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by Hope

I’m sure many of the BAD followers slapped their foreheads and cringed when they read that I had prioritized helping Princess with her senior year of college. I know, I know.

But I have too. I have to help her.

A little back story

When Princess started college, I told her, I would cover her first year and then she was on her own. Now if you aren’t a Georgia resident, you may not know that they have two grant programs called Hope and Zell Miller. They are a BIG reason why we moved here versus other states when we moved. Essentially, if a student graduates from a Georgia high school, even homeschooled, and maintains a certain GPA, the grant covers their tuitions for higher education and/or trade schools. I wanted all of the kids to have the opportunity to further their education without debt. These grants were key to that as a single mom of five kids.

So we did it. First year, I paid for living expenses, books, and even provided spending money. (She contributed by saving from the time she started working at 15.)

Since then, she’s covered all costs alone. All of them! And it has been so hard for her. And so inspiring to watch. I am in total awe of her. (My dad says she gets her grit and drive from me, but she is so, so much more determined and committed than I think I ever was.)

Housing Debacle

One of the biggest challenges has been housing. She’s been living in a 5×5 for the last two years. Five rooms, five roommates. And none of them has to work or really be responsible. Princess gets up every AM and heads to work, then school, and then nights and weekends running an on campus investment club. I mean, she is killing it. But with all her roommates living the glamorized college experience with parties and such this year has been very, very tough, no quiet to sleep or study, etc.. You get the picture. (I’m not knocking her roommates, she just needs a different environment.)

So this year, she was going to move out. And long story short, her two roommate options fell through. Now she needs to move, doesn’t have a place to move too, and is stress to no end because living in ATL solo is expensive. And with today’s world, a random roommate, well, neither of us is comfortable with that.

Position to Help

Thankfully, I am in the position to help. So we went apartment shopping together a couple of weeks ago before she flew out to start her summer internship. And I have committed to paying the difference from what she paid the last two years and the new place until she graduates next May. (She will graduate with her Bachelors before she turns 21 years old!)

She will get out of college with $0 in debt. And she knows the value of hardwork and money. I just want to make this last year a little bit easier on her. Once we get everything settled, I will fill in more details on what that is going to look like financially.

Hope

Hope is a resourceful, solutions-driven online business manager with over two decades of experience helping clients streamline operations, manage projects, and grow their businesses through digital marketing and technology.

But life has a way of rewriting your plans.

A year ago, Hope made the decision to move in with her aging parents full time – a season she wouldn’t trade, even as it came with its own financial and emotional weight. Earlier this year, she lost her mother, and is now walking the tender, disorienting path of grief while learning what “forward” looks like from here.

Hope came to the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015 as a single mom raising five foster and adoptive children. She’s written through job changes, financial setbacks, and the bittersweet transition to an empty nest. Her kids are finding their footing in the world now – and so is she.

Rooted in faith and fueled by the same perseverance she’s brought to every hard season, Hope is ready to face her finances with fresh eyes and an honest pen. She believes that clarity, courage, and community can change the trajectory of anyone’s story including her own.

She lives in Austin, TX with her dad, loves adventures with her dog Addie, and is figuring out, one step at a time, what this next chapter is meant to be.