by Hope
Big news around here…Princess has options for the fall. It seemed to take forever, but as of last week, she has several options for school in the fall.
She has been accepted into her top 3 preferred schools. And now we are waiting on the financial aid packages. She’s got roommate options at a couple of the schools. They are all within 2-3 hours of home.
I’m a little anxious for her to make a choice so we can reserve a dorm room. There were other locals who went to these same schools this past fall and were not able to get into the dorms. With Princess being so young, her living in a dorm is very important to me.
Please cross your fingers for us that we receive the financial packages and she is able to make an informed and firm decision so we can get on the list for a dorm. From what I’ve seen it will require a non-refundable deposit of between $150-300 depending on the school.
Pretty will start cosmetology school in the fall. We have determined that she can get a private room on campus for $2,400 per semester and a shared room for $2,000 per semester. She really wants a private room. And we are hoping that between the HOPE grant Georgia provides qualified students and Pell Grant money both her tuition and basic living expenses will be covered.
Since both the twins attended this same trade school, I am familiar with the tuition costs and fees. So I think it will be very close and I am hopeful she will not have to pay much out of pocket.
Both the girls will work full time this summer and save money towards this next phase of their life. We all stay committed to getting through school (or whatever training they decide to pursue) with little to no debt.
Hope is a resourceful and solutions-driven business manager who has spent nearly two decades helping clients streamline their operations and grow their businesses through project management, digital marketing, and tech expertise. Recently transitioning from her role as a single mom of five foster/adoptive children to an empty nester, Hope is navigating the emotional and practical challenges of redefining her life while maintaining her determination to regain financial control and eliminate debt.
Living in a cozy small town in northeast Georgia with her three dogs, Hope cherishes the serenity of the mountains over the bustle of the beach. Though her kids are now finding their footing in the world—pursuing education, careers, and independence—she remains deeply committed to supporting them in this next chapter, even as she faces the bittersweet tug of letting go.
Since joining the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015, Hope has candidly shared her journey of financial ups and downs. Now, with a renewed focus and a clear path ahead, she’s ready to tackle her finances with the same passion and perseverance that she’s brought to her life and career. Through her writing, she continues to inspire others to confront their own financial challenges and strive for a brighter future.
Exciting times! You should have received any Merit Money offers with her acceptances. Look closely at all the fine print for everything. As some schools will reduce their offers/merit by the amount of any outside scholarships the kids get.
On another note, once she decides, join the parent FB page and you can likely get a lot of her dorm needs used from kids moving out of the dorms-mattress topper, XLong mattress pad and sheets, mini-fridge, microwave, etc for pennies on the dollar.
Yes, we are waiting on financial packages for Princess. Not sure of the timeline for those.
But we have applied and paid for housing reservation at her preferred school.
She will finalized that decision next month.
That is awesome! Congrats Princess and Beauty too!
Congratulations to the girls and all they are accomplishing!
Has Princess dropped volleyball completely?
Yes, unfortunately. Because of the school change…again, she didn’t want to play.
I don’t remember how much I said her sophomore year, but the coaches on that team really ruined her time there. It was a big part of her desire to change schools for her junior year. I won’t go into details. But those coaches actually got fired at the end of last year (for things related to our issues.) But the damage was done.
So she was excited to return to the school knowing those teachers/coaches were gone, but going back to the volleyball team wasn’t something she wanted to consider. And she was enjoying working.
I really hate it, from a lot of angles, but not much I could do. (Yes, I reported issues with coaches early in season but athletic director at the time didn’t take me seriously, very small, good old boy town here.)
Congrats to Princess and Pretty – it’s gonna be an exciting year for your family!
Yes, indeed. I think they have both passed the phase of scared and are starting to get excited.