I have been wracking my brain on how to pay my mortgage, bills and eat while in nursing school. I will be taking my last Pre-req class this spring, and it is the time to apply to a nursing school, but I am at my wits end with worry. I already have an Associates in Medical Lab technology, and work full time, but the pay is low, so saving is extremely difficult. I have a mortgage and bills, so I can not just up and leave my house and live off my parents, who are also strapped for money anyway. Long story short, I have bills, previous student loans, and no one to help me out. Are there any nurses or students with similar stories who have made it through while working full time?
Thanks everyone for your comments! I am already at the bare essentials on my expenses: I don't have cable or internet, my cell phone is a pre-paid, I buy food from the "off brand" grocery store, and I have not bought new clothes for a few years. I work as a medical laboratory technician at the moment (my associates degree cost me alot in student loans), and my fiance and I even have a friend renting out our extra bedroom. I even go as far as making my own laundry detergent, which is actually really cool (google the recipe, it takes only 20 minutes to make 5 gallons!). All in all, I have done SO much to try to save, but working as an MLT in the lab pays very little, and my fiance makes less than me as a medical assistant, so he is struggling as well. I applied for many grants, but did not get any responses from any. I guess I will have to wrack up more debt and just ride it through with loans once working full time is not an option. The programs in my area have weird schedules which makes working full time hard. For example: Monday day classes, tuesday night classes, thursday one day and one night class! Its an associates to bachelors program, so I guess people have to deal with two schools' schedules all at once!
There are a ton of people in my nursing class who work full time to pay the bills. They then take out loans to pay for school. You have got to get through it somehow. I have an amazing husband who is supporting me during school and I worked my a** off to get an Honors scholarship which pays for EVERYTHING! I figured it was the least I could do for my hubby, since he's paying the other bills.
I am lucky enough that my husband makes good money. I don't study during the day though because of kids so I could work part time easily if I didn't have babies. We make our own laundry soap, cleaning supplies and everything. I also am a massive couponer and save a ton of money that way.
Thanks everyone for your comments! I am already at the bare essentials on my expenses: I don't have cable or internet my cell phone is a pre-paid, I buy food from the "off brand" grocery store, and I have not bought new clothes for a few years. I work as a medical laboratory technician at the moment (my associates degree cost me alot in student loans), and my fiance and I even have a friend renting out our extra bedroom. I even go as far as making my own laundry detergent, which is actually really cool (google the recipe, it takes only 20 minutes to make 5 gallons!). All in all, I have done SO much to try to save, but working as an MLT in the lab pays very little, and my fiance makes less than me as a medical assistant, so he is struggling as well. I applied for many grants, but did not get any responses from any. I guess I will have to wrack up more debt and just ride it through with loans once working full time is not an option. The programs in my area have weird schedules which makes working full time hard. For example: Monday day classes, tuesday night classes, thursday one day and one night class! Its an associates to bachelors program, so I guess people have to deal with two schools' schedules all at once![/quote']
We don't have cable or cell phones either. I have an Obama phone which is free and I only get so many minutes each month plus it expires in January so I'll have to reapply for another one. We have Netflix, which is only $8 per month and that's how the kids and I survive lol.
Thanks everyone for your comments! I am already at the bare essentials on my expenses: I don't have cable or internet, my cell phone is a pre-paid, I buy food from the "off brand" grocery store, and I have not bought new clothes for a few years. I work as a medical laboratory technician at the moment (my associates degree cost me alot in student loans), and my fiance and I even have a friend renting out our extra bedroom. I even go as far as making my own laundry detergent, which is actually really cool (google the recipe, it takes only 20 minutes to make 5 gallons!). All in all, I have done SO much to try to save, but working as an MLT in the lab pays very little, and my fiance makes less than me as a medical assistant, so he is struggling as well. I applied for many grants, but did not get any responses from any. I guess I will have to wrack up more debt and just ride it through with loans once working full time is not an option. The programs in my area have weird schedules which makes working full time hard. For example: Monday day classes, tuesday night classes, thursday one day and one night class! Its an associates to bachelors program, so I guess people have to deal with two schools' schedules all at once!
See if your library has a book published by Sallie Mae Foundation about making the most of your financial aid. If you're not maxed out this will help. Apply for financial aid early in the year (by January, you can estimate if your taxes aren't done) and after you get your award letter meet with your school's financial aid office to have your award amount adjusted since you won't be able to work as much while in school.
Keep working the scholarships and grants too. I've had the best luck with scholarship listings from the local library. Focus on local scholarships because the competition isn't as bad as in the national contests. Once you get a scholarship meet with your school's Financial Aid office to see how it can be awarded to your account to have the biggest benefit.
And keep your eyes open for cash jobs that you can make work with your school schedule... cleaning houses, seasonal help working at the county fair or cleaning up after sporting events and concerts. I'm also applying at the local hospitals as a sitter. Some patients require 24 hour supervision (some may be suicidal or have other issues) and you get paid a low wage to b there and often get down time to study.
I live with my parents , I do chip in for the rent since they were very kind enough to let me come back until I get myself sorted . I use to live on my own but it was pretty hard because I couldn't go to school to make ends meet .
I like that you put this. I just got a new job to help with nursing school when I get in, I get told all the time that working and nursing school does not work but that is not an option for me. This is very encouraging.
Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.
I was lucky enough to live with my mom when I did my medic and nursing degrees, but I did have a mortgage when I did my RN-BSN and I basically worked 80 hours a week so I could pay for the degree out of pocket and not take out loans.
I know it is a bit different then going for your initially nursing degree, but maybe if you can get a second job, or otherwise you may have to get some loans to live off of which isn't the best idea.
transferstudent
19 Posts
Thanks everyone for your comments! I am already at the bare essentials on my expenses: I don't have cable or internet, my cell phone is a pre-paid, I buy food from the "off brand" grocery store, and I have not bought new clothes for a few years. I work as a medical laboratory technician at the moment (my associates degree cost me alot in student loans), and my fiance and I even have a friend renting out our extra bedroom. I even go as far as making my own laundry detergent, which is actually really cool (google the recipe, it takes only 20 minutes to make 5 gallons!). All in all, I have done SO much to try to save, but working as an MLT in the lab pays very little, and my fiance makes less than me as a medical assistant, so he is struggling as well. I applied for many grants, but did not get any responses from any. I guess I will have to wrack up more debt and just ride it through with loans once working full time is not an option. The programs in my area have weird schedules which makes working full time hard. For example: Monday day classes, tuesday night classes, thursday one day and one night class! Its an associates to bachelors program, so I guess people have to deal with two schools' schedules all at once!