The Non-Traditional Student Blog (BA)

Nontraditional students, save money at school this year! 10 great tips.

Money Saving Ideas for Fall

Image from Fotolia at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/

Are you going to school this Fall? Maybe you know a lot of money-saving ideas already. Here are some popular ones. Some are from the Yahoo Nontrads Site. Thanks, fellow nontrads! Others are from other postings.

I hope they are helpful!

#1. Save money on textbooks - you can share a textbook, buy a used one, or buy an online textbook! Find out more at the Textbook Options posting. Ask your instructor if a previous edition will work. They are often a lot cheaper.

#2. Save money on gas - plan out your schedule so you can walk to class, take some (or all!) online classes, and/or take the school bus and park your car for later. Join a gasoline co-op if available.

#3. Save money on food - buy a food ticket, or even bring your own lunches. Use supplied refrigerators if your school offers them.

#4. Save money on tuition - take the most hours you can handle in a semester. Check - it may not cost more to add a class if you are a full or part-time student.

#5. Save even more money on tuition - work for the school. Often, these jobs offer free or reduced-rate tuition as part of your work package. Ask to find out.

#6. Re-sell your books at the end of the semester if you don't plan to keep them. You can sell online or put a note up on campus boards.

#7. Live on campus if this is feasible. It is often cheaper. More and more nontraditional students are choosing this option.

#8. Bring drinks with you so you won't be tempted to buy more expensive drinks at school.

#9. Buy supplies and clothing at thrift stores. You may even find a backpack there.

#10. Make a budget and stick to it.

Add to this list! What is YOUR money-saving idea?

More money-saving postings:
New Ideas for Saving Money at School
Textbook options 2010

Some more nontraditional student links:
The Nontrad site and blog
Join Nontrads on Facebook
Nontrads on Yahoo
Nontrads on Twitter

Groups for Nontraditional Students Online

From the Microsoft Image Pages at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/

Sometimes it's just good to talk with friends.

And if you are online, there are some nontraditional student sites where you can make new friends.

It's a great way to get information, find great links, and talk with other students.

The Nontraditional Student Yahoo Group - this group has 272 members.

Nontrads on Facebook - 424 members

Nontrads on Twitter

Old Premeds for Nontraditional Students

Nontraditional Medical Students

ANTSHE on the web (a national group)

ANTSHE on Facebook

There are a bunch of nontraditional student groups on Facebook across the country. You can find them by searching for "nontraditional students" on Facebook.

Got another group to list? Just add it as a comment. Are you a nontraditional student? What would you like to share? Add that too.

Later!

Nashville downtown "Phones"

Some more Nontrad links:
The Nontrad site and blog

The Value of a Dream

Just what is the value of a dream?

By dream, I mean something you have always wanted to do or learn about in your life.

For instance, are you stuck in an office job, and always wanted to work outside?

Do you dream of being able to help people, be a medical doctor, a teacher, a writer or artist?

You may have always wondered if you could actually do what you have always dreamed of.

So what is holding you back? Maybe it's so-called reality, the reality of making a living, of having responsibilities, a family, a house, a mortgage, kids.

This man does not see a way out.

What is the guarantee that going back to school is even going to net you a job in today's job market after you are done with your schooling?

The answer is, there IS no guarantee. But that doesn't mean you need to give up.

There are some things you can do that can make your choice of whether you can go back to school a wiser one. One thing you can think about is to maybe go to trade school, (which can be less expensive) and another to really research jobs in your area.

Ask yourself, are there openings for that dream job?

Another idea: have you applied for scholarships or grants? Many of these you don't have to pay back.

Ack! I don't have my assignment done!

So think about it. Thinking about it doesn't cost anything. Research and applying for scholarships or grants just takes time.

Going to the Advising Office of a school only takes time too. You never know... there could be money just waiting for you to use.

Well, that's it for today. I want to wish you the very best of luck in your search for fulfillment in your job or career.

Nontraditionally Yours,

Nontrads, get connected!

The Nontrad site and blog
Join Nontrads on Facebook
Nontrads on Yahoo and
Nontrads on Twitter

Nontraditional students, are you in a good place emotionally?

Do you feel good right now, nontraditional students? Because it can make a HUGE difference.

Students of all ages CAN find help.

If you have problems at home, anxiety, depression, or other problems, they can make a big difference in whether or not you can handle school assignments and going back to school.

And yes, most of my readers already know this. But sometimes it can be hard to realize when you have a problem. And even harder to do anything about it.

Many people may feel that if anyone finds out about a problem they have, they will be embarrassed and feel even worse.

Are you already in school? Many students don't take advantage of the wonderful medical care that they may have on campus. This care is personal and private, between the student and the doctor or practitioner. Check to see if you have a medical clinic where you attend. Often, the school clinic offer discounts for students too.

There is also help for many students and others at many local (community) health care clinics too. They may operate on a sliding fee scale, which means that the fees are lower for people who do not make much money.

So... don't give up if you have some personal problems, class or study problems, depression, sleep problems, or don't feel good about yourself for any reason. Make that call to a help line or to the school or community clinic. It can mean the difference between succeeding and not succeeding at school, and can help so much with daily life too.

Here are some online resources that may help you or another student you know.

Tell a friend about this article. It may make a lot of difference. You may even save their life.

Here are some links that may be helpful to you or your friend:
Yahoo Groups:
Bully Online - help with bullying
Avoidant - help with fear and anxiety, more
Codependant Group
The Depression and Anxiety Group
The Personality Disorders group

Other helpful links:
The Flylady group at Big Tent (for clutterbugs)
Support Groups at MDJunction
Find a local AA meeting
More groups at the Daily Strength Site

Please add your favorite help site as a comment. Thank you!

Join me on some other nontraditional student sites:
The Nontrad site and blog
Join Nontrads on Facebook
Nontrads on Yahoo
Nontrads on Twitter

The photo at the top of this blog posting is from the great resource, the Microsoft Office Clip Art pages.

Do you have courage and perseverance? Some links for nontraditional students

I think you may already know that becoming a nontraditional student takes courage and perseverance.

Courage? Because not everyone can make the commitment to try learning again.

Perseverance? Because you don't only have to START, you also have to FINISH, and this can be difficult.

It’s not enough just to THINK about becoming a nontraditional student some day. You need to have a goal, and then you can work towards it. You can take that first step of looking at the classes you need, for instance, and deciding what YOU want to do with your life.

Or maybe you have finished a large part of your nontraditional student journey, and just need a few more classes.

The point is, are you motivated enough to start, motivated enough to finish and finally get that certification or degree? I hope so.

Do you need some additional encouragement and motivation? Try these links:

Nontrads, Don’t Give Up! From the Student Doctor Network (2004)

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=246504

Nontraditional Students, Don’t Give Up! (Student Doctor.net, 2007)

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/archive/index.php/t-403258.html

The Successful Nontraditional Student (from this blog)

http://non-traditional-students.blogspot.com/2009/03/successful-nontraditional-student.html

How Nontraditional Students can Overcome Fear and Improve their Self-Esteem (My Ezine Article)

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Nontraditional-Students-Can-Overcome-Fear-and-Improve-Their-Self-Esteem&id=2841534

Do you have a link to add to this posting? Just post it as a comment.