Dear Dave,
I work weekends while attending college full-time. My parents have been generous enough to pay for most of my school expenses, and they let me live at home while I complete my degree. Still, I’m trying to figure out how to move out and continue working while continuing my studies full-time and attending career-related events. We live in an area where the cost of living is high, so I’m not sure how to handle all the facets of this situation.
Joel
Dear Joel,
I think out of three things – school, work, and where you live – you need to decide which is your number one priority. If it were me, school would come first.
In order to go to school without borrowing money, you’re going to have to work. Getting out of school on time, and attending some of the events that will take you toward your career, will pre-empt work. You’ll have to work enough to pay for things, but if you can finish school and hit your academic and graduation goals while staying at home a little bit longer, that’s a pretty good deal. It’s a nice thing your parents are offering, but I can understand your desire to be out on your own.
I want you to be out on your own as soon as you can, too. But if you do that right now, you’re going to have extra bills and be forced to work even more. That’s going to disturb your entire school process. Guess what your number one priority was in that scenario? Moving out! If it’s the tail that’s wagging the dog, it has become the number one priority. If it’s disrupting work, and thereby disrupting your academics, then you’ve put your priorities on the wrong thing.
In my mind, the first priority should be finishing school on time, and attending as many connected events as possible. Meanwhile, you’re working so much that you’re able to continue doing all this debt-free. If that means you’re staying at home a little bit longer to pull it off — do it!
—Dave
