I dont know how detailed I need to be, this is my first post on this forum.
I've read a ton of MMM blog and love every bit of it. Avoiding the rat race is my number one goal, I have happiness due to outdoor lifestyle so I dont need to pay for it.
Here's the quick bit...
I'm 23, live in Santa Cruz CA. I'm a college student, just finished community college for undergrad engineering (sc). I took Every single math/physics/engineering/chemistry class they had to offer and now I'll be transfering to a university to get a degree in Renewable Energy engineering (portland OR). It looks like I have about 3 years left until bachelors degree. Each year will be about $11,000 in tuition.
My money
Hiding nothing, I'm out on the table, asking for advice.
about 12 G's in the hole currently from student loans (-12,000) [don't know interest rates or really anything about it, borrowed it when I wasn't a mustachian.]
about 1000 in the hole on credit card and constantly getting shafted by the late fees and missed payments, don't even know when my payments are due. (-1000)
most my money goes to food, travel. I quit drinking so I don't have the expense of partying anymore...
other than that, lifes good..... but I have this ever impending doom of this college degree thing.
How the F@#$%$CK am I going to pay for it???
Whats the best way to pull it off?
Student loans seem unavoidable for me, but I dont want to SHAFT myself. Whats the hit list on How to Do student loans the RIGHT WAY? staying ontop of interest so it doesnt accumulate, etc etc....
It seems like this school is gonna cost about $33,000-40,000 dollars in tuition, TOTAL. which is better than the $180,000 horror stories I've heard about. I'll be renting in portland orgegon (still havent found a 1 BR house/apt/studio/boat/anything) starting Aug 1st or Sept 1st. Also sharing rent with my girlfriend so It'll be hopefully around 800/month split between us so $400 each. commuting to school via train, public transport bikes etc...
Help me out here, any advice at all??
link any MMM articles that you think might be helpful... I'll Re- read them if I already have seen them.
thank you