College is expensive. Research shows that a typical year at a four-year institution will cost between $20,000 and $40,000. College has grown to be such an expensive proposition that to many it’s a luxury. Growing bureaucracy, increasing technology, and the cost of living have increased the price of a college education. If you’re lucky, you can qualify for a grant or scholarship. If you are not, you have to find creative ways, like Plain Green Loans, to help keep the cost of college down to a reasonable level.

More Than a House

When you think about it, your college education is actually more expensive than your home. Even if you select a state institution, where tuition rates are typically lower, you can expect to pay over $100,00 for your education. Add in living expenses, incidentals, and loss of employment, and suddenly your education is costing you even more. Whether you’re a struggling college student or earning your degree while you’re working, paying for your education will be difficult, so be sure to have emergency funds available, like those from Plain Green Loans.

But Why?

The price of education has been on the rise for decades. Like anything, as the popularity and accessibility of college grew, so did the expenses attached to it. More administrators, teachers, and classrooms to house a rising number of students were needed. Technology budgets increased as education itself hit the digital age. Finally, the cost of living has impacted the cost of a college education. Many students find themselves relying on grants, loans, part-time jobs, and other various resources in order to pay for their education.

Creative Accounting

No matter how well-prepared you are financially, over the course of four or more years you will likely find yourself in a bind. Whether you have bills due or simply need some cash until payday, sometimes you just need money. Instead of not paying your bills or pulling your belt even tighter, consider taking a loan from a company like Plain Green Loans. It can help tide you over until pay day and save you from further financial debt.

A college education is expensive, but it is an investment in your future and one that is well worth it. Prepare yourself financially as much as possible, but don’t be afraid to take out loans when you are in need of a bit of help.

In his State of the Union speech last night, President Obama made a strong case for investments necessary for our future, particularly infrastructure spending. There will be a big battle with the GOP over any spending initiative, but the president is getting support from an unlikely pairing.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO, often bitter foes in conflicts between business and labor, released a rare joint statement Wednesday in support of President Barack Obama’s call for additional infrastructure spending.

The business lobby and union conglomerate’s respective leaders offered a united front in applauding the broad pitch for domestic development in Obama’s State of the Union address.

“America’s working families and business community stand united in applauding President Obama’s call to create jobs and grow our economy through investment in our nation’s infrastructure,” their joint statement reads. “Whether it is building roads, bridges, high-speed broadband, energy systems and schools, these projects not only create jobs and demand for businesses, they are an investment in building the modern infrastructure our country needs to compete in a global economy.

“With the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO standing together to support job creation, we hope that Democrats and Republicans in Congress will also join together to build America’s infrastructure.”

It will be interesting to see if momentum build for more spending in this area.

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