This year alone, more than 60 lenders have exited the federal student loan market and in the private market, most lenders have significantly tightened restrictions or left the business altogether. As students prepare to enter college this fall, it's clear they have not been spared the squeeze of the credit crunch.

Teaching your children the value of fiscal and social responsibility may seem like a challenge in any economy. There is good news. By financially educating your children early you will empower them and yourself. With the holidays approaching, and your children now in school, this is the perfect time to teach them these important life skills.

For many people, college marked a time when they forged friendships and romances that last a lifetime. Is it any wonder, then, that so many college graduates seek creative ways to nourish their bond with their alma mater years - often decades - after they've left the college's hallowed halls?

When the first day of school arrives and your child boards the school bus, it may come as quite a shock that they don't buckle up. But times are changing. Some school bus manufacturers now offer an optional seat belt system.

Even though fire sprinkler technology has been saving lives in commercial property, hotels and hospitals for 100 plus years, most people don't realize the same technology is available to protect their homes. If you're thinking of buying, building or remodeling a home now is the time to learn about this state-of-the-art fire protection.

Is your son or daughter one of the 18 million students heading for college this fall? If so, you're probably still recovering from the shock of seeing the tuition bill. How do you find the money to pay for ever-increasing tuition costs?

Today's students gear up for back-to-school season by stocking up on expensive technology, from MP3 players to laptops. However, most students are unaware that dorm rooms and schools are some of the most dangerous places to store precious electronic equipment. Protecting a computer is part common sense, part hardware and part software.