra personal. (from Dani Draws)

Binary Scarf. Know how to knit? This scarf is perfect for the guy who can ace a math test and program computer games into his calculator, all in the same class. (from Knitty)

Classic Nintendo T-Shirt. I have yet to meet a guy (young or old!) who doesn’t appreciate a little TV-time. Salute your favorite gamer by whipping up an easy DIY Classic Nintendo T-shirt. (from Diynamite)

Custom Tie. Dad may be tired of getting the same old tie year after year, so why not kick it up a notch this year and make one yourself? Get creative with funky fabrics or custom designs. I love the idea of painting or silk-screening them, too! (from Craftster)

More to come!

photo: diynamite

Last year’s DIY holiday gift roundups were so popular, I’ve decided to continue the tradition! Check out these new ideas (and see the end of the posts for links to last year’s entries!)

Fingerless Gloves Perfect for trips through the snow or late night reading on a chilly night, these cute DIY fingerless gloves are easy to make and charming to receive! (from A Foothill Home Companion)

Margaret Sling Bag This one is better for the intermediate crafter, but oh-so-cute when you finish it up. It’s a sure fire gal-pleaser. (from Oh, Fransson!)

Custom Quilted Wallet You’ll need a sewing machine for this one, but as far as quilting goes it’s okay even for beginners. The perfect place to stash credit cards and photos. (from that*darn*kat)

Laptop Sleeve This tutorial comes complete with a pattern and detailed directions. It fits a 15″ laptop! (from Living Creatively)

DIY Headbands A whole list of headbands you can make yourself-super cute and super easy! (from Altered Cloth)

Cupcake Bath Bombs Part sweet, part bath treat, these cute cupcake bath bombs are great for relaxing in the tub. (from Little Birdie Secrets)

Keep your eyes here for more DIY gift posts, and don’t foget to hit the archives for more ideas!

• Inexpensive DIY Gift Roundup #1: For the Ladies on Your List!
• Inexpensive DIY Gift Roundup #2: Gifts for Guys
• Inexpensive DIY Gift Roundup #3: Gifts for Kids
• Inexpensive DIY Gift Roundup #4: Gifts for Teens & Twenty-somethings
• Last-Minute ‘DIY Gifts for Mom’ Mother’s Day Roundup!

photo: little birdie secrets

With projects, midterms (or ugh! finals!!!), and plenty of studying, November can be a little exhausting–so why not loosen up with a little shindig with your nearest and dearest?  Snatch up these ideas for an evening with your closest gal pals or a smashing boys night.

For the Guys

• LAN Party. If you and your boys are true gamers, you already know what this is, but even casual gamers can simplify a LAN party. The basic idea? Get a bunch of your friends together for a BYOC (bring your own computer) evening (or all-nighter) featuring your fav multi-player game. Think the Call of Duty “team building” enjoyed by the Stamford branch in “The Office.”
• Pizza Hopping. Pizza is definitely a staple part of college life, so why not search out the best one–all in one evening? Whether you hop restaurants or go for delivery, make sure you branch out from the regular old Huts and Tables. Find the local dives, the quirky New York style pizza parlor in Portland, and the hole-in-the-wall deep dish place. (San Diegans, I have to recommend New York style at Bronx Pizza in Hillcrest–yum!)

For the Gals

• “Femme Nue” Party. The concept of a Femme Nue party (scandalously translated to “Naked Lady” party ) is simple and fun: you get a bunch of friends, grab all the clothes you never wear anymore and basically have a free-for-all clothing swap. Can’t slip into your former-favorite anymore? Trade them in for your BFF’s vintage cardigan. Add m&m’s and cupcakes and you’ve got yourself a party.
• Worst Date Party. Everybody has a bad date story: whether he brought his brother or forgot you at a hockey match, you’ve been there. The worst date party is a girly recompense for that worst-of-the-worst evening long (or not so long) ago. Gather your best friends and treat each other to a good date (read: swap corsages, get dressed up, and grab dinner somewhere you’re guaranteed a cute waiter) and swap your stories. Make sure you have a prize ready for the worst story! Go one better and write your stories down for posterity.

Oh good times. Don’t forget you can share your own party times in the comments!

photo: Disco LightBall by dsiis

It’s November, and that means crunch time before the wonderfulness of Thanksgiving and Winter breaks! Don’t let yourself get beaten down by your workload–prep now so you can relax later.

Break it Down

Okay first things first–mark all the dates of your upcoming projects, presentations, and tests on your calendar. It sounds simplistic but you’d be surprised how quickly things pile up when you’re not expecting them. Then make those days clearly visible on your calendar by making them a different, bright color.

…Red for doom seems appropriate.

“Guesstimate” Your Work Load

Did your middle school teachers use that word as much as mine did?

Sorry, off topic. What I mean is try to guess how much time it will take you to get your studying/work/research done for each of the items you just wrote down, add two to four hours for interruptions, and WRITE DOWN YOUR GUESSTIMATED TIME. Otherwise you will forget.

**TIP: If you’re doing a project with someone else, I would add a considerable amount of extra time, like a few hours, to your guesstimate. Group projects often put more weight on the hard workers, and if you’re making a study calendar, that means you’re it. So save your grade and give yourself some leeway.

Schedule Your Time

Now that you’ve got your time guesstimates and your due dates, it’s time to mark out your work time. If you start now you should be early enough to spread out study for finals and get projects done without a lot of cramming and brain-numbing textbook skimming.

Start by spreading out your subjects based on:

1.) What is due first, and
2.) Which will take the most work.

Obviously these two criteria will determine which things come first, but this is basically up to your discretion–you know how you work best and what takes you longest. Make sure you spread out your work, though, so you don’t end up cramming for any one thing at the end OR suffer from subject burnout.

**TIP: When you schedule your work blocks in each calendar square, schedule play blocks, too, and stick to both. You need both work and play to feel accomplished and human when life gets hectic!

REschedule Your Time

You might choose to do this every day or every week, but make a regular habit of sitting down and revising your calendar. Maybe you finish a project early–use the leftover time to get a jump on something else. Took longer than you thought to write that French paper? Better allot some extra study time to your Chem class in next week’s schedule.

Cross off Your Finished Work

You don’t have to do this, but I always find it cathartic to scribble out something I’ve finished and give it that final “Hasta La Vista!!!”

Good luck… Remember to hold on to that light at the end of the tunnel–Winter Break!!!

photo: calendar by lupy2002

Want to spice up your Halloween with a little do-it-yourself costuming this year?  Here are a few of my favorite fun (or ridiculous) costume tutorials from around the web…  (I think the Inanimate Objects may be my favs!)

Wings, Capes, and Tails

• Super Easy Capes and Super Capes (need to be scaled up)
• Rainbow Fairy Wings, and yes, Fairy Wings for Your Dog, too
• Angel Wings
• Mermaid Tail (this tutorial is for a doll costume, but why not size it up and leave a space for feet?)

Traditional Costumes

• Vampire Bite (this one should be a hit with the Twilight fans )
• Mummy Costume
• Pirate Costume for Ladies and for Guys

Movie/TV/Book Inspired

• Iron Man Helmet
• Harry Potter wands, the Monster Book of Monsters, and a Henna Dark Mark
• Yip Yip Alien Costume (from Sesame Street)
• Pucca Costume
• Bjork Swan Dress Tutorial
• Boba Fett Helmet
• Really Intense Jedi Costume

Inanimate Objects

• Giant Sandwich Costume
• Giant Sock Monkey Costume
• Sofa Costume
• Rubik’s Cube Head or Full-Body Rubik’s Cube Costumes

photo: Pumpkin Candle by somadjinn

I like to throw a party as much as the next girl, but living on a teeny tiny budget doesn’t exactly make that easy.  With my student loans in repayment and my husband applying for med school, we’ve got to be pretty creative to have anyone over (much less feed them).  That’s why Waffle Night, our semi-weekly Sunday night soiree, is so perfect.

The 10 Dollar Party

Waffles may be the perfect party food-everyone seems to like them, and they feed a lot of people for not a lot of money.  Basically you buy a ½ gallon carton of buttermilk, a bag of flour, and some vegetable oil, and you’re good to go. The other ingredients you’ll probably have on hand if you cook at all. Best of all, we’ve fed up to 20 people with just waffles-that’s 50 cents per person!

Making it Affordable

The waffles themselves may be reasonable, but the accessories and toppings can rack up your bill-so do what we do, and get your guests to bring stuff.  Here are a few things you may need to assign/borrow:

• Waffle iron
• Syrups (our favorites are maple, chocolate, and strawberry)
• Toppings (jam, candy, honey, peanut butter, sprinkles, chocolate chips, etc.)
• Paper cups, plates, and napkins + plastic utensils (if you don’t want to do dishes)
• Drinks (milk, orange/apple/grape juice, water, etc.)

The Waffle Recipe

So, our actual buttermilk waffle recipe is one of those top-secret family deals, but this waffle recipe looks pretty darn good. You can also mix it up and try having:

• A Pancake Party (check out these Orange Chocolate Chip Pancakes!)
• A German Pancake Party (these are a.k.a. Dutch Babies-recipe here)

If you want to spend a little more, you could have everyone over for custom omelets or personal pizzas.

Do you have any cheap party ideas to share with the class?

photo: Waffles 4 by woodsy