Going to school to support yourself

I mean, you COULD get by with minumum wage if you got housing and that. I plan on working 20 hours a week when the baby is about 12 weeks old. I can do that, still collect welfare/food stamps, hopefully get some child support (the new babies dad works a legit job so it will be coming directly from his check). I am currently studying to become a Birth Doula. I figure that at least 3 clients a month will get me in a good place...

School and work is hard with kids, but you can do it MAMA!

I live with my mom right now, so I'm not forced to live off student loans. However, I have a fairly good idea of how it could be done.

I'm going to a local community college right now, in their pre-nursing program (nursing is very single mom friendly). I've taken 13 hours (12 is full time) this semester & last. Because I am on food stamps, I qualify for a full Pell Grant. The Pell Grant pays for my tuition & books & other supplies, with some left over. I could also get minimal health insurance through the school for less than $200/semester--that wouldn't eat up the entire Pell Grant either. The school also provides daycare, but I don't know the specifics as far as cost.

Subsidized & unsubsidized student loans are slightly over $4000/semester. Fall semester is approximately four, four and a half months long. Spring semester is a little longer. There are beaucoup cheap apartments within walking distance of the college. With just one kid, you could easily rent a studio or one-bedroom apartment. It wouldn't be a nice apartment, but here at least you'd be able to find something around $400-$500 month with at least water paid without too much trouble. It'd be easier if you split a 2-bdrm with a roommate, but the trade-off there is that you'd have a roommate.

Food stamps for my family are going up to just over $500 a month this month. BUT, I have three kids, & I know the exact number varies by region. (I also imagine Orlando has a higher cost of living.) So, you might get $200 or so a month. You can also qualify for WIC if you don't already get it, and that will cover a lot of food. It might be worthwhile to apply for TANF (welfare); I gather the amount is very low, but it would still be another crutch & going to school probably would excuse you from the work requirement. And I assume you would also be getting child support.

So. A struggle for a couple of years or a struggle for a lifetime. Pretty easy choice, right?

ETA: I'm also going to be applying for Project Quest, once I get my prerequisites. This is a program where, if I am accepted, they will pay for my nursing school, and in return I'll promise to work in the city for 3 years. Since I can't (and WON'T) move out of San Antonio anyway, it's not a hardship for me at all.

didn't read all the responses, but I went to school at night when I sensed a change in our life, my stbx was slowing down/work wise, and I was slowing down/him wise

I got a crappy Associates, though, the lowest paying there is, so don't make that mistake. But I am still glad I did it, because when I was graduating, my stbx totally stopped working/business went under, so I stayed for a year and supported us while he went to school. He just graduated, and I moved out. good timing all around.

I got a Medical Assisting degree, and was VERY lucky to get a rare and much desired position in an Emergency Department, doing Medic type duties. I love love it. I didn't like the midnights, and long shifts (12 and 16 hours, sometimes) and once I was totally on my own, it wasn't compatible with figuring out shared custody. So again, with my ER experience, and great transcript (4.0, valedictorian) I landed a higher paying M-F/8-5 position with a GI surgeon. I am so happy, and make a bit more than what is typical for my degree.

Anyway, I would recommend going back at night if you have to, getting a degree in one of the higher paying, growing careers. That's the one good thing about Med Assisting, the pay sucks but the demand is incredible. Everyone is loosing their jobs, but i always had offers and options left and right.

my student loans aren't CRAZY, which is good. I pay back about $129 a month. You have to make enough to support yourself and your children AND pay those back. As an x-ray, ultrasound, nurse, even an LPN, you could make enough to do that. the hours/shifts kinda suck, though.

That's another good thing about Med Assisting; the shifts are all doctors hours, no evenings, no holidays, no weekends...if you can land a higher paying position (Dermatology, Dental, Surgeon) it is doable. Its fun, too....I am not on my feet constantly like in the ER, I get to know pt's better....I just really really love what I am doing.

good luck to you, this is the most difficult time...but you will work hard and come out of it better. There is nothing more satisfying than being free from a lacking relationship, supporting yourself and your kids, and loving what you do.

First of all, Melijack1--wow! Impressive, the load you are balancing. way to go.

I have been 'struggling' with this sort of thing just currently in my life, so I can relate to all of you. I am going to school part time at local Community college, 2 years so far. I have about 34 credits so far and normally I am working part time and taking online classes. I have been out of work for several months now but hoping the search ends soon

I do get some welfare, but the challenge is that you have to fulfill 'job search time' to qualify for TANF. They want you to volunteer or do one of several activity choices, at least 30 hours a week if your child is over 6 yrs.
My daughter is 9 years old, I get child support occasionally and very sporadically so essentially I can't rely on it.

I've been getting $600. month from TANF, my school loans equal out to about $600. per month, and I get food stamps. Ideally I would also work part time and get another $6-700. per month at least. It's the part time work that eludes me these days, and challenge seems to be finding work that is 'mother's hours' (daughter in 3rd grade,no afterschool care at this point available; or programs I will have to pay, both of which seem scarce these days)
So, I scrape by and my mom has helped a couple times but is of the belief that it's not her place to help, I should be able to do this on my own; And my boyfriend is quite well off enough, a single dad with 2 kids and he was lucky enough to have been taught how to make money.

But it's true, I think deep down I want to be able to do it on my own too, but I am totally frustrated and tired from searching for a way to accomplish this. I am in a Liberal Arts program now, but after reading this post wondering if I shouldn't just go for teaching or nursing instead of my passion.

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i heard in the twin cities there is a program for women who are single mamas to go to school for free and have help w/ housing and daycare as long as they stay in school. i heard its an awesome and empowering program. i can't recall what it is called, though...

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Great advise ToastyToes both supportive and practical!!!

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More wonderful advice!

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I would suggest that both of you look into subsidized childcare.... my state offer sub childcare if you are on welfare and are in school (there are ways around the welfare to work program). You can get a great quality preschool or nanny and I find they will at least cover a chunk of the cost, add to it that in my state the NCP is responsible for 1/2 the childcare cost related to the CP's employment/school obligations...... and RSM you are in my same state.

I get you on being a nanny I am considering that myself for some side income but also if you want to be in school I want you to know there are ways.....