How are/did you pay for school?

Nursing Students General Students

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I'd love to hear how you all are paying or payed for living expenses/tuition. Looking to get some ideas.

Here's my situation: no debt (other than 800 month for house). Just basic living expenses really (and like many, many Americans, excluding insurance). Got 20G's in an IRA, 8,000 in savings, and plan on getting max loans for the next 2 years.

I feel foolish for not pursuing financial aid, but I am really turned off by the whole application process since I went the gov't aid route and was rejected because my wife's salary disqualified me.

It's not enough to live on by any means, but too much to make me eligible for assistance.

My grandmother passed away and left me some money. It'd have been more if I'd taken it out of the market before the bubble burst. But at the time I started school, it was enough to pay our mortgage every month until graduation. So I got myself a debit card linked to the account, and I use that to pay for everything that is school related.

tuition

books

gas to and from school

my son's tuition at the school's children's center

lunch and breakfast some days

and anything else that looks like it'll take a big chunk out of my wife's check

I've been bad, using the card for too many things that are not school related, but I figure once I get working I'll pay myself back.

So aside from the mortgage, we've got a car payment, but that's it for debt. I did not want to take a loan and be obligated to any other financial institution, so I'm using what we have. $100 a week goes into forced savings from my wife's check for "just in case" money, too.

I graduate in May, and I've still got money left so, so far so good. Not looking forward to paying for the Christmas aftermath though. But then come tax refunds, so six of one, half dozen of the other.

ND

Added: now that I'm thinking about this, I've realized that I've done pretty well at accepting that money is not everything. If I think about all the grants I could have had, it'd probably add up to nearly 10K. If I'd sued over my unlawful job loss 3+ years ago, I'd probably be sitting pretty. But the angst and constant battle and legal mumbo jumbo were a more powerful deterrant than the money being a draw. And the stigma attached to that whole thing would probably have made it difficult to find work ever again. Before I lost my job I made good money, but always felt it was not enough to build a future. After losing my income and living modestly since, money has less importance to me. As a nurse, I'm never going to be rich, I accept that. Now, when I have money, I use it to make living comfortable. If I did not have what my grandmother left me - under 6 figures by the way - then I suppose I'd have gone the grant/loan route. But I had it, so I used it because that's what made me most comfortable. And I'm sure grandma does not mind. She's probably watching over me and is very proud.

Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry/PCU, SNF.

Sold a kidney on Ebay...:wink2:

Kidding. I work my tail off, approx 40hrs. a week between 2 jobs and do everything possible to keep expenses low. I'm lucky though, I have a supportive wife who makes more than me, the CC tutition is relatively low, and because my last degree was in their window of acceptance, all I've really had to take is nursing classes (plus the requisite A & P, Micro, etc.). It has not been easy, I'm stressing now about paying for my last semester, but I will get out of school with no additional debt...except for some medical bills.

Cheers, Tom

now, back to the books...

Specializes in Orthopedics/Med-Surg, LDRP.

First I decided on a community college ($89 a credit hour). Then I talked it over with my husband and quit my job so that I'd better qualify for a Pell Grant which I have the last 3.5 years. However this semester, apparently the hubby made more money and I got less Pell Grant, so I took out a subsidized federal stafford loan (less than $3500 a year) to where I don't have to pay the interest until I graduate and I've got an 8 month grace period. My payments will be about $50 a month. However, I'm transferring to either , Temple or LaSalle in Philly and they're about $500 a credit hour. I'm hoping the job I pick up next summer has a tuition program and that will help offset some of the cost. other than that I'll be racking up more loan money.

Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.

military GI bill paid for my pre-req's

after my d/c from the national guard, i didn't qualify for that anymore...so my first and most expensive nursing semester came out of my savings

hubby got deployed at the beginning of nursing school so I qualify for a pell grant for second semester and my upcoming third semester

My final semester will have to be paid for out of pocket bc we probably won't qualify for financial aid again

As far as the house, cars, etc....hubby made a butt load of tax free money while on deployment but unfortunately we are about to go back to living paycheck to paycheck now that he is back

He has the option of signing on with military for another six yrs for a bonus of 15K....I quickly told him that if he did that we would be divorced;) he had no problem with becoming a civilian again anyway:kiss

I will sell plasma before i take out another student loan...got $6000 from an MA school that I regret ever going to...got me nowhere

once I get on full time as an RN...hospital will pay tuition reimbursement to put me through BSN/MSN. Part of the reason I chose the ADN route. Also chose a community college and I get most of my pell grant money refunded. Tuition is only $800/sem (it was $600 when I started) I wasn't born yesterday:smokin:

I hear ya! I'll have 40k in loans when I graduate next in 2007.

Took a 2nd on the house so that we can pay for school and allow me to go full time and quit my job. Probably not the best move but we will use pretty much my entire salary one I am an RN to pay this back quickly.

Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.

I will sell plasma before i take out another student loan...QUOTE]

Been there done that. Won't do it again. Not worth 45 minutes sitting there.. I've had such a hard life thus far...:uhoh3: :uhoh3:

Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I am a single mom so I go to school at night and work 7 days a week to pay for it plus my mom helps me out.Because i go to school part time it is pay as you go so that helps. I own about 60% of my house but I live paycheck to paycheck to keep my head above water.

Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

oops!posted twice by mistake

Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

loans, loans, and more loans. ;)

Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.
loans, loans, and more loans. ;)

Same here.:chair:

Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.
Same here.:chair:

That was my only option, and I took it. :)

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