A short while ago I got the somewhat terrifying picture above in an email. It was yet another reminder that I'm in the "real world" now, and that soon I have to start spending the big bucks to pay back the loans I accumulated as a young undergrad student. It's not a pleasant thought, but it is made more manageable by the facts that I at least have a couple jobs now so I actually have money to spend on these loans, and once I start PA school in a few months, these loans will be deferred until I finish the program. I'm just hoping that I'll be able to avoid acquiring even bigger loans to pay for that. So, it's off to find and apply for scholarships, as well as develop a better budget. My previous budget plan could have been summed up (rather tongue in cheek) as "don't spend any money," and while that has served me well thus far, I realize it's not very realistic and it certainly won't work once repayment arrives, not to mention in the rest of life. Despite my apprehensions about loans and repayment, this has given me a chance to embrace my German side and have some fun with Excel. I have a feeling that my budget system will be tweaked over the upcoming months and years, but I kind of like it right now, and it's even color-coded. :)
Before loan repayment starts in a couple months, I have some other important issues to resolve. The biggest one is probably housing since that will determine how I get to school everyday, whether I'll need a car, if I can work a little on the weekends, etc. This issue has certainly been bothering me, but I have to admit that I'm not 100% sure of the best way to tackle it, and whenever I try to come up with a solution I tend to get distracted by more minor matters like how I'll decorate or how I'll manage to bring my crockpot, waffle maker and fluffy robe back east. It's a good thing I can laugh at myself and luckily I have friends and family who have gone through the same issues and who are willing to help me figure things out. I could always use more help though, and if anyone reading this has advice on the best way to find housing near Boston, I'm all ears. And if anyone particularly knows of a kindly, old lady who drinks tea and wants to rent a floor of her house to a young grad student (one suggestion from a friend), just drop everything you're doing and tell me right now because that would be a dream come true.
