I really want to do more for my children. But I can't afford to pay to get a GED, because I am a single mother of two. I barely make ends meet now and it is reaaly depressing me that I can't afford to do this for them.
201585
Trust me you are in better position to recieve financial aid. That's not all. THEY ACTUALLY PAY YOU TO GO TO SCHOOL IF YOU ARE AN ADULT!!! First start by talking to you local school department, I am living in a really super small city and they have night classes for adults so im sure they have bunch in big cities (if u live in one). That should really help u out. If not school office employees can always give you information on schools near your hometown which are having night classes or universities that are bound to have night classes. But you don't have to go to universities. i am very sure that you will find night classes in hometown school. Just talk to one of your friends that teaches in school or anybody. Also ask if they are paying you to get an education. In most cases they do, but not always but the education is still FREE. if that doesn't help(which i doubt) you can always check your local universities, colleges or other institutes. You can also research online. BUT TRY SCHOOLS THEY ALWAYS HAVE SOME KIND OF NIGHT CLASSES GOING ON TO HELP YOU GET YOUR GED!! =) Hope that helps and good luck!
80271
Actually, go volunteer in the public schools. Go to schools in low-income areas and devote your time. It makes a HUGE difference just by spending time with the kids. I do it, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I love the kids, and they get something out of it. Many of them keep going to school when they get older because they had something to look forward to when they were younger. It keeps them off drugs and lets them know someone cares. That does a lot more than you would think.
37905
Wow.  You take me back.  I had to handle school and four children from age 2 1/2 to 7.  It was a long time ago - 25 years.  And I was younger.  But I know how you feel.  I always thought "when I have the time, I'm going to have a nervous breakdown, because I deserve it."  Funny, huh.  \n\nTry to make sure you get enough sleep.  Without it, school is so much harder.  See if you can get help with babysitting.  I wasn't aware til my last year in school that the state would have paid for babysitting for me.  See if you can talk to a counselor there and find out all the programs you qualify for that might give you some help.  Enlist any friends or family and don't feel guilty about it.\n\nI felt a lot like I was not giving enough attention to my kids, and maybe I wasn't.  But now they have children of their own and they grew up ok.  \n\nTake some deep breaths.  Know you can do it.  And that it too will pass.  (I wondered at the time if that light at the end of the tunnel was really an oncoming train.  It just didn't seem to end.)\n\nGood luck to you.  And, in a funny way, thanks for reminding me of things I have been through.  I admire you greatly.  By comparison, the things that are going on in my life right now do not seem so bad at all.
444520
I have lived in your shoes. I worked to get myself through college as a single mom.  We were broke for so long, it was hard.  There were many times when quitting school seemed like a great idea and I was pushed to do it.  \n\nI stuck it out and today I have a masters degree.  I have a good job and the ability to get an even better one.  My children lived through the times when going to McDonalds was not in the budget.  Today they enjoy Caribbean cruises and dine out all the time.  We live in a rather nice home and have enough disposable income to supply the "extras".  \n\nI did get re-married, however I finished my degree first.  I am so glad that my children have seen first hand the value of education. \n\nStick with it, focus on one semester at a time.  You CAN do this!!
63596
I will pray for you and your children...\n\nWhatever you believe will happen...believe in great things...\n\nGo to a college that will offer housing and financial aid...if College is not what you want...consider a vocational pgm...\nAsk the reference librarian at your city library to help you.... choose a job you will love... \n\nNever Give UP!
398048
How about looking at your problem from another angle?  What are some legal ways you can increase your income or reduce your expenses?  Do you have any bad habits, such as smoking or drugs, that you can give up?  Can you find a better job, or even find a second job?  We must remember that your children deserve some measure of support from their father and mother.  If you love them enough, you will find a legal way to meet your obligations.
186608
Great! There are government grants that you don't have to pay back! They will actually pay you to go to school! If you are a woman, minority, have children, etc....handicapped you can get grad school monies! A quick yahoo search on grants will help you out... You could get married??? Rent part of your house out??? Helping others out is what I do too! Be good to people and people will be good to you....
449432
You could contact a Technical school, I got my Child Development Associate degree in a free Apprenticeship program, and I was able to count my working hours as my intern hours. Also, if you are really broke, then you should qualify for financial aid programs.
508734
You should really consider taking the continuning education  GED course at your local community college.  It is normally only a 12 week program and you will have the benefit of an instructor assisting you.  If you are like me and have been out of school for a long time  you will need the  one on one time. \n\nOnce you get the GED out of the way then you can do online courses for your degree.   \n\nI know it hard to take the time to go to class being a single mom myself but please try to make that scarifice.  those 12 week can open the door to a brand new future for you and your kids.
96203
I so understand your situation, in the 70's and 80's I raised 3 kids and a grandchild as a single mother and had to work 2 and 3 jobs because full time jobs were not available to women, because they would have to pay benefits so I would get 32 hours at one job 28 hours at another and then I'd wait tables  so I'd have everyday money for food, lunches, ect. the other checks I used for bills.  Unfortunatly this seems to be the same scenareo.  I am now disabled in the prime of my life due to the fact of just not having the recources to take care of my body when I should have.  This country doesn't take care of it's people and from the budget that Bush has put together this year it isn't going to happen if it passes.  Everybody wonders why so many people are on disability so young, honey thats your answer the government pushes the workers, they protect the businesses instead, giving them tax breaks for every little thing they can think of and the employees suffer not only in the short term but in the long run.  I went to college, held down 2 jobs in the process college doesn't pay the bills so I had to make a choice!  In the long run, yes I suffer every day now in chronic pain, but my kids suffered then they didn't have their mother, sure they had sitters but it didn't come close to what they should have had, and no there was no child support at all and no attorney genneral to help me get it even tho I told them where to find him and even paid out of my own pocket! So this is the kind of country we live in and I don't think it's gonna get better, just hang in and VOTE that's the only recourse we have get somebody in congress who cares about the workers, that would be different. But nothing will change if you don't VOTE.
374166
Look at my profile and e-mail me with your address and I will send you the money for a Turkey....  I feel for you, I was pregnant with twins and in February we lost one so they took me out of work and found tumors in my spine. THANK GOD we were able to make it without my income....  and have a wonderful, healthy little girl.... I hope I can help...  :-)
647856
contact a local community collage or trade school.... what I did tho is I went to nurseing homes, so many are so under staffed that they will pay your way through the class.
515572
taking the GED is really easy I'm taking it know and i'm almost done. u can sign up and take the tests when ever u want and that might be more trusted the doing it and paying on line. good luck in anyway.
648424
If you get any extra after paying for all that can you send me some???   I am a widow , barely making it, broke too.  I DO WORK tho, make just a quarter more than minimum wage.  Not  enough!!!
171265
Yea there is stuff out there. I went to grad school, was in a similar situation. I applied, I was eligible for loans, but no grants.
417373
Wow, you seem to be in a rut. First off let me say this ,  I'm 25 and I hated my parents when I was 16 or 17 too. It is a very tough time in life and once you are done with this stage you will feel stronger and wiser, trust me. Now here is for the real life stuff, having a full time job is not all its cracked up to be , but if you feel you are ready for it than do it to the fullest. In regards to your GED , if your parents will not give you a ride find a friend, an uncle , an neighbor who will ,as long as they are safe , legal , and trustworthy; that way your parents will realize that you are willing to take something in your life seriously. Do this sit down and write realistically where you see yourself in 5 years , then work backwards to see how you can get yourself there. Life is a constant struggle, im dealing with struggles of my own , but all I can say is if you overcome this , the next battle will not feel as hard. You seem like you have an idea of what you want but you want some guidance, reach out to someone you trust to be your mentor. You will be fine. Hang in there, don't deal with all your problems at the same time, take them one at a time and soon the pieces will fall into place.
647176
If you are in the USA, Canada, or England and can't pay for schooling, your children can still get educated at school.  The government will help pay for your child.  Go to the principal and talk to him about how to do this.  There are probably a few forms to fill and you have to prove that you can't afford school.\n\nIf you're somewhere else, I don't know what you would do.