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Can you use fafsa money for gas?

No, you can't use student loan funds to make car loan payments. Transportation expenses to get to and from school are an approved expense, but you can't use the loan money to buy a car. You can, however, use student loan funds to pay for gas and vehicle maintenance.
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Can I use FAFSA money for groceries?

The Office of Federal Student Aid and most private student lenders state that all student loan funds must be used for one or more of the following education expenses: Tuition and fees. Room and board. Groceries.
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Can I use FAFSA money for other things?

Tuition, fees, supplies and textbooks are among the expenses approved by the federal government, while things like vacations, clothing and some other personal expenses are prohibited.
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What can you not spend FAFSA money on?

Housing Costs

Be aware that you may not receive the same amount of funding toward room and board if you live off campus. Keep in mind that furniture, decorations, or any nonessential housing costs should not be associated with financial aid funding, especially student loans.
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Can I use FAFSA for personal expenses?

The answer is yes, FAFSA can help with student living expenses. When a student submits their FAFSA, they may be eligible for financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships and loans, which can be used to cover a variety of educational expenses, including living expenses.
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Use FAFSA To Pay For College?

What happens to leftover FAFSA money?

If there is money left over, the school will pay it to you. In some cases, with your permission, the school may give the leftover money to your child. If you take out a loan as a student or parent, your school (or your child's school) will notify you in writing each time they give you any part of your loan money.
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How do I get my FAFSA money into my bank account?

After you have your bank account set up, share the account and routing numbers with your school's financial aid office, and they will deposit additional aid funds directly to that account as early as 10 days before classes start.
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Can I use FAFSA money for a laptop?

Does the FAFSA include laptops for college? If you receive federal student aid through the FAFSA, you can use those funds to buy a laptop. FAFSA aid can also be used toward room and board, transportation costs, and textbooks. Most student-related expenses can be paid for with federal funds.
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Can you buy books with FAFSA money?

Typically, financial aid money is sent directly to the school. Then, the school disburses the excess funds to you, up and above the direct billed expenses. You would then use those funds to buy your school necessities, i.e., books.
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What can you buy with FAFSA?

Remember, federal student aid must be used for school expenses such as tuition, housing and food, and books and supplies. If you have questions or need any assistance, contact the financial aid office at your college or career school.
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Is money from FAFSA free?

However, the FAFSA enables the student to qualify for many types of financial aid from several sources. Some of this money is free money, some must be earned through work, and some must be repaid.
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Can you live off of student loans?

Student loans can be used for any education-related expenses, which include living expenses during college. So if you have any of those funds left over after paying costs such as tuition and fees, you may be able to use that money to directly pay for what you need.
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Is FAFSA allowed to check your bank account?

Students selected for verification of their FAFSA form may wonder, “Does FAFSA check your bank accounts?” FAFSA does not directly view the student's or parent's bank accounts.
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How do I get my money from FAFSA?

Top Ten FAFSA Tips to Maximize Your Eligibility
  1. File the FAFSA early. ...
  2. Minimize income in the base year. ...
  3. Reduce reportable assets. ...
  4. Save strategically. ...
  5. Spend strategically. ...
  6. Coordinate 529 college savings plans with the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC). ...
  7. Appeal for more financial aid.
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Does FAFSA go straight to your bank account?

You can choose to get paid by check or direct deposit, or have the money credited to your school account to pay for your education-related charges (such as tuition, fees, and room and board).
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Does FAFSA money expire?

The award or amount of money you're offered for each FAFSA application lasts for one academic year, beginning in the fall. You'll need to reapply for FAFSA each year you plan to be in school.
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Is FAFSA money you have to pay back?

The type of aid you receive after filling out the FAFSA determines if you need to pay it back. Grants, scholarships, and work-study money don't need to be repaid but have finite funding limits. You will need to repay subsidized, unsubsidized, and Direct Plus Loans.
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Can you get a refund check from FAFSA?

Your refund can come from FAFSA need-based aid, such as student loans and federal grants, but private grants and scholarships often push you over the edge toward getting a refund. After all, in most cases, need-based financial aid awards aren't designed to pay for everything.
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Why does FAFSA ask how much money I have in the bank?

You and your parents will report certain assets on the FAFSA. Your asset records are part of the calculation for your Student Aid Index (SAI), which determines your eligibility for need-based federal aid. It's important to be as accurate as possible when completing the FAFSA.
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Does FAFSA consider debt?

Remember that the FAFSA is looking at money you have in the bank and not at your credit card debt. So, if one outweighs the other, it wouldn't be a bad idea to pay off some, if not all, of that credit card before submitting your FAFSA.
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Can student loans be used for groceries?

After your school deducts what's needed to pay for expenses such as tuition and room and board, it will disburse any remaining money to you for education-related expenses. But these expenses aren't just books and class fees. Student loan funds can be used to pay for rent, groceries and more.
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Can I buy a car with a student loan?

“This allowance may also include costs for operating and maintaining a vehicle that is used to transport the student to and from school, but not for the purchase of a vehicle.” That means unfortunately you can't use student loans to buy a car., no matter what type of student loan you have.
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Should I use my financial aid to buy a car?

A better question is, “Should you use student loans to buy a car?” The answer: “No!” It might seem like a good idea at the time, but there are three reasons why buying a car with student loans will cost you more money than you bargained for.
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