How can an 18 year old support themselves while also going to college?
Question:
I personally fail to see how an 18 year old can pay for all this. Scholarships and grants might not cover everything and federal loans have a limit. Any insight would be much appreciated.
Answer:
Yeah I have the same problem. I've been out of the house and going to school since I was 16. You'll need more than a part-time job, honey. I was lucky enough to have a scholarship that covered most of my tuition. When I moved out of my parents house I had a yard sale to get some extra cash. I walk or take the bus instead of driving whenever I can. I shop at Costco because it's cheaper, and I never go out to dinner/lunch/anything because it's cheaper to eat at my apartment. I have two steady jobs: one part-time minimum wage job during the week at a restaurant (tips!), and clean houses on the weekends. I also do random matinence jobs around the apartment complex for the landlord in exchange for cheaper rent. On the side, I sell any artwork I make in the art classes I'm taking at college for extra money. The internet is a great place for making and saving money too. Ebay is a great place to sell whatever you don't need and Craigslist has cheap or even free stuff all the time. I'm not going to lie, it's hard, but it's better than living at home - at least in my case.
Can you live at home and go to a community college? While working a job?
my sister was 18 when she moved out on her own and paid for college full time working 3 jobs to afford everything even a cell.
it CAN be done.
Get a job.. it's been going on for years that way. Oh, and you have to sacrifice. Can't always have everything:~(
Just ask for help from one of your friends I'm shure they'll be glad to help you
same way a 23 year old does it! GET A JOB! i have a job go to school i don't pay for room and bored but i have my own house and yes i live alone and pay all utilities i also have a son that goes to a school that i have to pay for
This is a very tough road to travel, but it can be done. Take on as many jobs as you can to earn experience in dealing with people. Also, what about the military (reserves) to help with this? If you go this route BE SURE that YOU pick what job YOU want in the military, NOT what the recruiter wants you to be!! If you plan on going to college near your parents talk to them about a 'rent' arrangement - in other words, if you're doing well in school (college), helping out around the house (WITHOUT BEING ASKED) and holding up your share of responsiblities, not doing drugs/drinking/partying etc, then they should help out with some room/board. BUT be respectful of them and their responsibilities - you're in college to become a young man, not a party animal.
1) Get a loan and scholarships
2) Work at the school AND off campus
3) Cars a luxury. You don't need one.
4) Stay in-state.
Sure scholarships and grants don't cover anything, but people want to see you go to school. If you're going to college as an 18 year old without a financial safety net, people are going to work with you. Schools and different agencies will be glad to give you out a loan.
How is it possible? You make it work.
You don't need a car. It's a nice thing to have, but you don't need it to survive.
You'll be able to do work study on campus. Usually it's a nice job (like checking books at a library) and pays nicely too.
You realize that you don't need everything in the world. You learn money management and responsibility. STAY AWAY FROM CREDIT CARDS.
My friend does it.
She has a $10/hour job.
Her job, loans, and scholarships cover everything.
Its helpful to work as much as possible in the summer previous to college and save it to help pay for college.
As far as living, it helps to have a roommate. A 2 bedroom split between 2 people will cost less than you rooming alone in a one bedroom. If you need to, you can always room 2 in a one bedroom.
Your school might offer loans that will cover the entire expense of college. For instance, any UC lets you take out all of your education expenses on a loan that you pay back at (I believe) a 6% interest rate. You can get loans from private organizations as well. Most of the time they allow you to wait until after you graduate to begin paying them back, and even then you'll have x number of years to pay it all back in full; extensions will usually be available as well. This way, all you have to worry about is the cost of living, food, books, etc., which can easily be done so long as you have a job.
It is best if you deferred going to college for one or two years while you work and save some money. This will give you a good start, maybe by paying for the tuition. You will need to get a part-time job as well as help from your parents. You could try riding in a bus or train instead of getting a car.
This is what my daughter did. What she did is to get a loan from the government but I helped her a lot since I did not want her to do anything out of the way to survive. I also did not want her to go hungry in a strange country.
almost anything can be done with the right attitudes and hard work. if you are finding all of this overwhelming it is totally normal to feel this way. i've gone through it myself and it can be done its called get a cheap place youre a guy so you have more choices than a girl would eat spaghettios if you have to and oodles of noodles. shop in resale shops, buy used books, i worked over 40 hours, took 18 credits and still carried a 3.7 gpa. it can be done. i wont say it was easy or left me much time for socializing i was studying or working mostly and i'm still paying off my school loans after consolidation and refinance i pay 134.00 monthly and went from '99 till present with 31k down to now 14k so. its all priorities. share an apartment if you can find people who will be responsible or live at home start with undergrad in a community college and transfer out to a univ when there is no more you can take and its time to start your major mostly, pray and dont give up. God has plans for all of us and he will see that we succeed if we do it His way.
I waited tables and had roommates while attending school. I'm still paying back student loans, but in the end it was worth it.
If you have the option of attending college and staying at home, I would suggest doing that If money is the issue.
I think an even better way of saving money while going to school is community college for your associates and then finishing up at the college you want to attend. You will save a lot of money this route.
I studied photography and had to go out of state. My parents couldn't afford to contribute to my educational needs. But my debt is better than some I know.
Just check out all your options. It's hard because you want to move on and get out of the nest, but 4 years of college will fly by.
Good luck!
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