What do you do for money during nursing school?

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I'm well aware that I will have to cut back to at most 3 days awake while I am in the program.

I live alone and just get by (like only 100-200 a month extra depending on overtime). I don't have a spouse to help out and my parents live too far away to move in and plus they're not understanding of school (they think I use school and studying as an escape from family)

So if I barely get by working full time, I am not sure what I would do having to cut back to 3 days a week financially... Plus having to pay for classes on top of it... Any ideas?

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Start saving for expenses like rent/foo/bills and you might end up having to take out a loan to pay for school

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Specializes in ICU.

Looks like you need to spend a few years saving up some money so you can do this.

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Looks like you need to spend a few years saving up some money so you can do this.

They don't have living expense loans I can take out in addition to school loans?

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Save, save, save, then borrow, then beg ;p any scholarships you can go for? Things you can sell? Turn off your cable (if you have it)? Pick up extra money babysitting? Couponing?

It'll be a lot of work but you can do it and it'll be worth it :)

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If you must borrow do so carefully and thoughtfully -- only borrow federal student loans never private student loans.

As far as borrowing for "living" expenses - there are annual limits on federal student loans depending on if you are classified as either a dependent student or independent student:

1st year 9,500$

2nd year 10,500$

3rd & 4th year 12,500$

The majority of these limits are unsubsidized loans - meaning that the interest will start to add up from the date that the loan is made... if you go 4 years and never make a payment on these loans the interest will capitalize and then you will be paying interest on the interest.

And if you borrow enough to cover the price of a cheap BMW then you've borrowed too much.

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I'm well aware that I will have to cut back to at most 3 days awake while I am in the program.

Not necessarily. I (along with thousands of others) worked full time while in school? Is it hard? Absolutely! Is it doable? Of course it is. If you are sure you can't work during school, work a few years and save some money like a PP said. The less debt you have, the better.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I worked 32 hours every weekend as an LVN at a nursing home while attending an associate degree nursing program during the week. I lived comfortably during that time and was never broke.

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Student loans were my only option during nursing school. I actually borrowed extra on top of my tuition in order to live. I really didn't want to struggle with finances during an already stressful event such as nursing school. The money you borrow now will be nothing compared to what you make later as a nurse. just don't get too overboard with it. I'm at about 20k with tuition included.

Also, you can find part time registry jobs that will help with extra cash too. I did ER tech at the local hospital through registry and it looks good on your work experience toward landing that first job! It's nice because you can give them your availability, which changes ALL THE TIME, with clinicals.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
They don't have living expense loans I can take out in addition to school loans?

Taking out more loans than you need for tuition isn't the wisest route. You will end up paying so much more in interest than if it were just for tuition. Is there a reason you have to cut back so much? Many nursing students attend a part time program while working full time. Could you go part time at school or save up before starting?

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scholarships, loans, play a sport...

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Taking out more loans than you need for tuition isn't the wisest route. You will end up paying so much more in interest than if it were just for tuition. Is there a reason you have to cut back so much? Many nursing students attend a part time program while working full time. Could you go part time at school or save up before starting?

I am doing the associates program, and near me they don't really have any "part time" programs. I have a bachelors already so I will have the majority of my gen. ed classes out of the way so in the program I will only have to focus on the core nursing classes.

That being said, the program is still saying not to work more than 20 hours a week.

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