<p>
That’s the point - my son has not taken any money from me since he was 20. </p>
<p>I understand that you have had a rough time, but you will not get anywhere blaming your parents or life circumstances. I understand what you are saying about the financial aid system and those who are under age 23 – my son experienced that and I really think that the system has been intentionally designed to try to force young people into the military. But that’s not your problem – you are age 29, well into adulthood. Adults pay their own way, and things don’t always come easy. </p>
<p>I’m sorry that you have been ill, but the answer still is the same: you will have to work to earn money to fill the gap. It sucks that if you earn too much it cuts into financial aid, but there is always a net benefit no matter how slim. That is, if you earn $100 and you lose $70 worth of aid, you are still ahead by $30. </p>
<p>I suggested some concrete ways for you to reduce living expenses. I know many students working their way through school who have found rent-free housing in exchange for services, usually related in some way to the premises they are occupying. From what I can see you have most of your tuition covered via grants & loans, you are just coming up empty when it comes to living expenses. Also, that kind of exchange generally won’t result in reportable income to you. </p>
<p>Finally: is the college with the $12K annual tuition your only option? My son has been attending an in-state public where annual tuition is about $3500 --it is not his top choice school, but he chose based on what he could afford, and he has done very well there. </p>
<p>I also think you misunderstood things when I mentioned that my son had $10K in savings when he started – he didn’t just happen to have that money. That is what he had after working for three years – he had intended to work for one year, but deferred college entry twice, all the time living as frugally as possible with the intent of saving up for college. In the meantime, he really did build employment skills that have in turn led to better paying work.</p>