How the Stimulus Helps You Pay for College

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My husband has been out of work for over 1 1/2 years now. His company closed their doors and he has been getting by with side jobs. He is a jack of all trades - yet the only experience he has had is in construction/lumber - nowhere industry now. He has such an incredible artistic talent and we are hoping to figure out a way for him to go back to school. He is currently getting unemployment (EB benefits now) but that only lasts for another 20 weeks. We have three children, a house payment, and bills, bills, we have tightened the belt as tight as it will go without losing oxygen. I am hoping for some guidance on how to go about the best way to get him enrolled in school. Any advice would be appreciated.

Laura of IL 12:21AM August 11, 2010

I am a single women with no kids. I have been unemployed with no income and no unemployment benefits due to the fact I was a freelance graphic Designer. I have 14 years experience in the Graphic Design industry, but I'm unable to land a job. I've been job hunting for a year and a half. Had great interviews but no offers.
I'm thinking about pursuing my passion in food and cooking. I have small dreams of becoming a personal chef and catering small dinner parties etc. So I'm looking into going back to school in the evenings to acquire a certificate in culinary rather than a 2 year degree. I'm still paying on my original student loan for Graphic Design and need to support myself at age 40.
I have already borrowed enough money form a family member and have exhausted free living space from my family...and have 3 months left before I have to start paying rent. My confidence is shot and my motivation is weak.
Do you have any suggestions or advice?

Karie of MN 10:45AM March 04, 2010

I am a single person who has been out of a job, due to shut down of a company for over a year. Now I am going to tecnical school trying to better myself so I can get a job. I am homeless and 30 years old never married but need help. Any ideas????

Brandi Hoy of TX 6:44PM February 26, 2010

My three kids are going to college in Sept 2010 & 2011 & 2014 respectively. Though they are top-notch students, we are not sending them to the ivy league schools because we can't afford to pay the tuitions (even they can get partial scholarship or free tuition - but not room and board).I don't expect any free handout or help of any kind or any source. Glad to tighten the belt whenever we can for greater purpose (kids' education). We don't eat out at all, pack our lunch every day,never spend on unnecessary items, bought a house that we can afford long term....My kids are expected to work part-time throughour their college years and be prudent in their spending.

Zurina of VA 6:11PM February 24, 2010

I am a single mother with one child at home. We are both going to college part-time. I work two jobs and I am going to school at night pursuing a career in nursing. I have been attending part-time for 3 years. I have reached a point now where I will have to start doing clinicals and will have to go to school 3-4 days a week. All classes will be during the day. This means I will have to leave my full-time job and only work part-time. I currently have a mortgage that I will have trouble paying without that income. Is there help somewhere that would help me keep up my payments for one year while I finish school. I would pay it back once school was complete. Does anyone know of any such program that I could apply for?

Eve Price of SC 11:41AM February 18, 2010

My daughter has lived on her own for 2yrs. She is 23yrs old and works. Financial Aid will not give her any assistance because i wont give them my w-2 tax. She does not live with me. I do not claim her on taxes. Help!!!!

r dudley of GA 5:47PM February 04, 2010

I would like to pursue my Ph d in Behavioral Psychology with an emphasis on substance abuse and criminal justice and would like to know if there is Federal Stimulus money available for single mothers such as myself. I am interested in accredited universities in California and am an aluma of the University of California at Berkeley.
Thank You,
Angela Taylor

Angela Taylor of CA 3:25AM January 16, 2010

Martha Reaves of TN: If you are drawing disability, how are you going to be able to be a PA? Is this a situation where you are just not qualified for the job you want, so you are playing the system? I am a TN resident, working full-time and supporting two children on my own. If you want sympathy you will find none here. After you get your government handout college money will you suddenly be UN-disabled??? Maybe you could pay back all the monies you took.

Working Proud of TN 11:08PM January 12, 2010

Dear Sir,I have received my Bachelor of Arts and Science Degree in Psychology in May 2009 I have a college debt overdue in the amount of $2,500. The college I attend has stopped
allowing me to continue my education in Graduate School until this debt is paid in full.
I already have a $30,000 debt that has been paid to this university. Until the above $2,500 overdue debt is paid I cannot continue my education in Graduate School. Without
further education I will never be able to pay the $30,000 college debt I already have.
Please send me information on how I can apply for the above $2.500 Stimulus Money for my
$2,500 overdue debt at The University of Toledo. Right now my education has STOPPED.
Sincerely, Darla Dane
3140 Talmadge Road
Toledo, Ohio 43606
419-531-5645

Darla Dane of OH 12:51PM January 08, 2010

I've posted this information in several places and I always get slammed for it, but it is exactly what the US needs if we are going to remain competitive in this world. My boyfriend is from Denmark, and there, education is nearly free through the PhD level. You choose, very generally, what area you want to be in when you start high school (science, business, etc) and that is what the focus of your high school education is. Then you choose between going to college or joining the military, period! In Denmark, they have socialized health care that is NOT the nightmare we are lead to believe everyone who lives with it faces, they have nearly free education through the PhD level, and even though this is all paid for through taxes, people live within their means and still have everything they want, including the money to go on long vacations with their family all over Europe. No, Denmark isn't perfect. most people don't even have air conditioning, but they were raised not to expect it like we were and only need it a couple months a year, but there must be a reason why they are the "happiest country in the world" http://www.forbes.com/2009/05/05/world-happiest-places-lifestyle-travel-world-happiest.html . In Denmark, you actually have to choose to be poor or homeless. Unlike America, where so many abuse the system, the social safety net works, and people don't look at it as helping people who won't help themselves because it's not that way there. They are more motivated to do well for themselves because the tools to do so are made available to them, and have only about a 2% unemployment rate.
Americans don't want to pay more taxes, but they want everything in return for free. Denmark didn't become the happiest country in the world overnight and we can't fix our troubles overnight either. I am 37 years old, I work full time, go to college online full time, and I have a son who will graduate high school in 2011. I don't know how much extra the changes in these laws will mean to me, but at least they are trying to do something. Instead of reacting negatively, let's give our government some positive feedback about what we feel would help us the most and then elect the people who will bring it about. They work for us, not the other way around.

Dusty's Momma of AL 1:12PM December 05, 2009