1. 2011 • Issue 4
solutions
It’s Not Your Imagination: E x C l u s I v E l y F o r P r I m E r I C A C l I E N t s
College Costs Are Soaring
College costs have skyrocketed: a 467% jump since 1986,
compared to an inflation increase of 107%!1 Here are some
College costs: ways to trim the bill. Give Yourself a
467%
jump since 1986
Advanced Placement Exams. High schoolers can earn college credit through Advanced
Placement tests, and 90% of four-year colleges in the U.S. will count them as college credit.2 This
can save you a semester or more of classes – and shave big bucks from your tuition, room and board.
? Did you
know?
Financial Checkup
the end of the year is approaching fast. Do you need a financial
Stay Close to Home. Staying at an in-state public college can keep costs lower than a private
or out-of-state college (tuition is usually lower for in-state residents). For even lower costs, consider 60% of respondents in a tune-up? Here are a few areas to consider as you reflect and review:
attending a nearby community college. Students who have yet to decide on a major can get pre- new survey said if one pay-
Review your credit cards. Do you have a Check your emergency savings. Do you
requisite classes out of the way for a fraction of the cost, and transfer later if they choose to go to a check was late, they would
stellar credit score? With industry competition have three to six months’ salary stashed? If not,
four-year university that ranks high in their field. have to cut back on at least
fierce for your business, you may be able to ask you’re not alone – a majority of Americans say
one important household
Rent Textbooks. These days, even used textbooks are expensive. Consider another option: rent- for – and receive – a lower Annual Percentage they don’t have enough cash on hand to cover
expense, such as groceries,
ing books through a service such as chegg.com or bookrenter.com, which boast student savings of Rate (APR). While the average variable APR for a $1,000 emergency expense.4 To find extra
Money.MSN.com, July 12, 2011 rent or utilities.
up to 80%.3 Some services will ship anywhere in the country with free return shipping. credit cards is 14.46%, those with super-high cash for your emergency fund, get creative: take
credit scores can actually cut that in half (see on extra work (ask your Primerica Representa-
Stretch Your Savings. If you have a child at home, consider opening an Education Savings Ac- chart inside).1 If you’re among that elite crowd – tive how you can earn extra money part-time
count today for him or her. It’s an excellent way to keep up with rising college costs and stretch your and aren’t happy with your current rate or terms by helping families with their finances) or trim
tuition dollars. Your Primerica Representative can help you get started today. – try contacting customer service. You could some of the “extras” from your monthly bills
1 Money.MSN.com, July 12, 2011 2 ibid 3 ibid 60% negotiate your way to a better rate, or persuade (think entertainment costs like dining out and
© 2011 Primerica /A8872 / 42937 / 10.11 / 11PFS461-2 them to waive the annual charge. cable/satellite service).
What’s your get-out-of-debt plan? Are Review your life insurance coverage. If
you worried about your debt? If you’ve ever you have had a change in your life – such as the
Los Angeles Times, latimes.com, thought about making a dent in your debt (or birth of a new baby – this is crucial. Financial
www.primerica.com viewed July 20, 2011
changing your credit habits), now’s the time! experts generally recommend about six to 10
solutions Approximately 63% of Americans who are in times your annual salary. Nearly a third of all
debt say they worry about money 1-3 hours a U.S. households have no life insurance, the
could change your life! INSIDE day, and 22% worry 4+ hours a day.2 If you’re highest percentage in more than four decades.5
It’s free, confidential, and it • How to Find Money to Save among them, ask your Primerica Representa- Among households with children younger than
Financial Needs Analysis.
• When NOT to Charge tive how Primerica Debtwatchers™ can show 18, 40% said they would immediately have
representative for an updated
• College Costs Are Soaring
Contact your Primerica you how to create a plan to gain control of your trouble keeping up with living expenses if a
credit for good.3 wage earner passed away.6 Don’t let a troubled
1 Money, July 2011 2 USA Today, January 7-9, 2011 3 Primerica, representatives of Primerica, Equifax and Primerica
DebtWatchers™ will not act as an intermediary between Primerica DebtWatchers customers and their creditors and do not
imply, promise or guarantee that credit files or credit scores will or may be improved, repaired, boosted, enhanced, corrected
or increased by use of the Primerica DebtWatchers product. Primerica DebtWatchers™ is a trademark of Primerica, Inc.
Primerica DebtWatchers is not available for purchase by residents of Washington, D.C. See http://my.primerica.com for
additional Important Disclosures. 4 CNNMoney.com, August 10, 2011 5 The Wall Street Journal, August 29, 2010 6 Ibid
(Continued inside)

2. solutions
When NOT to Charge
How to Find With the holiday season quickly approaching, take note of
? Did you
know?
Money to Save these credit red flags—and put your card away at these times.
1 After midnight. Your judgment may be
off at this time of day, so turn off the computer,
4 You’re paying one card with an-
other, habitually. If you’re bouncing your
Hours a Day Americans in put your card away and wait till morning. balance around from one card to the next, you
Debt Worry About Money should be aware that moving it around every
2 When you’re near your credit limit.
six months or so may show up on your credit
Credit counselors advise staying away from
63% report. Also note that transfer fees have gone up
even a couple of hundred dollars of your credit
to about 4% of your debt.
limit to avoid any negative impact on your
credit score. 5 If you don’t have a plan for paying
it off. If you’re still charging more than you Got a Great Credit
3 When you get a notice that your
can pay off each month – and have too much Score? Nab a Better
If you struggle with finding money to save, here are some ideas rate will go up. You may be able to negoti-
revolving debt – Primerica DebtWatchers can
ate with your credit card company for the old Rate!
to help you get started. help you create a plan to pay off your debt, and
“The higher your credit
rate, switch to a new company with a lower
22% Put aside your loose change each day. Saving just $1 a day will yield you $365 in a year!
help you stick to it!
rate or avoid using credit altogether. score, the lower the credit
15% card APR you can secure.”
Cut your phone bills. For less than $10, you can buy a prepaid cell phone and pay only by the
Money, July 2011
minute. Cancel your land line (unless you have medical issues that may require emergency calls).
1-3 4 hours 0 Score APR
hours or more hours Dodge unnecessary fees. Avoid bouncing checks, overdraft and ATM fees. The $20-$40
you normally spend each month could save you $240 to $480 each year! 740 7.5%
USA Today, January 7-9, 2011
Bring lunch to work. Spend $2 a day on making lunch at home instead of eating out for $5 a 720 12.5%
day, and you’ve saved $780 in one year.
700 16%
Track your spending. You might not realize where your money is going. Keep a receipt for ev- Creditcards.com, viewed July 13, 2011 680 18%
erything you spend in one month. At the end of the month, separate them into categories. Where
$20k $278
can you trim excess spending? Usual suspects: entertainment and dining out. 660 20+%
Average yearly cost of an undergraduate Average weekly cost of food for a family
(Scores listed are estimates of
program (public schools average $15,000 of four who eats a variety of meats and minimums required.)
per year; private schools, $30,000) fresh produce, up 4% from last year Money, July 2011
How much more are you spending
? Did you Money.msn.com, July 12, 2011 Money, July 2011
know? on food this year?
3X
(Continued from cover)
36% 10-20% more
economy put your family’s financial future at
risk: Talk to your Primerica representative to
make sure you’re (still) properly protected.
Secure™, a referral program that shops multiple
carriers for you! ? Did you
know?
32% up to 10% more Do you have a will? Two-thirds of Ameri- 14.46% is the Average
Women are three times Re-shop your auto insurance. If you cans do not, according to a 2010 survey.8 You Variable APR charged
11% None, we’re buying less food
more likely to feel over- haven’t comparison-shopped your rates lately, can pay a lawyer anywhere from $100 to $1,000 now by credit cards.
whelming financial stress 21% 20% or more give it a try! For an identical 6-month policy, to create a will,9 or ask your Primerica repre- Credit score “superstars”
compared to men. costs can vary as much as $500 across carriers sentative about the Primerica Legal Protection could halve that.
Dailyfinance.com, June 28, 2011
– yet only 20% of consumers actually take the Program (PLPP), which includes free will prepa- Money, July 2011
time to shop around!7 Too busy to shop? Ask ration among its many benefits.
Money, July 2011
your Primerica representative about Primerica
7 Bankrate.com, viewed September 10, 2011 8 Money, April 2011 9 AARP.com, March 24, 2011