Slashing budget to pay for nursing school

LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN · Aug 2, 2013

Well..... the first semester is all paid for. So before second semester, I have to sell my house and hope there is enough equity to pay for the rest of nursing school, and get a part time job... and pray that working and school will be possible for me. Up to now, the pre reqs for two years have cost thousands, out of pocket. It's tough when FAFSA doesn't take into account that you have a mortgage and car payment! Not one dime of federal grants for me, and my school doesn't participate in the federal student loan program. But I'll see this through, you betcha. One way or another. :yes:

kmwk · Aug 2, 2013

Good luck, with desire, dedication, guts and god you will make it through. I'm in the same boat, had to pay for everything myself and it does suck that the government doesn't count our necessary expenses like mortgage and car payments, but where there is a will we find a way.

sjalv · Aug 2, 2013

I'm 19 and live with my parents, so thankfully my only bills are phone and car insurance/gas. As far as college goes, I actually get money back every semester. I get about $1.1k from FAFSA (pell grant), and $2k every semester from the Cherokee Nation (I'm native American) provided I do 20 hours of volunteer work every semester. I know I'm lucky to be in this situation and commend those of y'all who make major sacrifices to get through nursing school

LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN · Aug 3, 2013

I'm 1/16 cherokee, does that help???

sjalv · Aug 3, 2013

I'm 1/16 cherokee, does that help???

Haha. If you live in Oklahoma, you should seriously check out the undergrad scholarships. But yeah I am pretty sure you have to live in one of like sixteen counties in Oklahoma, mostly in the NE part of the state.

justjohn · Aug 3, 2013

I was very lucky to get a scholarship that pays full tuition and fees for both years of my ADN program. My state also offers a grant for up to $2000 a year for people over 24 who are continuing their education. I also applied for several small foundation scholarships that pay anywhere for $250 to $1000 a semester. I'm still waiting on my award letter to see if I received any of them.

swansonplace · Aug 3, 2013

Well..... the first semester is all paid for. So before second semester, I have to sell my house and hope there is enough equity to pay for the rest of nursing school, and get a part time job... and pray that working and school will be possible for me. Up to now, the pre reqs for two years have cost thousands, out of pocket. It's tough when FAFSA doesn't take into account that you have a mortgage and car payment! Not one dime of federal grants for me, and my school doesn't participate in the federal student loan program. But I'll see this through, you betcha. One way or another.

It's a lot to sell your home. Could you refinance at a lower rate to bring your mortgage down. Take in another nursing student in your home.

Sell the car, and buy a used one. You won't have payments.

If you have a pension, you could take a loan of off that. It has the lowest rate.

Try and get the lowest interest rate for all of your bills. This will save you a lot of money.

sharpeimom · Aug 4, 2013

Sounds trite maybe, but before you put your house on the market, talk with one of the financial aid offices both at your school and at your bank. They're called by different names in different states, but a savings and loan or dollar bank or a thrift and savings (just three names they go by) frequently offer lower or no fees and have more relaxed lending requirements than traditional banks do.

You will have to open a checking or a savings account to be able to borrow or get a mortgage, but what the heck? Check it out.

swansonplace · Aug 4, 2013

Some of the private schools have options where if you work for the school, you may get a break on tuition. They also have hospitals that pay for tuition and books in exchange for working for them afterwards.

pfongk · Aug 4, 2013

One subject at a time, use summer semester, have a frequent flier card connected to my store card so I get points for buying groceries, buy my textbooks second hand/off ebay, pay for mum's flights up here for when I'm on placement so she can babysit our son, continue to work 3 days a week as the Aussie version of a CNA. As an Australian Citizen I also qualify for government loans which I pay back out of my tax when I start earning over a certain amount.

gianegizelle · Sep 18, 2013

for the first semester all payed, the second partially until the finals i complete the payment