Work and College

I recently purchased a horse, and so to pay for my horse, I decided to get a job with the bistro on campus. The bistro pays $7.50 an hour, making it among the highest paying employers on campus. I have ran into some difficulty with it though. I work on Saturday from 6:30 to 9:00, Sunday from 4:15 to 8:00, Tuesday from 9:00 to 11:30, and Wednesday from 8:00 to 10:00 with all shifts at night. Since starting on Saturday, I have not had a single shift end on time. I wasn’t off the clock until 12:15 this morning before going to sleep at 1:30. I had two exams today to add to the stress. I’m not adjusting well to work, and it seems it is doing me harm. I have lost significant time I used in order to study, complete homework, and socialize. I have also lost the ability to go to the farm as I please. Work has done nothing but overwork me. Today was the worst. As a part of a class I take, I have to attend clinics and observe other people. One was tonight, and so I requested to miss the shift from my manager however, I denied my request. He said I must find a substitute, which he would not help me find, or else I’d have to work because he couldn’t work my station again. I had to attend the clinic, so I missed my shift. I’m so glad I went as well. I have developed two options I can choose, and I was wondering if the College Confidential community could help me decide which one is best.

Option 1: Continue working for the bistro and risk losing my scholarship due to a low grade point average but avoid taking out more money while also losing social time and field-related experience in the process.

Option 2: Resign from the bistro after only working three shifts and borrow the rest of the $5,500 available in order to care for my horse while regaining my free time and availability for field-related experience.

How about option 3: Talk to your boss and explain you need to leave your shift on time. If the boss says that isn’t possible, find a different job that has more fixed hours.

Sounds like your horse is more important than your schooling. Do you really need to have the horse?

What else am I going to do with the horse? I already bought her, and she is my responsibility. My issue is that I need at least $200 a month for her to stay on campus. There are also costs associated with farrier visits, dentistry, and emergencies though I’d rather not think about either right now. My grandmother offered to pay the $200 a month. Should I let her? The horse is in my care now. The first decision, buying a horse, was a major financial choice. Horses as companions are in no way sustainable from an economic perspective. Work was a major decision in regards to time, and time is my issue. While it may only take an hour or two a day to care for a horse, it takes three to four hours for work. The horse is innocent, and I don’t want to lose her as soon as I got her, but I also can’t work and pass my classes at the same time if my first three shifts show any indication of the difficulties soon to follow.

An option is to sell the horse. If you won’t do that, I do understand; just know at least that it was a choice. You are not locked in, even if you feel that you are. There is a choice to sell it, even if it’s not a comfortable choice.

Yes, accept the money from your grandmother. Absolutely. IF she can afford to give you that money without feeling financial hardship by doing so, accept that gift. Use the money you earn to put toward savings, for when your horse requires vet care and etc.

Do not keep this job if doing so means you will lose your scholarship. That would be an extremely poor financial choice. You may end up being fired, anyway, based on what you said your boss said about you missing that shift, I think you’ll be fired now or very soon. Quit the the job, and look for a second job - one with fewer hours and a more regular schedule.

Some horse boarding places will give a reduced rate if you work at their facility in exchange for the boarding and etc. Is that an option where your horse is? That might help a lot.

Unfortunately, the university farm does not accept work in exchange for a lower boarding rate. They also won’t be able to hire me until January. I’m in a rough situation if or when the bistro decides to dismiss me because it would result in a report against my name being filed to Human Resources, which would then blacklist me for any on campus employment in the future. Life is not easy. If they decide not to blacklist me, then I still have the issue of the bistro and cafeteria being among the only employers hiring on campus, both of which are similar in positions and hours. I can’t help but feel that I have made a major life mistake, and it seems mistakes are all I’m capable of making.

Why on earth did you buy a horse while in college?

Option 3:
Sell the horse and focus on your education so you don’t lose your scholarship.

Your grades in this situation are the most important. Do not flunk out of college because of a horse.

I have a lot of animals, they take a lot of my time. But I know my limits and it looks like you’ve found yours.

I agree with @austinmshauri 's option 3: sell the horse. Immediately.

Your education must be a priority. We all make mistakes, but when you become an adult, you must recognize your mistakes and take corrective action. You haven’t done any permanent damage, yet. Sell the horse before you do.

Federal minimum wage is $7.25. A job that pays $7.50 (unless there are tips) is not a high paying job.

If you need to leave work at 10, do it. If they blacklist you from jobs, is that the kind of employer you want?

Please explain why you bought a horse and took it to college…knowing it was going to require that you work to support…the horse.

The Direct Loans are supposed to be used for college related expenses. Sure, they “can” be used for other things…but unless you are an equine sciences major…the horse isn’t a necessity at college.

Do you know anyone who might be willing to care for and pay for your horse so that this isn’t an issue?

What are your parents saying? Or did they tell you…the horse and expenses would be up to you?

Adding…from reading other threads…you have no financial support from your parents…is that correct?

Even if you ARE an equine science major…you don’t need to own your own horse. These are costs that sound unsustainable for you.

We didn’t let our kid take a cat with her…too much of a time commitment and the costs (extra apartment deposit, and extra monthly charge for having a pet) were just too much on top of other costs.

Some places will board and lease horses…and maybe this would cover your horse costs. Yes,mit would mean switching barns, and whomever leases your horse…well really, the horse becomes theirs for the duration of the lease.

Given your other financial constraints…where did you think the money for a horse was going to come from? The costs are high…and the time WITH your horse are high as well.

It’s a hard decision, for sure. But you need tomseriously consider whether this is going to work…because it’s not just now…it’s for the duration of Time you own your horse.

The previous owner of the horse I purchased decided she wanted her back, and I wasn’t given a choice. She is buying the horse back. It turns out the horse was pregnant too, which caused great controversy in the equine program at my university. My parents are looking at horses now, and my father wants me to buy a four year old who has never been worked with in her life. The cost to train her would be $950 a month plus $10 a day. It would be impossible. I continue to work for the bistro at the university, but the work is getting no easier. Also, to the people in the thread who said $7.50 wasn’t a high paying job, it is where I’m from. The bistro has the second highest paid workers on campus. Everyone else makes $7.25 an hour except for lifegaurds who earn $9.00 an hour.

I vote against getting another horse…soon.

It sounds like you are working hard now…and really do not need the extra burden or expense of owning your own horse.

If you own the horse you can do what you want with it and the foal she’s carrying. Unless you had some sort of contract that allowed the previous owner time to change her mind, I don’t see how you’re required to sell it back to her. You should sell it to someone though.

You can’t afford a horse. Your goal should be to keep your scholarship. Work, focus on your courses, and get your degree. When you have a solid job and can afford the costs that come with horse ownership then is when you should consider buying one. But now is not the time.

Your father wants you to buy a horse that you cannot afford? Employers on your campus are paying below minimum wage? The previous owner is demanding to purchase back the horse??? And you have no choice? Maybe engage in some problem solving activities/ utilize structured decision making tools to help you make decisions. There are many resources online to assist with this.

$7.25 is federal minimum wage.

Oh ok. Got it. So if you are making 7.50 at a job that is not flexible and the work is threatening your college enrollment…- maybe take the .25 pay cut for a job that is more flexible. Or… as many have commented, don’t own a horse. Good luck. I understand loving animals. All in time tho.

??? Your parents will pay for a horse but won’t pay for college? What are they thinking???