Des Toups

Lead Assigning Editor | Student loans, repaying college debt, paying for college

Des Toups was a lead assigning editor who supported the student loans and auto loans teams. He had decades of experience in personal finance journalism, exploring everything from car insurance to bankruptcy to couponing to side hustles.

Previous experience: MSN.com, Insurance.com, The Seattle Times, the Anchorage Daily News, the Albuquerque Journal, the Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph

Des' picks

How to Set Financial Goals

by Lauren Schwahn

Think about what you want and why. Then, assess where you are right now to determine what you need to do to get there.

Are 84-Month and Longer Auto Loans A Good or Bad Idea?

by Shannon Bradley

Long car loan terms, like 84 or 96 months, can seem like a good deal, but they can cost you much more in the long run.

8 Rules for Saving, Borrowing and Spending Money

by Liz Weston, CFP®

The latest from Des

College Enrollment Is Down, but Here’s Why You Should Still Go

College enrollment has yet to rebound to pre-pandemic levels, but a degree is still worth it in the long run.

How Is a Student Loan Different From a Scholarship?

You don’t have to repay scholarship money, while student loan repayment comes with interest.

20% of Parents Want to Save for Child’s College, but Haven’t Started

A survey found that 1 in 5 U.S. parents of children under 18 say they haven’t yet started saving for their children’s college education, but they want to.

Student Loan Borrowers in Default Get a Do-Over

Can Student Loan Borrowers Handle Payments and Inflation, Too?

Finding a Second-Chance Auto Loan

Borrowers with bad credit may turn to second-chance auto loans to buy a car and possibly restore their credit.

Tips for Buying a Used Car From a Private Seller

Buying a car from a private party is more complex, but there are ways to make the process smoother and safer.

How to Become an Esthetician

Estheticians nationwide earn a median salary of $36,510 per year.

How to Become a Truck Driver

Truck drivers nationwide earn a median salary of $47,130.

How to Become an Airline Pilot

Airline pilots, nationwide, earn a median salary of $130,444.

How to Become a Dental Hygienist

Nationwide, dental hygienists earn a median salary of $77,090.

Order a New Car From the Factory and Save

Waiting a few weeks or months gets you the vehicle you want, and perhaps a better price.

Resources for Reskilling: Worker Retraining Programs

Worker retraining programs are offered by the federal government, states and individual employers.

Can You Negotiate a Car Lease Buyout Price?

Successfully negotiating a car lease buyout is rare and dependent on the leasing company policies.

Pay for Your Kid’s College? 3 Times to Think Twice

Don’t take on college debt for your child if your financial health will suffer when your kid doesn’t pay the bill.