INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you don't have any of the Harry Potter movies, or if you are missing some of them, you'll have to purchase or rent the missing DVDs. Check for scratches ahead of time and give each movie a test run before the day of your party. It would be disappointing if you made it most of the way through your marathon and then had to stop due to a damaged disk or corrupted digital file. If you're missing one of the Harry Potter movies in your collection, you might ask one of your friends to bring the movie to the party. That way you can focus on getting ready! When your marathon day finally arrives, put the first movie on your TV and allow it to play for a few minutes to check the volume. After you've adjusted the volume to a good level, pause the movie at the beginning so all you have to do is push "play." Disposable cups, paper plates, and a few rolls of paper towel can make clean up easier when your marathon's through. You can even buy cups and plates decorated with Harry Potter designs. These should be available at your local grocery or dollar store, though if you have difficulty finding Potterverse themed products, an online retailer might be your best bet. Depending on the recipes you've found, or depending on your favorite Potterverse treats, you may need to buy additional supplies from your local grocery store. Once your treats are made, arrange your snacks in a way that mimics the movie, like arranging food on a long table.  Organize your treats on a rolling cart and pretend during food breaks that you're riding the Hogwarts Express! Have backup treats ready so that when you've finished one you don't have to interrupt viewing. You don't need to go over the top, but small details will certainly add to the atmosphere. If you plan on playing muggle quidditch you'll need brooms for players, and these could be stacked off to the side as decorations in the meantime. Posters from the movies can be taped to walls, butterbeer served in an intricate looking carafe or coffee press, and the books can be placed around the viewing area to give your home some Potter flair. These can be something that you send your guests on their way with once the party is done, or maybe you'll want to give these to your friends when they arrive as a way of saying thanks for coming. To make your goody-bags more authentic, you might include:  Chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil Mini creatures, like spiders, frogs, and dragons A "potion" that's really a juice box You'll want your space to be as comfortable and as easy to move around in as possible. Move furniture that is blocks walkways or takes up unnecessary space, and bring extra seating from other rooms if you are able. If you are worried you won't have enough seating, you might make a cozy nest with blankets and pillows in front of your TV. Even if you don't have a CD of the soundtrack from one of the Harry Potter movies, you can still stream tracks from YouTube, Pandora, or other online media providers. This will get your guests into the mood to marathon watch Harry Potter from start to finish.

SUMMARY: Buy or rent the movies. Ready the first movie and balance volume. Stock yourself with supplies, like paper products. Make and arrange your snacks. Add Potter themed decorations. Make Potter themed goody-bags. Clear your viewing space. Play music from the Potterverse.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: It’s important that you continue making your existing payments as you complete the consolidation process. Until you’ve been informed that your loans have been paid off and your consolidation loan has taken effect, you are legally required to make those payments. Most federal student loans do qualify, but it’s important to make sure that all of your individual loans will be included. The following loans qualify:  Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans Direct PLUS Loans PLUS loans from the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program Supplemental Loans for Students Federal Perkins Loans Federal Nursing Loans Health Education Assistance Loans Go to https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/index.action. The application process is simple, since the Department of Education will already have all of your personal information and records of all your federal loans. Again, you should avoid consolidating your federal loans through private lenders. If you do not stay with the Department of Education, you’ll lose access to many resources and benefits, and you will probably pay more. Once you’ve completed the application process, the Department of Education will provide you with a summary sheet, which lists all of the loans you are consolidating. Review this document carefully.  If everything looks correct, you don’t need to do anything. After fifteen days, the Department of Education will process your loan. If anything looks amiss – if the numbers are off, or if any of your federal loans aren’t included – contact the Department of Education within fifteen days of the date on the summary sheet. Once your consolidation loan is approved, you must choose a repayment plan. If any of your loans were in default, you’ll choose one of the three income-based options – either IBR, Pay-As-You-Earn, or ICR. If none of your loans were in default, you can choose any of these six plans:  Standard Repayment. You’ll make regular payments that are calculated so that your loan will be paid off within ten years. Many people who consolidate find that they cannot afford the standard plan, but if you can, it’s the most cost-effective option. Graduated Repayment. You’ll make payments that start out low and increase every two years, so that you pay the entire balance in ten years. If you don’t make much money but expect your income to increase regularly with time, this is a solid, cost-effective option. Extended Repayment Plan. You’ll make lower payments, but you’ll continue making them for 25 years. This option is only available if your loan amounts to more than $30,000. Income-Based Repayment (IBR). You’ll make payments for twenty-five years, and after that, any remaining debt will be forgiven. Your payments will not exceed 15% of your discretionary income. Pay-As-You-Earn Repayment. You’ll make payments for twenty years, and after that, any remaining debt will be forgiven. As with IBR, your payments will not exceed 15% of your discretionary income. Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR). You’ll make payments for twenty-five years, and after that, any remaining debt will be forgiven. Your payments will not exceed 20% of your discretionary income. Now that your federal loans have been consolidated, it’s important not to neglect your payments. If you go into default, your credit rating will suffer, and you’ll lose your access to further federal student aid – in short, you’ll reverse the positive effects of your consolidation.

SUMMARY:
Continue making your payments. Determine whether your loans qualify for consolidation. Apply online. Read your summary sheet carefully. Make arrangements for repayment. Make your payments as required.