<p>I posted this in the parents' cafe, but I would really like to hear from you guys:</p>
<p>Hi! I'm a college student, but I've just been placed in an unfortunate situation and I need some help. I will be a senior next year. I go to an expensive school, and the tuition is 40,000 per year (I've got one year left). Recently, my parents and I had an argument over money (I already have an unsteady job that brings in around $500 per week, but this happens only once in a while). As a result of this and some other differences, we've decided it would be best if I move out of the house for the summer (two months left).</p>
<p>I was wondering if you have any advice on how to get through this in a short time span. I hope to be out of the house by next week, and I was wondering whether you have any tips in finding cheap short-term housing, and finding a job in a short time (I don't have retail experience, unfortunately, so I've been rejected from many fast-food and sales jobs...plus, working short time seems to have been an issue).</p>
<p>So, if you could give me ANY brief advice on:</p>
<p>-Cheap housing
-Transportation (I'm thinking bike)
-Cheap food
-Money management
-Short-term student loans
-and basically any advice on where to go from here</p>
<p>As far as the cheap housing goes, regardless of where you live check out the classifieds and craigslist for folks looking to rent out a room in their house. THis will probably be the cheapest option, which, depending on where you live (utilities included) should cost somewhere between $150 and 700/month.</p>
<p>Ramen noodles. If you have access to a microwave, Patio burritos. Cheap cuts of meat, cooked a long time at a low heat. Frozen vegetables. Pasta. If you cook, make enough for several meals and freeze or refrigerate the extra in Gladware. (Look at ingredients lists in commercially available frozen meals to find out what things freeze and reheat well.) Day-old bread is as good as fresh, but cheaper, and you can freeze anything you're not going to eat quickly, and then thaw it out on the counter when you need it.</p>
<p>you could try working at a supermarket or someplace a lot of poor 18-22yr olds work. Make a bunch of friends and you may be able to crash on someone's couch for 100 bucks or so a month. live near your workplace so you can walk or bike to work easily.
i suggested a supermarket because you can buy food/supplies after work (maybe even with a discount) and go right home. If you get along well with your roommates/friends, pool money to buy large quantities of food and split it.</p>
<p>I just based this on my ex-boyfriend's experience. he was 18, just moved here, and was living in an old jeep behind our local safeway. he walked in one day and they hired him on the spot. he talked to some of the guys he was working with and they were constantly coming up short on rent money so he could have their couch for $75/month. the apartment was right across from safeway so he'd walk to work, buy food, and come home. the guys he lived with were kinda shady (sold pot and came home at all odd hours of the night under the influence of who knows what) but it was a place to stay for a few months. </p>