How do I pay my bills?

Snowii · Oct 17, 2008

Here comes a word that will make you cringe...

loans.

I got enough to cover my tuition (what scholarships and stuff didn't cover) and enough extra to pay my rent (when I had it) and bills through the whole school year. AND I worked but I didn't have to worry about rent and bills because I had the money in the account to pay. Any money i earned for my job was purely bonus and took some stress off.

Now I have a better job and live in an empty house my aunt owns so now I just work and get enough extra for books and supplies.

sunray12 · Oct 17, 2008

Well most nursing programs seem to recommend no more than 20 hours/week. From what I gather it's optimal if you don't work or work very few hours/week for the first semester or two. You can pull that off by saving now and financial aid (scholarships, loans, grants, etc.) After the first two semesters if you need to work you would be eligible for Patient Care Assistant/Tech type positions in a hospital or similar type environment and in those types of jobs you could work 12 hour shifts 2-3 days/week and have the rest of the time available for school.

And if you have family who you can live with and save money on housing while you're in school that always helps.

Tonnie-Soon2BNurse · Oct 18, 2008

Also, If you so choose, look into the hospitals or clinics in your area. If you do not have a medical background, sometimes there are positions that may utilize your current experience. You may also be eligible for tuition reimbursement or scholarships if you work for such facilities. I know in some hospitals if they reimburse your tuition or grant a scholarship, you would have to promise them that you will work for them for a certain amount of time. Hope that helps and Good Luck!!!

commander · Oct 20, 2008

Hi PLM,

I'm also plan on going to SMC for an ADN. My plan is to work part time no more than 20hrs per week until i get to into the nursing program. When I'm actually in the program is when I'll take out loans to cover school/supplies/living expenses.

In fact, I'm calling the financial aid office today to talk to them about how to do this.

You're young, you have time in your future professional life to pay of your loans, it will be ok. That's the way it works. In the big picture, the loan we'll get in for those two years will be a drop in the bucket in our future salary earning potential. Also, some hospitals will pay 1/2 your tuition loans if you commit to work with them for a year or two. I don't know the specifics of who, but I think Kaiser is one of them.

One thing about your post though... is that I think you misunderstand the waiting list procedure. After you finish your prerequisites is when you can apply to be put on a waiting list, which could be up to a two year wait. You can work during that time as well.

The key is to not stress, lots of people take out loans, pay them off, and have a career.

Have a great day !

Ladypie · Oct 20, 2008

If I were you, I would get some roommates! I never lived on my own at your age. Money was too tight. And in LA? I can't imagine how you can even afford a place on your own.

Maybe you can get lucky and find some fellow pre-nursing students who would understand the committment nursing school can be.

Other than that, loans are your easiest option. I took out loans many years ago to pay for tuition and living expenses. I moved in with my fiance and he covered a lot of my expenses, but I still needed to take out extra money to get by. The interest on the loans is cheap. I don't regret it.

ParkerBC,MSN,RN, PhD, RN · Oct 20, 2008

I think someone else posted the idea of working in a healthcare setting before you start nursing school. That is by far the best option. Often times, when a healthcare organization finds out that you are planning to go to nursing school, they tend to be more eager to hire you (if you finish and work for them as a nurse, you save them recruitment and training dollars so it’s a win-win for both of you). Anyway, after your first clinical rotation, you can apply to be a Student Nurse Extern. That is a win-win too. You gain patient care experience and practice some of the things you have already learned in lab and your first clinical rotation. The pay is quite generous considering the position. I know someone else had mentioned taking out additional loans. That too is a good idea. First, student loans are tax deductible, if you run into financial problems, the lenders offer generous options for helping you out, and many organizations are offering as part of a sign on bonus to pay a certain amount (and sometimes all) of you student loan balance.

Hope this helps. Good luck to you.

IaCountryGirl · Oct 21, 2008

Keep in mind loans have to be repaid and when it's federal student aid, there really is no way to get out of repaying them. They are good about working with you if you are having financial troubles but if God forbid you find yourself in a tough financial situation, it's not fun.

Now granted when we all graduate we expect to be working good jobs but as I've learned, things happen and things never goes as planned.

So I'm going to pull a Dave Ramsey/Suze Orman and tell you to work as much as you can until then, live as frugal as possible and stash as much as you possibly can away so that you have that fund to live on when it comes time.

I definitely recommend getting a copy of Ramsey's Money Makeover book. And following the steps. I wish I had had this book when I was 20 so I could have not made the mistakes that I did. I lived and learned from it but I don't wish to be there again!