I AM SO STRESSED OUT :(?

[Anonymous]

hey guys, i went to a private university a graduated this month. i am starting work on the 27th. i went to school for MA (medical assisting) they don’t make the best money. i’m starting $16 an hour. i first started for Ultrasound, but did not pass so i went for MA. i’m not the best at school so this is it for me. I owe $29k on student loans from MA and Ultrasound- even though i did not finish. I have to pay for the one month I went for. I also have $8k on credit cards plus $10k to pay off my car. I don't know how im going to pay all that off with $16 an hour. Mind you im 32 years old and I already want to start a family with my husband and eventually move out of my parents house. HOW with such a little amount of hourly wage. I eventually want to become a lead MA which they make way more money. but i’m stressed out and I don't know what to do. What are side gigs I can do to make a little extra income?

[Oliverlogan263]

Whoa that does sound super stressful! Like damn, you gotta pay off all those loans and bills, no wonder you're freaking out.

Here's some things I'd think about:

- Can you pick up any overtime or extra shifts at your MA job? Even a few extra hours a week would help.

- See if there are any side gig apps you can do evenings/weekends, like DoorDash, UberEats, etc. Flexible hours.

- What about tutoring/teaching medical or health classes? Or become a certified personal trainer - lots of demand.

- Can you do odd jobs on the weekends like handyman work, yard work, power washing to make an extra hundred here and there?

- Rent out a spare room in your parents' place if they'll let you. Roommates help with bills too.

- Could your husband pick up extra work too for a while until you're more stable?

You got this, just gotta hustle for a bit. Stay positive - you'll pay it off in no time if you're smart about extra income. Just take it one step at a time, yeah?

[BoopBoopBeep]

Why are your credit card balances so high?

You speak of what you want with your husband. Is this a real person right now or a hypothetical person in your future at some point?

All in all, $29k in student loans isn't that bad. Drive that car until the wheels fall off and it isn't fixable. I bought my car 10 years ago. I suspect I'll get at least 15 more out of her.

Credit card interest is going to murder you, so that balance has to get down ASAP. Live like a college student for the next year. Your friends are going out? Guess what, you're not. They can bring over a bottle of wine and you all can watch movies. Going out is off the plate for you at least until the CC are at zero. Then treat them like a debit card. I have over a dozen cards but they're all paid in full every month. I don't even know what interest rate they're at but I heard someone say the other day that they are paying 24%. F that.

[Asker]

they are so high because i buy the stuff i want with that money when i dont have money in my debit card. like food, clothes, gas. that type of stuff

[BoopBoopBeep]

See... there is no "that money"... there's only your money and their credit allowance.

You need to learn to differentiate between what you want and what you need. If all you can pay cash for is beans and rice that's what you eat this month. Look I was poor once. It sucks. I hear ya. Sucks more when it goes on forever/gets worse. You wear scrubs to work, yes? Then most of your clothing expenditures would be shoes, so reign that in too.

16/hr is 32,000/year assuming no overtime. I was talking about on another post how I could comfortably live off 40k if I had to. Luckily I won't have to anytime soon, but you cut out all the extra stuff and you'd be surprised how much it adds up. That needs to all go to your CC every month until that's at zero, then it needs to stay there. If you don't have the discipline to do so then how do you expect to find a worthwhile man to marry?

[Asker]

i am planning on putting at least $1k on my credit card every month to put my account at zero. i need $500 for my car payment and insurance. so trust me im planning on “living poor” for until i pay off my credit cards. I don't know if i can apply for loan forgiveness because $29k is a lot of money. plus i kinda want to do some sort of side hustle i just dont know what i can do to earn a little bit more money.

[BoopBoopBeep]

I knew a guy that made good money at uber, but that's very dependent on your area and your car. He drove a new Tesla and worked the bar crowd every weekend as well as worked about 3-4 weekdays. Usually brought home between 600 and 1200/wk.

Good on ya for hitting the CC heavy like that. Assuming 20% interest rate you'll have that to zero in 9 months.

[Jmmmfi4]

I GOTTA BE HONEST...$16 IS A FUCKING JOKE. YOU COULD MAKE MORE AT WALMART.