Your only student loan consolidation interest rate news source! Click on each item to read full story.   What the new student loan plans mean for you read story Unlike a mortgage, with student loans you don't have a tangible asset that you can sell to pay it off and unlike credit card debt, they're notoriously difficult to get rid of even through bankruptcy. Fortunately, two new programs are starting this year to help people tackle this debt.   How You Pay for College Almost as Important as What School You Choose read story While many high school students are focused on getting into college, their decision on how they are going to pay for it can make a difference on how they start their financial life after graduation.   Events Calendar read story Calendar Tip: Click on a date to see what's happening in your community! Add An Event Tip: Keep the community up to date with our shared Events Calendar. You can have your event up and posted in just a couple of minutes with our easy to use Event Information form.   Paying off a student loan? New federal program may help read story People trying to pay off student loans might be able to save a little money, thanks to a new loan consolidation program sponsored by the federal government.   Why we make the financially wrong choice when paying off debts read story A study says "debt account aversion" drives us to pay off small debts first, even if paying the highest-interest debt is always smarter financially   Retirement dilemma: Old account. Moving overseas. Should we close it? read story Retirement plan can be kept open, even though it's getting no new contributions, until your retirement. Question No. 2 in the reader's mailbag.   Wonkbook: Robert Kagan, Obama's favorite Romney adviser read story Robert Kagan is a prominent neoconservative who advised John McCain in the 2008 race and is advising Mitt Romney in 2012. But after publishing a cover story in the New Republic arguing against "the myth of American decline," he has found himself a new fan: President Obama. Read full article >>   214 New Laws Take Effect Jan. 1, 2012 read story More than 200 new laws, covering everything from local library boards to murder, will take effect Jan. 1.   For Members read story Center for Data Analysis Report - Both the Economic Freedom Project Reports and the Center for Data Analysis generate reports, giving researchers the raw data that drives Heritage's policy positions.   The college tuition problem read story President Obama wants to solve the horrible problem of college tuition costs and student loans by offering tax breaks and telling schools to keep their costs down . Memo to the prez: Holding the line on tuition increases won't do it. Tuition is already way to high.