Almost one-third (30%) of post-grad students accumulate more debt than expected and 40% find it difficult to make minimum repayments on student loans in the first two years after graduating, says a TD Canada Trust poll.

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With loan repayments on their backs, these students are postponing major life steps like buying their first homes (40%), getting married (23%), starting a family (36%), and even moving out of their parents’ houses (18%).

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Shahz Beig, associate vice president, TD Canada Trust, and a recent post-grad himself offers tips to students considering pursuing a Master’s:

  • Start saving early and continue to do so, preferably in a tax efficient account like a TFSA;
  • Create a budget and stick to it, rigorously monitoring daily cash flow; and
  • Create a long term financial plan. Make sure you keep track of the interest rate at which you’re borrowing, and have a plan to pay it back.

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