Financial Empowerment
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6 September 2022Student Resources from our Partners at InternationalStudent.com
Preparing for international study isn’t just about financing and applications. You also need to make sure you’re ready for life in a whole new country (or continent!). Everyone knows the importance of studying and…
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31 May 2022
5 Reasons to Refinance Your International Student Loans
Paying back student loans is challenging, especially if you’re living in the United States and making payments to a bank in another country. By refinancing your international student loans with a U.S.-based lender, you…
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7 Ways to Pay Back Your Student Loans Faster as an International Student
While student loans can be a useful tool for paying for college in the United States, they can become a major financial burden after you graduate. If you’re ready to get that monthly student…
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8 October 2021
A Letter From the CEO of MPOWER Financing
You can now borrow up to $100,000 from MPOWER to study at over 350 universities in the U.S. and Canada Dear Students, Listening to your feedback has always been critical for us, and we’ve…
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15 March 2021
MPOWER Financing’s Top FAQs
Applying for a loan can be complicated–but MPOWER is here to make the process as seamless as possible. We’ve recently received a few questions about our no-cosigner, no-collateral student loans. In addition to our…
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24 February 2021
MPOWER Financing: An Introduction
Our Mission: What we do at MPOWER Financing Whether you’ve been searching the web for a no-cosigner student loan, a scholarship, or even an employment opportunity (definitely apply – I love it here!), you’ve…
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15 February 2021
What Do Student Loans Cover?
What Do Student Loans Cover? Student loans can be a great option to help you pay for school. In addition to scholarships or financial aid, student loans can help to fund your education. You…
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7 January 2021
Tips to save money on cell phone plans in the USA
One of the first and most important things on your to-do list as an international student is setting up a new phone plan. Our picks for international use are T-Mobile’s postpaid plans and ConnectED…
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10 March 2020
It’s Tax Season—Do You Know Your Obligations as an International Student?
Taxes are an unavoidable fact of life. Even if you are a non-U.S. citizen, you may be required to pay U.S. taxes if you earned income in the United States. While we can’t give…
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15 June 2020
International Student’s Guide to the US Healthcare System
The United States has a unique healthcare system that is unlike any other around the world. There is no nationalized or universal healthcare that many international students are used to back home. Instead, the United States relies on individuals to have their own private health insurance plan – otherwise, they will be responsible for paying their medical expenses out of pocket.
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20 February 2020
5 Reasons a No-Collateral Student Loan from MPOWER May Be Right for You…and Your Family
One of the recurring themes in our discussions with international students is family. Students tell us that they want to make their families proud.
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3 December 2019
Why are private student loans helpful for parents?
Parents want the best for their children, and providing them with the opportunity to study in the U.S. is one way to make sure they have successful futures. But attending school in the U.S. is expensive, and you might be stressed about how to pay for it. You may have considered that your child could get loans from the U.S. government, but, unfortunately, even though government loans might offer a low interest rate, international students who attend school in the U.S. do not qualify for a federal loan.
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8 October 2019
Fixed- or Variable-Interest Rate Student Loan: Which One Should You Choose?
We know financial topics can be confusing, with terms and consequences you may not understand. Whether you’re a student or parent, looking for a loan to cover costs now or in a few months, we’re here to help you by clarifying the differences between fixed-rate and variable-rate loans. But we’ll let you decide which option is the best for you!
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19 August 2019
Do I Need Health Insurance? And How Do I Get It?
As an international student, there are many aspects of the university enrollment process that can be overwhelming—including purchasing health insurance. Even if you rarely get sick, it’s important to ensure you are covered in the event you have an accident or are injured.
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6 August 2019
What exactly is a credit score? And how do I find mine?
If you got your first credit card in the U.S. and started building your credit history, now you need to start learning how to manage it. You might have heard of the term “credit score” from time to time, and it’s absolutely an important element within your credit history. But what does it mean and how can you check it? Keep reading to learn more!
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23 July 2019
Which credit card should I apply to first as an international student in the U.S.?
If you’re an international student ready to apply for your first U.S. credit card, keep reading!
You know you have to build your credit score if you are living in the U.S. You absolutely need a credit history in the U.S., but you aren’t building one if you pay with your debit cards or cash. And the sooner you start building it, the better!
You can’t build credit without having credit, and sometimes you can’t get credit as a student without a credit history. With a credit card, so you can get some credit history when you pay your bill each month. So where to start? We’re here to help you from the very beginning, and we’ll suggest credit cards that might work for you.
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22 July 2019
U.S. News recognizes MPOWER Financing as the best lender in 2019
“We’re honored by the industry recognition we’ve received, and the hundreds of heartfelt stories we get from students whom we have the privilege to serve,” says Manu Smadja, Co-founder and CEO of MPOWER. “We’re…
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8 July 2019
It’s time to set up a U.S. bank account! Here’s how to do it.
If you are an international student in the U.S., opening a bank account is probably on your checklist. But, with several personal accounts to choose from, which one should you go with? Let’s walk…
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1 July 2019
No Credit vs. Bad Credit: They’re Not the Same!
No Credit ≠ Bad Credit Having no credit or bad credit can make life more difficult. Without good credit, it’s tough to qualify for a loan, get approved for a credit card, or even…
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Why you should set up automatic payments–and how!
No one wants to miss a payment on a loan, cell phone bill, or utility bill and risk the consequences, which can include canceled service, late fees, and a downgrading of your credit score….
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13 June 2019
5 Ways of Saving Money in the U.S. that People Refuse to Share
It’s never too late to think of ways to save money as an international student since you’re often pinching pennies. These tips may not leave you rolling in money, but at least your wallet will stay a bit more full during your studies in the U.S.
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11 February 2019
Finding Funding
Attending college in the US is expensive, but may not be as costly if approached thoughtfully. Rather, an American education can be a good investment with lifelong benefits.
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11 January 2019
MPOWER Named 2019 Top International Student Loan
We are proud to announce that MPOWER Financing’s loan product has been named the Top International Student Loan for 2019 by NerdWallet, with 5 out of 5 stars!
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5 September 2018
5 Ways International Students Can Deal With Currency Fluctuations
Currencies in emerging markets around the globe have suffered this year which causes students from those countries to struggle to pay for college in the U.S. since the cost of that education rises for them as their currencies depreciate in value.
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18 June 2018
Fixed vs. Variable: How to determine which student loan rate is best for you?
Are you willing to accept unexpected interest rate changes in return for a lower starting rate? This is the trade-off one must consider when choosing to pursue a variable vs. fixed rate loan. Variable…
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20 February 2018
Top 3 Tips for Financing your MBA
If you’re applying for Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs, it’s probably not a surprise that getting an MBA is a major financial commitment. Not only are you going to forgo two years of…
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28 November 2017
A Day In The Life: Living On A Budget
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21 November 2017
Crush Impulse Buying With These 4 Jedi Mind Tricks
We all make purchases impulsively. Of course, spending outside of your budget for something that you “must” have will only hurt you – especially if you could be using your spare cash to pay…
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14 November 2017
How to Be a Money-Smart Graduate Student
Money will be tight if you’re a full-time graduate student, even if you don’t have student loans. But NerdWallet can help you use your student budget intelligently with their key strategies. Whether you’ll be…
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7 November 2017
5 Money Moves From Terrell Owens
Taking on debt can be overwhelming for anybody, whether you’re making a high NFL salary or you’re a grad student with a part-time job. Thanks to Nerdwallet and former NFL player Terrell Owens, we…
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31 October 2017
Are You a Credit Ghost? Here’s How to Come Back to Life
Building up your credit score can be tough—especially if you’re an international student. If you haven’t lived in the U.S. before, it’s difficult to establish yourself with credit bureaus (thankfully, having a U.S.-based student…
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24 October 2017
4 Ways to Make Money as a College Student
Making money as a student – especially as an international student – can be tricky. Thanks to Nerdwallet, below are four ways to get paid as a student. Let us know if any of…
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10 October 2017
3 Money Tools to Save You From Yourself
Even if you have the best intentions, it’s not always easy to stick to a budget – especially when you have student loans. Thanks to NerdWallet, we have three great strategies to help you…
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5 October 2017
3 Tricks to Saving Money by Young Adult Survival Guide
I remember the feeling…I read a book and it said: “Pay yourself first.” Must be nice you can pay yourself, everything will magically work out, and all your bills get paid. How can I…
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3 October 2017
Everything You Need To Design Your First Budget
Budgeting is not so bad, especially if you have a goal you’re working toward. Take control of your money by examining your spending and identifying your income to get what you want. What You’ll…
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14 September 2017
New Grads, Don’t Make These 401(k) Mistakes
Having your first salaried job usually comes as a huge and immediate relief. But remember, even in your twenties it’s crucial that you think about retirement – the choices you make now can have…
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1 June 2020
Did you Know that Non-U.S. Citizens Can Refinance and Consolidate Student Debt?
In the past decade, outstanding student loan debt has ballooned to $1.4 trillion, and there are now 44 million Americans who owe an average of $29,000 in student debt. Because the vast majority of…
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14 March 2017
Student Credit Cards: Really for Students?
There’s one huge obstacle that stops many International students from signing up for both student loans and credit cards in the United States. What is it? Lack of U.S. credit history. Here at MPOWER,…
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15 December 2016
7 Banking Tips for Young Millennials
Having enough money in the bank to cover student debt, general expenses, and a savings cushion is a lot of financial pressure for anyone to cope with. Here at MPOWER, we believe that handling…
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12 December 2016
5 Frugality Pros Help You Rein In Holiday Spending
Periods of increased spending can be financially challenging for anyone – even if you don’t have student debt. The winter holiday season especially can make for tricky budgeting: there are traveling expenses if you’re…
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8 November 2016
4 Simple Money-Saving Tips for Couples
Do you love spending time with your significant other? Do you spend money when you get together? You may be blissfully in love…but you still have to make student loan payments. Even if your…
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1 November 2016
5 Tips to Manage the Variable Costs in Your Budget
Whether you have private, federal, or no (!) student loans, budgeting during and after school is crucial. However, no matter how strictly you follow your budget, your cost of living can always fluctuate. Maybe…
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25 October 2016
4 Money Lessons From Rapper Dee-1
If you haven’t seen Rapper Dee-1’s recent music video for the song Sallie Mae Back, look it up. The team at MPOWER loved watching it – we recognize that getting rid of lingering college…
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23 September 2016
The Best Birthday Discounts and Freebies
Even with financial help from FAFSA and academic scholarships, it can be really tough to find ways to pay for college, and you might end up with student loan payments. Staying on track with…
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15 September 2016
10 Ways to Spend Less in Your 20s
Here at MPOWER, we’re always looking for ways for our borrowers to save money as they start off in the working world and start repaying student loans. We know that taking out student loans…
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30 June 2016
Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise: The Savings Edition
We all know it’s a good idea to have an emergency fund for those moments when unanticipated expenses pop up. That’s why experts typically recommended that you have at least three months (six months…
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17 May 2016
MPOWER Product Review: Zenbanx
Disclosure: MPOWER received zero sponsorship for this blog post and all opinions are our own. The team at MPOWER is always looking for new tools that can help our borrowers with their finance and…
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29 April 2016
Healthy, Wealthy, And Wise: The Student Loan Edition
Managing your finances can be intimidating, especially if you’re a student or recent graduate just beginning to become financially independent. With everything you’re balancing right now – school, work, friends, family, hobbies – your…
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19 April 2016
How To Pay For School: A Beginner’s Guide To Financial Aid And Scholarships
Whether you are in the beginning stages of a college search or well underway in your academic pursuits, it’s always a good idea to think about how you can cut down your college tuition…
