I'm a single mom of two kids (with almost no financial support from ex; I'm battling trying to get that now, but there are obstacles) and a full-time grad student. I also have a FT day job as a preschool teacher, but it doesn't pay much; I can expect to earn about $33,000 from it next year. Until a few weeks ago, I had a second, PT job that I earned about $15,000 from per year. I may go back to that job soon. So, my expected salary for 2022 is about $48,000 at most. I believe I can expect about $10,000 in tax refunds for the 2021 year.
Rent for 2022, if I'm fortunate enough to be able to stay in my current apartment, will be $17,376. Daycare will be $11,440, unless I manage to get my kids into a cheaper childcare solution (doubtful). Other major expected expenses include: $800 for all utilities; about $1,080 for car insurance; $4,200 for health insurance; $450 for phone (but I might cancel it soon); $900 for Internet (the cheapest plan I can find in my area); and $2500 for food (bare minimum). I've had to be extremely frugal and I try hard not to spend money on absolutely anything else.
My problem is that if I have a second job, then essentially I'm working about 75 - 80 hours per week (counting the commute) on top of parenting and grad school. It's extremely hard to complete my assignments, much less have any time to review and really learn the material well. Not to mention that my kids get the short end of the stick and I barely have any time for them. I won't be able to graduate until December 2023 at the earliest, May 2024 at the latest. I certainly wish I could find a better paying day job or move to a cheaper area now, but neither of those are very feasible options at the moment for various reasons...
I'm going to apply for assistance, but I'm worried about if I don't qualify. I *think* I still could get up to $8,000 in Grad PLUS loans to cover living expenses for this academic year and maybe again in the following year, but I'm worried that would screw me over later trying to repay.
All I want is to keep a roof over my kids' heads, feed them, and provide for all our most bare minimum needs... I've accepted that life is going to suck until I graduate and probably even after that, but I just need to figure out how to survive the next two years. Do I suck it up and keep working my second job, even if I'm so exhausted I can barely stay awake driving home from it? Will I be able to survive if I end up with like $60,000 in student loans, knowing that I'll only make about $70,000 - $75,000 in the first year of my intended career?
Submitted November 26, 2021 at 10:29PM by kiwishark79 https://ift.tt/3FO88Mk
