Wednesday, January 28, 2009

College Tuition - Solely A Parents Responsibility?

By William Blake

High school graduation is upon you and your child wants to take the next step. College is not cheap these days. The costs continue to rise each year. This fact has some folks asking, should college students pay for their education?

Today we live in a competitive world. In order to be a major player in the game it is important to have a good education. Of course you want your child to have a bright future and as many opportunities as possible to succeed. A college education plays a major part in your child's future prospects.

Most families include more than one child. Many parents find it difficult to foot the bill for college education times 2 or 3. The children, on the other hand, are in no way able to pay for their education on their own with a small part time job.

Good students begin thinking about their higher education early. As they are nearing graduation from high school they already have an idea what area of study the want to enter and what college will offer the best program in that area.

In early planning a student can do much to help finance their education as well. By working hard in high school and maintaining a high grade point average they put themselves in line to receive scholarships and financial aid that will help them finance their education.

While it is true that it is difficult for students to fund their own education if they plan ahead and work hard in high school they will be eligible for grants and loans, financial aid, scholarships and other assistance that can greatly reduce the amount of that parents have to pay toward their child's education.

Parents can plan ahead as well. No matter where you live there are numerous college savings plans that parents can take advantage of as early in the child's life as possible to help them be prepared to contribute toward their child's college education. A good college fund can really relieve a lot of stress of college expenses.

If parents are worried about how they will manage to run a household and support a college student, start early. Prepare your child to shoulder some of the responsibility by getting their act together and following a game plan for the high school years. Parents can prepare early by starting a college savings fund in the name of each child.

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Stone Veneer: The Savings of Thin Stone Veneer

By Paul Easton

When it comes to stone veneer, here's what every home owner should know. First of all, stone veneer is much more versatile than you might have first thought.

It provides a large number benefits over other building materials. And installation of stone veneer is easy, saving you time and money.

After reading this article, you should have a completely new appreciation for what you can accomplish with stone veneer.

To begin with, stone veneer is remarkably versatile. Most people think of exterior siding when you mention this material. However, you can also use stone veneer inside your home.

Applying stone veneer to an interior wall or fireplace instantly upgrades the look of any room in which it's used. Stone veneer is also great for use in outdoor entertainment areas. For example, adding it around a pool makes the pool area look more exotic and expensive.

Stone veneer also provides many benefits. More than just a beautiful look, there are real tangible benefits that could mean extra money in your pocket. Stone veneer adds unique texture and color to your home, increasing its curb appeal and perceived value. It also increases your home's energy efficiency.

Summers will feel cooler and winters will feel warmer without having to spend extra on your utility bill. Stone veneer is also durable and long-lasting. It eliminates the need for regular painting, saving you bundles of time and money.

Paul Easton is the Marketing Director for Alpine Stone the Stone Veneer Shop- AlpineStone .co.nz - The Stone Veneer Specialist from New Zealand

Maybe the best thing about stone veneer is that it's super easy to install. Even if you're having it installed by a professional, the time saved will translate into money saved as well. However, stone veneer installation is actually easy enough for you to do it yourself. Imagine the pride of stepping back, looking at your beautiful new addition and saying "I did that!"

So what are you waiting for? It's time to take a new look at the tremendous offerings of stone veneer. You can use it for so many different things, there is sure to be a project around your home that needs it.

The benefits it provides will save you money, not only now but in the long run as well. Finally, installation is a snap, ridiculously easy for a professional, and well within the capabilities of the average do-it-yourselfer.

Stone veneer is a great way to make your site look and feel like a million dollar home for the low price.

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Listening to the Real Truth

By Kathi Macias

"If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32).

Before my precious father became a Christian in the last week of his 88 years of life, he often commented on the fact that the rest of us in the family spent too much time reading the Bible. "Haven't you got that thing memorized by now?" he'd asked. "You must have read it a hundred times!"

I can't say how many times each of us has read the Bible through, but almost ten years after my dad went to home to be with the Lord, we're still reading it-every day. Why? Because we're serious about being disciples. Jesus said more than once that if we want to be His disciples, we must "abide" in His Word. Since He is no longer walking the earth in bodily form and speaking to us verbally today, that means His disciples must be reading/studying/meditating on His Word, as found in the Scriptures, regularly. To do anything less disqualifies us as serious disciples.

Sound harsh? Judgmental? Exclusive? If so, I didn't say it. Jesus did. And He has a right to set the requirements for following Him. We have a lot of people, both inside and outside of the Church, who like to quote the latter part of John 8:31-32 (many of whom have no idea where the quote comes from), while ignoring the first part. "The truth shall make you free," they proclaim. But what is truth? Pontius Pilate asked that very question, even as Truth stood right in front of him. And we all know how that turned out.

Jesus declared quite clearly that He alone is "the way, THE TRUTH, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6, emphasis mine). Just as there is no other way to reach God the Father except through Jesus, there is no other way to be truly free or to be dedicated disciples than to abide in the Word of God. When schedules and circumstances, trials and commitments overwhelm us and we find ourselves too busy to spend regular quality time in the Scriptures, then it is all the more important that we listen and obey the words of our Savior if we truly want to be free. The world will tell us that freedom is found in pursuing our own desires and plans, but God says otherwise. Who will we believe?

How we choose to spend our time gives us the answer to that question. Choose wisely, beloved. You won't regret it.

Kathi Macias is a multi-award winning writer who has authored 26 books and ghostwritten several others. A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Kathi has taught creative and business writing in various venues and has been a guest on many radio and television programs. Kathi is a popular speaker at churches, women's clubs and retreats, and writers' conferences, and recently won the prestigious 2008 member of the year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) at the annual Golden Scrolls award banquet. Kathi "Easy Writer" Macias lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband, Al, where the two of them spend their free time riding their Harley.

Look for Kathi's two new releases this year: How Can I Run a tight Ship When I'm Surrounded by Loose Cannons and Mothers of the Bible Speak to Mothers of Today

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