Financial help while actually in school

[erynsmom]

Here is my dilemma......I'm 26 and a single mom to my daughter who is 7. I work fulltime 9-5 and make $24K a year. I've got all but 2 of the classes I need for the LPN program and will start those two this fall. Money is incredibly tight and I will have to have some sort of job when I start the nursing program. With me being a single mom I do have to see my daughter sometime. If I'm in clincals all day and working at night, I'm not sure what finanically I can do. My mom who is an RN is a tremendous help for me, but I can't expect her to raise my daughter. School is paid for through Hope grants and pell grants, but I don't know how I'm going to be able to pay gas, lights, rent, food, car payment, etc. I make to much for food stamps and she gets health care from the state of GA. My health care is ridiculously expensive and I have a lot of bills from my divorce. How does everyone else do it?

[dsoginer]

I am not sure about LPN's but the US dept of Health and human resources offers a grant to nursing students in exchange for working at an "at need" Hospital when you leave school.

[blonde student nurse]

Take all the help you can get hon, your daughter will appreciate seeing how hard you work to make your life better!

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

When you are in school you will have less income, right? Can you get on Medicaid when your income is lower? What about food stamps while in school because your income will be less then too? I'd call and make an appointment at the medicaid/foodstamp office and find out all you can do to maximize help.

Have you checked into student loans? Maybe you could qualify for Perkins loans too? Perkins loans are canceled when you work as a nurse in certain facilities.

What if you could get this for financial aid:

Pell Grant $4000

Perkins loan $4000

Stafford loan $6500

This adds up to $14500. Subtract your tuition and books. Hopefully you can get on Medicaid and foodstamps. Add in earnings from a part-time job. Find out how much you can earn and get foodstamps and medicaid. Can you live on the balance for one year?

As far as your debt, you could tell your creditors you will pay them in 2 semesters when you graduate. They will wait. Unfortunately they will pile on late fees and ring your phone daily, but they will wait. I know this may sound ethically questionable, but when the opportunity for education and a career presents itself I say seize it with every fiber of your being - get it done - achieve it, and work out the messy details later. It is an opportunity to fundamentally change the course of the rest of your life, and your daughter's life too.

Of course depending on your level of debt, you could declare bankruptcy. That is a tough ethical call, and a personal decision. Then you could decide to never again get into debt for anything other than your education or your home.

:chair:

Good luck and don't give up!