Finances...

I'm not as stressed out as I used to be. I think the idea of not being able to afford anything has settled in and my "eh, whatever" morale has finally come. I've been trying all day to e-sign what was left of the loans, but I guess their servers are still down.

I also keep writing down how much a year of college will cost and guess what, I keep losing the paper! So I figure I can just post it here and not worry about if I threw it away or not.

San Francisco State Univ.'s Cost of Attendance is $22,158/year or $11,079/semester.

Break down (per semester):

Registration Fees ...$2,034
Books ......................$867
Housing+Meals ......$5,985
Personal Expenses $1,557
Transportation Ex...$636
Total........................$11,079

But what they don't stress to everyone is that the COA is an estimate and not every student will spend the same amount in transportation and personal expenses. I thought it was sad because instead, they stress you out (or least I was) on having enough to cover fees. You have no idea how many e-mails and letters I've gotten in BOLD RED CAPS saying my admission will be revoked if fees aren't covered.

Another stress was the amount of loans I almost took out. If I hadn't realized that the COA was an estimate, I would have probably taken out an extra $2,503 in loans, which excludes the borrowing fees and the accruing monthly interest.

Available moolah: $19,655/year or $9,828/semester

Break down (per semester):

US Grant/Scholarship...............................$2,675
SFSU Scholarship.....................................$1,677
US Academic Competitiveness Award....... $350
Financial Need Grant................................ $776
Work Study............................................ $2,000

Perkins Loan (interest after grad.)......... $600
Subsidized Loan
(interest paid by gov't while in school)... $1,750

Total Aid .....................................................$9,828


So I figured I should add up all the important things (registration fees, books, housing) and subtract it from the available moolah.

$9,828-$8,886= $941
$941/2 items (personal & transportation) = $470.50
$470/4 months in Fall semester ~ $117

So $117 is how much I would have for each. I thought about this and I'm really thinking I wouldn't be using the bus much. Not $100 worth anyway. I was thinking to cut it down it $50 and give myself $150 for personal expenses (pads, FOOD, etc.). Well, what do you think? The financial aid office said I could take out the other loans I was granted at any time. The ones I declined are tricky and I really don't have the means to pay for the interest on those.

Moments like these are when I wish I had loaded parents. lol, My journey to weight loss begins!