<prompt> Human: We drafted the budget looking at a listing that looked like a dream come true for me. Two bedroom apartment this way Im not booted to my couch when my family visits Allows pets for 25 a month extra because my little dog is probably the most amazing little thing ever and I need her.Every single utility but electricity is paid. Also, cable with HBO and free Internet included.Came with a dishwasher, garbage disposal, microwave, fridge, and washer and dryer in unit.Its associated with the university Im going to, so they want to put you with a roommate which is what Im trying to avoid. Ill be working and going to school full time, I wont be able to see that my possessions are taken care of as much as I would like and I dont trust people but they have individual leasing available.All in all, the apartment would come up to about 550 a month.Now heres the budget. We drafted this with my last check, which was for 90 hours I was kind of bumped up to full-time at my place of employment during the summer. It was really cool, considering I didnt even have to beg to be a full time employee. I earned 442 from that check. So, assuming I could earn at least 400 every two weeks, we knew I had 800 a month.Monthly BudgetRent - 550Gas for the car I just paid it off a month ago - 140Insurance for car - 100Electricity - 100Groceries - 200 it will be 100 if I can qualify for food stamps like my older sister did. I dont like to take a handout, but maybe I can give back with volunteer service? I know Ill have to make up for it some way or anotherPhone - 50 Straight Talk, unlimited Talk, Text, and DataContingency - 100 if not used for emergency, then will go into savingsIm typing this from memory, but I think thats everything. So Im up to 1,240 just to make the bills! I havent been able to sleep since we drafted the budget. I havent even factored in how much books and other fees will be for school. There is no way, no way at all that I am going to survive on my minimum wage job. I know I need to look for a one bedroom apartment around 200, but where am I going to find that in a city? And if rent is that cheap, I would have to pay for more utilities than electricity and that would make it just the same as the 550 rent.Does anyone have any advice? Dorm housing is an absolute, last resort. I dont trust others with my stuff. The only reason I can afford this university is because of a scholarship that covers tuition. My parents cant afford to help me, before I got this scholarship I was looking at a community college 30 minutes away from my small town.I knew this was coming, I knew I was going to have to draft a budget and I knew itd be tight but Im already in the red. Oh my gosh, oh my gosh I have no clue what to do.Does anyone know how much strippers make? And do the short, awkwardly dancing ones earn as much?Assistant: with 2 bedrooms you can get a roomie and share the rent, and not to sound callous, but you can either sleep on the couch or they can get a hotel when family visits.How far is the apt from school? potentially you dont really need a car. These are the years when you really have to suck it up, live as far below your means as possible and get through school, whatever way you have to. If you must take your dog,and I do understand why you would want to, then you really should consider sharing the place with a roomate. This probably isnt what you want to hear, but its GO time and you do what it takes to survive sometimes. What if, you have vet related expenses? You never know what will happen and that can be VERY expensive... then youre screwed. Do a ton of shopping at dollar stores, live like youre dirt poor and just enjoy the simple things in life, being a grown-up is not as much fun as it seems.Good luckdo you really expect to take a full course load AND work a 40 hour week? thats pretty tough, especially so depending on your classes.Human: I have to go to school full time, my scholarship sponsor requires it. And my family has literally no means of supporting me at all with any of the finances. I plan on majoring in Communications please do not laugh, its just vague enough to get my foot in the door as a manager anywhere, but Im more interested in public speakingbroadcastadvertising. Of my few skills, public speaking is the one I recognized for most oftenAssistant: I understand, but working full time and school full time are tough to pull off. Is school hours from home?Human: 3 hours away from my very quiet, very slow paced small town. Also, 30 minutes away from my states capital. And I dont know the area very well. Full time college for my state is 14 hours a week Im not sure if it varies from state to state or more. If I can work the minimum of 14, plus the 40 hours for the job, I wont have a social life but I might get some sleep?  <response>: I dont want to be a kill joy but 14 hours full time at Uni will be time spent sitting in classlabs. If you want to keep your grades up you might need to add another 14-20 hours on top of that to study. 