PEERFORWARD NAVIGATOR paying for your postsecondary plan There are many different ways to get money for college, a training program, or life on your own. Most young people use a combination of financial aid, along with personal and family contributions, to pay for their postsecondary plan. FINANCIAL AWARENESS Your Estimated Family Contribution, or EFC, is the number which schools and programs use to determine how much financial aid you will need. Your EFC is determined by the answers you provide on your FAFSA form, and it takes into account both your and your parent's/guardian's: STUDENT HANDOUT BIG IDEA Spending money on your education is a smart investment, because your education will never depreciate in value and will increase your earning potential over time. * income * family size * special circumstances * expenses * family situation * investments and savings * number of siblings in college 228 LESSON 14: YOUR FINANCIAL AID ACTION PLAN lesson 14: Your Financial Aid Action Plan Property of PeerForward/© 2020 PeerForward; All Rights Reserved. BIG IDEA In order to cover the financial costs of pursuing your postsecondary plan, you will need to use a combination of financial aid and personal and family contributions.