When you move into a new place, inevitably you find out things about previous occupants. In my move, what I found out was in the mailbox. Judging from all the catalogs I've been receiving, I've gathered that the former resident was probably as obsessed with paper products  as Staci is. And in addition to the junk mail to the former resident, there was some for the former resident's business—a company that files the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)  for its customers.

Being in the student loan industry, this was particularly interesting to me. So I did some digging—remember, I used to be an ace reporter!—and I found out that for just $49.95 they would submit your FAFSA after checking it for errors.

Hold the phone! Who would pay $50 to file a FREE Application for Federal Student Aid? You know, I remember filling out the FAFSA. It was tedious, but never too tough. So I checked to see what the FAFSA folks themselves advised. And here  it is. So in short, save yourself the money and use the free tools and resources if you have questions.

Have any of you used a third party to file your FAFSA?

Editor's note: This month, you might notice that The Student LoanDown team is spending a lot of time talking about the FAFSA. That's because we recommend that you fill out your FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible.