@mommdc Alright, I’m not taking a 9 credit semester. 12-18 credits at my school is full time so I’ll just stick with that. And if I plan my classes well, I can still have free time to work. My roommate last year had 4 classes on one day and then 1 class on the alternate day and she did fine. I personally have had 3 on one day and didn’t think it was that stressful. Two were back to back 9:00-11:00 and then I think the other was at like 1p.m. And if I’m able to work more, I make that money back. And if working a lot (my plan was to work 30 hours) is too much with 4 classes, I’ll scale back the hours.
Right now the Plus Interest is only $50 for an entire semester so another semester’s interest won’t kill me. Right now, I’m actually traveling through Europe for break and was at the bare ends of my money before Spring disbursement. So I’m letting that hit and when it does, immediately moving the $3500 to savings. Then, my goal at the end of my program is to be able to pay off $4,000 and any interest. But right now I have little more than $3500 in my account. All my hostels and transportation are booked. I’m just not comfortable canceling the Spring.
I have to sign my lease for junior year before I return to the states so I’ll need the housing deposit for that and I’m applying to several internships in my field in NYC for the summer. And if I get one, I’m going to need a deposit for an apartment near there. Also, I haven’t booked a return flight to the U.S. I paid $330 originally to fly from the U.S to Europe.
The whole point of financial planning is to have reduced stressed later but if I’m stressing out now pinching every penny while abroad and decimating the money in my account to pay off a loan I had for security in the first place, that defeats the purpose.
Thanks for everyone’s input.