Bad Money Day

[trailerparkmedic]

Today I brought my car to the mechanic and found out if I got a scholarship through school.

My car, for a rather messed up suspension, a new engine mount bracket thingy and 100k service, is $1700. To be fair, my car has been really neglected and pretty abused, and putting this chunk of money in will help it last for a few more years, or at the very least not leave me stranded by the side of the road in the next few months.

Plus, no scholarships for me. I can't whine too much since my parents are paying for at least my first semester's tuition, which is far more than I ever expected from them, but I'd been hoping to get some scholarship money to lower the amount I need to work.

Oh, and I'm in the process of buying my first semester nursing textbooks, which is probably going to run me about $600. That is pretty good, considering if I bought them from the bookstore they would cost $1100, but it still hurts!

[Whiskey]

Oh, and I'm in the process of buying my first semester nursing textbooks, which is probably going to run me about $600. That is pretty good, considering if I bought them from the bookstore they would cost $1100, but it still hurts!

If you're at a university/college (not like, heald or some other technical school) can you find out if your teachers put their textbooks in the library on reserve? It saved me 500$ last semester because I didn't have to buy my books. I just went to the library and did a in-house check out for 2 hours (can't take the books home).

What about loans for school?

[trailerparkmedic]

I need the books for more than a 2 hour reserve. I'll need some for clinicals at the hospital and I'll need most for papers and assignments at home.

I've got the savings for all of this. I've been living as cheap as possible for awhile, in anticipation of leaving work for school. It just sucks putting down large chunks of money when I've been avoiding that for so long!

[RetailWorkhorse]

I need the books for more than a 2 hour reserve. I'll need some for clinicals at the hospital and I'll need most for papers and assignments at home.

....Xerox the book?

Do people still do that or is that a bad thing?

[Whiskey]

....Xerox the book?

Do people still do that or is that a bad thing?

If hes going to be on rounds in a hospital (it sounds like?) itd look rather unprofessional.

[Amina516]

Not so much from the professional viewpoint, but the sheer amount of info TPM will need from those books (and several different books at that) makes it almost impossible to copy... I know, Ive tried.. LOL.

I guess this means youve decided on going to school, TPM? I was wondering about that.

Oh, and I'm in the process of buying my first semester nursing textbooks, which is probably going to run me about $600. That is pretty good, considering if I bought them from the bookstore they would cost $1100, but it still hurts!

My first semester was $900...granted some of those books I was able to use the entire time, but it still sucked!!

At least youre *slightly* prepared and have been saving for a while.

[trailerparkmedic]

Yeah, I decided on sucking it up and going to the disorganized school. It'll get me done a year faster and I want to get through school and my first year of nursing ASAP. Fiance is unhappy with the direction his career is headed and most likely his best next move would be to go to New York. Once I'm done with school and I'm not a new grad, it would be a lot easier to go.

Amina, my books are probably cheaper than yours because I'm renting some, like the $80 dosage calculation book. $80 for some damn math problems. I'm also skipping some required books, like the medical dictionary. That's what google is for, right?

To give ya'll an idea of why I need to just buy the books... one of my books is so heavy Amazon not only doesn't allow free shipping for it, it comes with an extra shipping charge.

The books I'll bring to clinicals are usually small enough to stick in scrub pockets, which is way easier to manage than lots of loose papers.
Also, rounds are more of a doctor thing. I'll be hanging out with the nurse for 8 hours or so, anywhere from 1 to 3 (or more) days a week, depending on the semester. If you're not sure what nurses do--all the stuff the doctors do on House, aside from diagnosing and running the MRI? That's a nurse's job.

[Dave1982]

Just for future reference, if you ever have to have major work done on a car and you KNOW you won't be keeping more than a couple more years, see if you can get the mechanic to install used parts. Now obviously that isn't always feasible, but it can save a LOT of money.

I recently had to have some work done on my car, and because I needed a special job done (10 year airbag inspection) I took it to the dealer. This ultimately was a mistake because not only did they have no idea what an airbag inspection was (even though if you fold down the sun visor there's an advisory notice from honda right there saying it's needed at 10 years) but they estimated $2700 for a whole ton of work I didnt' even know I needed.

Turns out the front engine subframe (basically a dogbone shaped piece of stamped steel that the engine rest, steering, and front suspension connect to) had a hole rotted in it, among other problems. The dealer solution was to throw all-new parts at a 13 year old car with 150K miles on it.

Instead, I refused authorization on all that work and took it to a local mechanic that i trust. He did all that work for 1/3 the money. Partially because his labor rates are lower but also because he put in a used subframe. Now I don't need to worry about it.

Of course, if it was suspension issues then you'd have to use new parts, but sometimes used/rebuilt/refurbed parts can save a LOT of money and be just as good.