Hi there,

Calling all college students from Maine or those attending college in Maine - Bucks for Books is back! This is your chance to win $500, $300 or $200 in cash prizes for books. Head over to the Young & Free Maine website for more details. Good luck, everyone!

This week marks the start of another school year at many colleges throughout the state. A college degree can be one of the best investments you make in your lifetime, but it comes at a cost. According to Forbes, graduates collectively owe $1.3 trillion in student loan debt, with an average of $37,172 per student from the class of 2016. That is why applying for scholarships is so essential in helping you bridge the gap between the increasing cost of tuition and what you and your family can afford to pay out of pocket. I’ve put together a list of reasons why you should apply for scholarships NOW!

The start of another school year teases the end of summer. And although I would like a few more months of warmth, this month will officially welcome fall. This month also marks the end of my summer photo contest. I’ve been having so much fun documenting my travels throughout Maine, and I’ve enjoyed reading your guesses and the conversations they opened up. For those of you who guessed correctly and were chosen as the weekly winner, I hope you enjoyed your prize. To those who haven’t won yet, you have one last chance! You have until midnight tonight to guess where in the state I took this photo. This week marks the end of my summer contest. Don’t worry – I’ll have some more fun contests coming soon. Good luck, everyone!

I’ll be attending not one, not two, but three motorcycle rides this month! Although I don’t ride a motorcycle myself, I always enjoy joining along in the Green Machine. All three rides will be raising money for the Campaign to End Hunger, which has raised $7.2 million since 1990 and over $674,000 last year alone. I’ll be joining Casco Federal Credit Union on 9/9, Changing Seasons Federal Credit Union on 9/16 and Sabattus Regional Credit Union on 9/24. If you have a motorcycle, come on out and support a good cause. I hope to see you there!

In this It's a Money Thing video, Jen learns that there’s a lot more to moving out than just paying rent. Living on your own creates new expenses that you may not have considered, such as rental insurance, commuting expenses and furnishing your new place.

Where in the state did you spot the Green Machine this summer? I’d love to know!

Take care,

Jake Holmes
Young & Free Maine Spokester