My family went bankrupt the summer before I left for college

School is spendy, obviously, but it wasn’t something that I often thought about back in my high school days. Yes, I saved some money here and there and had a college fund, but my parents had let me know from day one that they would take care of my schooling.

Admittedly, I was spoiled and took advantage of opportunities that were offered to me without so much as a second thought.  It makes sense, then, that when my family declared bankruptcy the summer before my freshman year I was less than prepared.

It turns out that our financial situation had been steadily worsening for the previous few years. My mom had recently sold her business due to lack of profit and my parents were slowly creeping toward a divorce. When my step-father was fired, there wasn’t much more that they could do to get back on their feet.

Seemingly overnight, we went from a beautiful, and probably a little excessive, 6-bedroom house to being what I call ‘functionally homeless.’ My parents separated and my mom and us children lived with friends and family members until we could get into section 8 housing and set up with government assistance.

By the time I left for college, the minimal college savings that I had was used for rent payments or groceries. Suddenly, I had to pay for my out of state tuition and cost of living without absolutely zero funds saved up. It was a huge adjustment – learning to be financially responsible in such a short time span.

While I wouldn’t wish the surprise of finding out (right before college) that you have no money for college on my worst enemy, I learned a lot about finances, access to aid, and money management along the way.

No job is beneath you

The incredible, and sometimes slightly overbearing, Ashton Kutcher once said, “Opportunity looks a lot like work.” Every job is an opportunity to make money and humility is of the utmost importance when you are working toward a goal like a college degree.

I had always pictured myself taking only jobs that relate to my field in school, but my first college job was as at Taco Johns. Take whatever you can get.

There is always another way to make money

There is no end to the opportunities out there to make a few bucks. All you have to do is look. Mow lawns. Babysit. Donate plasma. Take surveys. Participate in sleep studies.

At my school, there are constantly research studies being done that will pay you in cash. There are infinite resources to be found, especially online.

Budget, budget, budget

It’s hard to know how much to spend if you don’t know how much you have.

Planning and sticking to a monthly budget is, by far, the best way to insure your financial well being. There are very user-friendly budget templates on Microsoft Excel and Google.

Thrift stores are your friends

Whether you are buying or selling, thrift stores are a fabulous resource. Every semester, I try to clean out my closet and find any clothes I haven’t worn in the past 6 months.

You can usually get cash for your items, or you can use your store credit to restock your closet when you’re done.

Don’t be afraid of loans

Loans are terrifying and if you can avoid them I would recommend it, but odds are you will have to take out a loan or two at one point or another. When you do, don’t let the process scare you. If you feel confused, visit your campus Financial Aid Office and ask about your options.

Even if your you or your family members can’t get approved for a loan, there are options such as co-signers, endorsers, or additional loan requests to help the loan go through. Do your research and make the most informed and intelligent decision that you can.

The world is full of scholarships

Scholarships are everywhere – and they aren’t just for the cost of school. There are many scholarships that provide funds for specific opportunities or costs that make certain aspects of schooling much more accessible.

Take advantage of your resources and go find that money!

These are the most basic of the strategies that have helped me survive the sudden responsibility of being financially independent. The experience, while sometimes exhausting, has taught me more than I could have ever imagined.

The most important thing? Money isn’t everything. It is so much more important to enjoy the life your living, whether that means cutting down on groceries so you can afford to see your favorite band play live or getting a second job so you can add make an extra trip to visit your family.

Find out what it will take to do what makes you happy. Then, get it done.