So, I have been out of school for about two years and I have no car, I live at my Dad's house, but I do have a job. I applied to school two weeks ago and got a letter saying I can receive no financial aid until my previous loans are out of default... It would've been incredibly awesome for me to have received any kind of email or snail mail about my loans, but yeah...they emailed my old school email which they deactivated after I was no longer a student and now I can't access the online balance because when you get them to send a new password...old deactivated school email and calling doesn't work because they are closed today. I have to wait til Monday thinking about all of this. I feel like such a fuck up, I've procrastinated getting back into school for so long and then when I finally apply I can't get money to pay for it because I just can't not fuck up anything in my life.

I hear you so, so much on this. I am paying back my student loans bit by agonizing bit right now and it's painful as all hell, because I need so many other things, namely a new computer and a new car, but it seems like my tiny-ass little paychecks can barely cover the loan payments. I'm going to go in and see if I can get some kind of health care and maybe food stamps again, which I really don't want to do, but I'm sick of being broke all the time. You should be able to figure things out once you call your loan company on Monday though. As painful a problem it is to figure out, they hear about problems like this all the time, so they'll be able to help you. Please don't feel like you're a fuck up. You're not, trust me, because if you are, then I am too, and I refuse to be one. So neither of us are fuck ups, okay? hugs

yeah, I've been debating going on food stamps for a while. Most of the people I work with get them. I'm so sick of being broke all of the time too, and I feel like most people I know in rl don't understand my situation. Even my boyfriend to some degree. My parents have never been able to help me because we've always been dirt poor. I had to figure out everything if not for me, then for my two siblings from a very young age. You have no idea how much that means, hearing that I'm not a fuck up. Everyone usually says the opposite and I busted into tears reading your post.

It sounds like you've had a lot of responsibility on your shoulders from a young age. Anyone who says you're a fuck up? Just ignore them. They're probably just compensating for what they see in themselves. I didn't mean to make you cry though! I'm glad I could help though, if only a little.

thank you. I'll have to let you know how things go. I won't be able to find out until Monday when I can call up to the office and find out what i can do.

Okay, let me know. Best of luck to you!!

so I called. After being transferred to six different departments I finally talked to an incredibly mean woman who informed me that I am over $9000 in debt and my loan has been in default for a while. I have to make 9 consecutive monthly payments to get out of default which means I won't be able to receive financial aid until January. Which means there's no way I'm going to be going back to school in August as I planned. My credit score is severely fucked up now because that is literally the only thing on it and I am probably not going to be able to get a new place or a car like I had planned. I have no clue how to fix this as I have no idea about anything really when it comes to finances.

Do you have an account at a local bank? I've found that going to talk to a financial manager really helps at my bank. It usually comes free as long as you have an account. Or is there an older friend or relative you could get some advice from? I don't like taking loans from family, but if there's someone who's willing, that might be an option. At least you've made the first step now though and you know where you stand. It might not be wonderful, but you've taken the first step and it'll only get easier from here.

yeah I do. I'm probably going to go have a chat with them some time soon. My boyfriend is an accounting and finance graduate so he's been helping me a bit. I'm not going to be taking any loans from family just because of...previous experiences with family members who were "helping" me and most of the ones I wouldn't have problems with don't have any money really to loan.

Student loans are the worst. I got some of mine forgiven because of TPD and now I owe the government almost $9k in taxes on the forgiven loans. Even when you think they're gone it seems like they never are.

Anyway, I was just wanting to say that there's nothing wrong with being on government assistance when you need it. I'm on SSI and I get SNAP benefits as well. I'm not proud of it, but I'm not ashamed either. Those programs are there for the benefit of those who need it. If you need the help, I'd really suggest applying. I'd apply for GA in addition to SNAP because it can't hurt you. For me it was part of the same application, so I don't think it's any extra work.

Yeah, I think on one of my next off days I'm going to go see if I can get any kind of assistance. I've heard for North Carolina you have to work a min. of 20 hours? and I'm not sure what else, but I definitely do work 20 hours a week at least.