This past week, my Memorial Day post, How to Support Our Veterans’ Education Benefits, was entered in to the “How To..” group writing contest at Pureblogging. There were a total of 15 other entries, which covered a wide range of topics.

Here are my personal picks for top five.

• How to Play Tailgating Games by Dave Lamm
• 12 Tips for Seniors Accepting Awards by Carolyn Bahm
• How to Start Reading Blogs by Brad Shorr
• How to Keep Parents Happy When You’re Sticking Them With Cookie Dough by Jim Berigan
• How to Survive a 26.2 Mile Marathon by Sandra Sims

As of today, voting is still going on. If any of you fellow bloggers would like to cast your vote, just write a post listing your favorites and send a link to Pureblogging per the instructions on the site.

By many accounts, credit cards ARE a trap to avoid. If you’ve already got a card though, or think you’re ready to take on the responsibility of one, here are a few tips help you keep yourself from going in the wrong direction.

1. Avoid sign-up gimmicks. Card companies often partner with restaurants, clubs, and other businesses around college campuses to offer free stuff to anyone who fills out an application. They know that something as simple as a free lunch or teeshirt can be a big draw for students. Don’t fall for this! Even if you don’t care whether or not you are approved for the card, filling out an application for one is not something that should be done lightly. You may find yourself looking back later and wondering when it was that all your debt problems started.

2. Don’t sign up for store-specific or gas cards. If you use a credit card during your college years, it should only be for emergencies. A card that is only good at your favorite department or electronics store is not going to help you if (for example) your car breaks down on the way back from a visit home. Cards issued by gas station/convenience store chains have another drawback as well. With no end in sight to ever-rising gas prices, relying on a gas card can be a fast way to creating big debt problems for yourself.

3. Don’t use a credit card when you have other options. If you have a card, it should only be used for emergencies, and as a temporary measure. If you need money for educational expenses, make sure you are taking full advantage of the financial aid and other resources you have available. If what you are about to pay for with credit is not an educational expense, stop and think seriously about whether or not you really need it and remind yourself that you should be paying off the full balance of that card every month.

Like so many of the rest of you today, we at College Financial Aid Guide are eager to show support to our nation’s service men and women, and thank them for all that they have sacrificed on our behalf.

To that end, here is the latest news on veteran’s educational benefits, and a few tips on what we can all do (regardless of our personal politics) to support our troops and their families.

Congress is currently considering a bill entitled “The Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act” which would increase educational benefits for veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill is designed to improve upon existing benefits by providing additional funds for college living expenses and tuition.

So what can we do to support veterans’ educational benefits?

1. Stay informed. You can find all the details of the bill at congress.org under HR 5740 and S.22. Also, check out this article by Dale Eisman at PilotOnline.com, as well as other news sources to see what others have to say. It is important to do this so you can weigh the pros and cons of the bill for yourself before forming a strong opinion. Like all congressional actions, this one may have some down sides, including a hefty price tag (a projected $50 billion over 10 years) and a strong potential for veto by our current president.

2. Remember this is an election year. A quick search or info on this bill in any of the more popular internet news searches will bring up a long list of articles. The vast majority of these concern how various leaders (many currently campaigning) feel about, and intend to vote on, this bill.

3. Let your voice be heard. You can email your representative through congress.org letting them know what you think. You can also post your opinion there in the soapbox section.

Most importantly, make sure you are registered to vote in this November’s elections. And when you go to the poles, don’t forget our brave men and women in uniform, and the support they’ll need when (we pray) they make it home.

Some companies, such as Verizon (Check out www.pnnonline.org.), offer scholarships that are very substantial and accessable to students and dependants of those who work for them. A student’s employer, and/or that of their parents, can be an excellent source of extra college funding. They can also be one of the most overlooked sources. As with all scholarships, the requirements and restrictions can vary widely. While looking for ways to pay for school, be sure to find out what your employer(s) may have to offer. Also, as a potential employee, it’s always a good idea to consider scholarship and tuition assistance benefits seriously, along with insurance, salary, and others. They may turn out to make a big difference in your future prosperity, as well as that of your family.

There is still plenty of debate in the news right now about how the current credit troubles will affect those of us with student debt. Most of us though, students and grads alike, are already starting to feel the pinch. This is causing many people to seek out and create new ways to fund higher education. Check out this article from Business Week. It may have you rethinking your approach to private student loans.