Single moms-how you do it

BellasMommyOBRN · Dec 7, 2008

i am a single mom to an 18 month old and so i can somewhat relate to your worries.

i haven't started a program yet but, i have plans to move back in with my mom since she has offered to watch my dughter while i am in the actual nursing program. it means a lot of change including relocating. it will also mean no rent to pay either :) it will probably get crowded but, you have to do what you have to do.

as for now, i work only part-time and go to school full time. i just received a stafford loan (which is easy to apply for and has helped a bundle!!) to pay off and help with some of the everyday bills. so in other words, you could possibly take out student loans to help you through school (so maybe you wouldn't have to work so much) in a nut-shell, my day to day living is very very cheap.

i also qualified for tons of financial aid. i am certain you will too. especially for being a single mom of not 1, not 2 but, 3. i don't have to pay any of my tuition thanks to these grants. they also pay for books and "projected" living expenses.

when there's a will there is a way right? :)

good luck and hopefully this gives some insight

njsnyder · Dec 7, 2008

yea definately apply for federal pell grants. I know Pennsylvania has state grants as well. So check for state grants too. Ask the financial aid about scholarships you may qualify for too. I'm not a single mom, but I am a dad who will be working full time when I start, hopefully in jan.

singlemomof3 · Dec 8, 2008

yea definately apply for federal pell grants. I know Pennsylvania has state grants as well. So check for state grants too. Ask the financial aid about scholarships you may qualify for too. I'm not a single mom, but I am a dad who will be working full time when I start, hopefully in jan.

Where do I start to look for state grants. I already have pell grants, which so far pays for school, not books.

Please help

singlemomof3:bluecry1:

njsnyder · Dec 8, 2008

I'm not home and I don't know what state your in but I found this

http://Www.collegescholarships.org/grants/state.htm

Click your state and you can see what grants are available. Then on your state aid site you may be able to find scholarships to apply for too.

Hope this helps!

FLmomof5 · Dec 11, 2008

Was a sinlge mom of 5 until this past Sep 6th.....but hubby lives M-F in SC (stationed there) and I live in FL....so kinda still 'single'....I still have to do most everything!

I work FT during the day and took all my pre-reqs online. I will be done with them this week. FCCJ has an evening/weekend program for nursing so I will most likely work the whole time....that is if I get another job since I was just notified that I will lose my job at the end of Jan.

Anyway....my kids are much older. My youngest is 15 (16 on Jan2) and the oldest in 23. What can help is for your oldest to get a DL as soon as they can. Then the oldest can take some of the responsibility to drive the siblings around. Budget your money and your time....and count on not getting sleep! (I average 5 - 6 hrs/night.) Regardless, schedule yourself an hour daily where you go off for some quiet time (in your BR, yard, wherever). It will help keep you sane. For me, my 1 hour was 5 - 6 AM before the kids got up.

Sit the kids down and really explain how going to school will affect you (stress, temper, etc.) and how you are doing this because it will ultimately help everyone! Get their buy-in to help more.

I wish you the best.

singlemomof3 · Dec 11, 2008

Hello,

OMG 5 KIDS, how did you do it. 3 kids without school is hard but 5 you must be a saint.

I am in St. Louis, STLCC only offers a day program, so I will have to work night. My kids are fully on board. My 15 year old can't wait to get DL. Congrats on getting married and finishing pre-reqs:yeah:. SORRY about your job, just remember when one door closes another one opens:saint: Tell your 15 year old Happy B-Day. I hope things go your way.

Thanks

singlemomof3

lilredrn · Dec 15, 2008

I'm a single mom of 4 that just got accepted into Clark college's RN program (Yay!). I start Jan 5th. When I went to orientation, they strongly suggested that we all contact Worksource (which is basically our unemployment office in Washington). They said that there is money just sitting there to help low income families pay for the nursing program.

I filled out the paperwork and they said that they would be calling me back in a few days and that they would most likely be able to help me out.

They won't pay for pre-req's, but once you're in the program they will help financially.

Before that it was Grants (I always got more than enough to cover books & walk away with a check, so my state must be different), plus scholarships, plus a Stafford loan. I'm maxing out my Financial aid with all 3. I'm hoping with the Worksource assistance, I won't have to take out loans anymore! I also hear Worksource pays for childcare? I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

There is just no way I could work and do RN school. My kids are 8, 6, 4, and 15 months old. I'm so thankful my mom is a retired school teacher!

singlemomof3 · Dec 15, 2008

I'm a single mom of 4 that just got accepted into Clark college's RN program (Yay!). I start Jan 5th. When I went to orientation, they strongly suggested that we all contact Worksource (which is basically our unemployment office in Washington). They said that there is money just sitting there to help low income families pay for the nursing program.
I filled out the paperwork and they said that they would be calling me back in a few days and that they would most likely be able to help me out.
They won't pay for pre-req's, but once you're in the program they will help financially.
Before that it was Grants (I always got more than enough to cover books & walk away with a check, so my state must be different), plus scholarships, plus a Stafford loan. I'm maxing out my Financial aid with all 3. I'm hoping with the Worksource assistance, I won't have to take out loans anymore! I also hear Worksource pays for childcare? I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
There is just no way I could work and do RN school. My kids are 8, 6, 4, and 15 months old. I'm so thankful my mom is a retired school teacher!

Congrats!!!! :yeah: I hope everything goes well for you.

Thanks for the info:twocents: