I am a 29yr old single mom. I was laid off from my job back and May and I would really like to go back to school. I found a really good program at the Western School of Health and Business to become an X Ray tech. It is a two year full time program that starts in January. My school will be paid for through grants and loans but I still need to pay for my rent, car insurance, car payment, phone, ect. Does anyone out there have any suggestions????

DoulaLC

Share babysitting with someone, ask a friend or relative to help with childcare, swap babysitting for another service that you can provide, keep looking for work, see if you can work at the school, check with the childcare licensing board in your area for possible schools/daycare centers that offer a sliding scale for tuition.
If worse came to worse, consider going to school part-time at first until you can work something else out. Obviously will take you longer but if it allows you to work and have your child(ren) looked after while still getting a few classes in, it is better than nothing.

dpaglia

The Federal Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) provides for the education of displaced (laid off) workers, as well as a small stipend while they study. In other words, it will pay you money so you can live while you take advantage of the free education that it provides. The money is administered through the state employment agencies. Just google your state plus "JTPA" to get more information. You can also find information in your college's financial office or the local community work force.

Good luck!

AskJenny

JTPA's great advise and you can also do what half the college kids today are doing; take out student loan to get you through the program.