How I did it:
it's hard to save money every single time you get it- the last thing you want to do with christmas money is put it all into the bank!

for me, it was all about saving and cutting back. i'm hoping to transfer next year or the year after to a pricey music school, so i'm not avoiding debt forever- but for now, having the payments out of my way is amazing.

Lessons & tips: even if you'd rather go to some amazing (but expensive) school, consider a community college if only for a year. if you want to get away from home, go to a community college somewhere else! i picked a school three hours away, and it's honestly a decision i couldn't be more happy with.

as far as saving money goes, just cut back. it's SO much easier said than done, even if you're cheap in the first place like me.
also, paying anything in full is almost always a better way to go because most college payment plans have extra fees you can avoid if you just pay it all up front.

Sep 25, 2008, 02:31PM PDT | 0 comments | 1 cheer