Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Going to college...a different circumstance- help!

mixedsubstance · 09-28-2008, 09:47 AM

Well, I am a mom, first of all so this is part of my dilema. I was planning on going to massage/spa school come this January but (kinda saw this coming) I was laid off because my employer has no work for me- just not busy at all. I can understand, though.
Well, I plan now to go to college at the end of October now- did all the administration and financial aide papers, and was eligable for grants to put me at only paying 1/4 of the tuition, which is great. The schooling is only for a year- so I can be on my feet making great money by the end of Oct. 09.

I was planning on getting a part-time job, my class is Mon-Fri 8am-1230pm so I would only have a 5-hour window each day before I have to pick up my son from his after-school care/karate class. I started to think and calculate though- if I were to work a 25 hr/week job, I would be bringing in just as much $ as if I were to be on unemployment. Now, as far as I know, I can qualify for unemployment since I am working toward a career. I am going to call Unemployment Monday and see what can be done. No matter what I do- unemployment or PT job, my income will still fall short about $1000 to what I have been making with my FT job. Comfortably, I need about $500-600 extra a month to be able to pay bills, take care of my son, etc.
There was also the talk with my employer of being on a freelance basis for when they had projects down the road, but though I'd be paid a lot more per hour for that, it still wouldn't bring in much at all.
My live-in boyfriend will also be going back to school- same exact schedule, but he was able to switch 2 of his day bartending jobs for a Sat day shift which will be about the same $. So I'm not worried about that.
I have been searching the net regarding other financial aide and grants for this type of situation- and it seems as though I am not the only one with this situation, so it has to be very possible that there is something that can be done.
Ideally it makes more sense to be on unemployment so that I have time for studying and time with my son, but I don't know what all can be done with this circumstance as I know that Unemployment takes any other income and deducts it from my benefits. In a way I feel hopeless, but I can't be the first case of something like this.
Do any of you have any ideas or insight for this situation? Anything would be greatly appreciated.
I just know that If I can't do this now, I'll never be able to do it. So I might as well take care of it now.

Thanks for your help ahead of time.

09-28-2008, 09:47 AM	#1 (permalink)
mixedsubstance Crazy Location: Where the wild things are.	Going to college...a different circumstance- help! Well, I am a mom, first of all so this is part of my dilema. I was planning on going to massage/spa school come this January but (kinda saw this coming) I was laid off because my employer has no work for me- just not busy at all. I can understand, though. Well, I plan now to go to college at the end of October now- did all the administration and financial aide papers, and was eligable for grants to put me at only paying 1/4 of the tuition, which is great. The schooling is only for a year- so I can be on my feet making great money by the end of Oct. 09. I was planning on getting a part-time job, my class is Mon-Fri 8am-1230pm so I would only have a 5-hour window each day before I have to pick up my son from his after-school care/karate class. I started to think and calculate though- if I were to work a 25 hr/week job, I would be bringing in just as much $ as if I were to be on unemployment. Now, as far as I know, I can qualify for unemployment since I am working toward a career. I am going to call Unemployment Monday and see what can be done. No matter what I do- unemployment or PT job, my income will still fall short about $1000 to what I have been making with my FT job. Comfortably, I need about $500-600 extra a month to be able to pay bills, take care of my son, etc. There was also the talk with my employer of being on a freelance basis for when they had projects down the road, but though I'd be paid a lot more per hour for that, it still wouldn't bring in much at all. My live-in boyfriend will also be going back to school- same exact schedule, but he was able to switch 2 of his day bartending jobs for a Sat day shift which will be about the same $. So I'm not worried about that. I have been searching the net regarding other financial aide and grants for this type of situation- and it seems as though I am not the only one with this situation, so it has to be very possible that there is something that can be done. Ideally it makes more sense to be on unemployment so that I have time for studying and time with my son, but I don't know what all can be done with this circumstance as I know that Unemployment takes any other income and deducts it from my benefits. In a way I feel hopeless, but I can't be the first case of something like this. Do any of you have any ideas or insight for this situation? Anything would be greatly appreciated. I just know that If I can't do this now, I'll never be able to do it. So I might as well take care of it now. Thanks for your help ahead of time. __________________ Well, isn't that just kick-you-in-the-crotch, spit-on-your-neck fantastic?!? Without energy, there would be nothing.