How do I pay my bills?

chevyv, BSN, RN · Oct 17, 2008

Have you thought about going part time and still work enough to pay your bills? Do you have a room mate? Working full time and taking a full load of prereqs is going to be difficult as well. Hope this helps a bit. You could also go crazy in debt with private loans to get you through, but I'm not sure I would reccomend that. Whatever your comfortable with though. Good luck!

ShayRN · Oct 17, 2008

I worked full time all the way through nursing school. I was married and had a home, and believe me it wasn't easy. Is there any way you can live in a dorm cheaper? Get a couple roomates? How about going to your school's financial people and see if they have any suggestions. Good luck, I wish I could help you more.

soulofme · Oct 17, 2008

I worked as a unit clerk while I went thru NS and also had a roomie... but times were alot cheaper back in the early 90's. :nurse:

Larry77, RN · Oct 17, 2008

I had a friend who was very good at finding government programs to help with his schooling and actually gave him living expenses. I'm not sure how he did it but these programs must be out there. He had a wife and kids and didn't work all through nursing school.

Good for you to want to better yourself...you are the type of people we should be helping get an education.

PLM311 · Oct 17, 2008

Have you thought about going part time and still work enough to pay your bills? Do you have a room mate? Working full time and taking a full load of prereqs is going to be difficult as well. Hope this helps a bit. You could also go crazy in debt with private loans to get you through, but I'm not sure I would reccomend that. Whatever your comfortable with though. Good luck!

Well, I do not believe that SMC has a part time nursing program so that's really my problem. I'm sure I could take my pre-reqs part time though. I could get a roomate but that would only relieve some of the pressure. I'm not really sure what to do...

PLM311 · Oct 17, 2008

Thanks everyone I will certainly look into some of the programs you guys mentioned. Thanks for responding, I really appreciate it!

debi49 · Oct 17, 2008

Is there any way you can move back with your parents during school? I worked parttime as a CNA, took out some loans, and had some savings. I was also in my 30's, so had had time to save. CA. is very expensive.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Oct 17, 2008

I was about to say the same; that it is usually possible to take the pre-requisites on a part time basis, but most nursing programs are full time, so, by the time you are accepted, you can expect to enter into lectures, labs and clinical time. In addition, most times, they do skill performances for things such as giving injections, starting IVs, etc...and you may need to spend time in the study labs to practice skills on top of that, because many instructors will fail students if they break sterile technique, etc...

Either rent with a few roomies, relatives or back home if the loans don't work out for you. You are young, and have the entire career and life ahead of you. It may be worth the sacrifice, if your environment at your parent's home is condusive to studying.

DA314 · Oct 17, 2008

PLM- I will be living partially on private loans for school. If you choose to go that route, make sure you have a clear plan for paying them back.

Dottie78 · Oct 17, 2008

I had a friend who was very good at finding government programs to help with his schooling and actually gave him living expenses. I'm not sure how he did it but these programs must be out there. He had a wife and kids and didn't work all through nursing school.
Good for you to want to better yourself...you are the type of people we should be helping get an education.

I am also in the same dilemma as the OP, except I'm married with 2 children. I created a new thread inquiring about government assistance in San Antonio, TX. Does anyone know of any kind of assistance for full-time students in San Antonio? I don't think I'll be able to work while in NS, and taking out a private loan is not an option for me!

Thanks!! :wink2:

jjjoy, LPN · Oct 17, 2008

Many people mentioned roommates. Sharing an apartment definitely helps defray costs. Sharing a bedroom can cut costs even more. Yes, that means less privacy, but you're young and in school, so now is the time that's an ideal way to save money.

I, too, lived out near Santa Monica during school and it IS expensive. I shared a bedroom with two and three other gals when I was school (we had bunkbeds and rules about quiet times and visitors). The school library was nearby too for studying. Other nursing & pre-nursing students would make great roommates because they could empathize with your need to study, help with homework, etc.

You don't have to have a car in Santa Monica either unless you have a job out of the area; the bus system there is pretty good. Since you probably couldn't work full-time in nursing school, you could live and get a job close to school. I made it through nursing school in that area without a car. I got rides to clinical sites with classmates. And without a car you can't just run across town to go shopping, go out to dinner, etc and it can be a lot easier to keep unnecessary expenses down. Not to mention no car insurance, car payments, gasoline, repairs, parking, parking tickets, etc.

You likely could work at least part-time during school. Working as a nursing assistant/patient care tech/unit secretary/etc would be great experience and help pay bills.

These suggestions may not work for you. Just food for thought.