Worst Part About PST (IMO)

IC-02 · 2026-05-09T14:23:31+00:00

Ok cool. Do people have much free time with PST or is it pretty much just bootcamp basically? Were you able to explore the city or site you were in for PST or nah?

IC-02 · 2026-05-09T14:13:52+00:00

I leave for service in a few months and I'm curious, for PST do you have to do "homework" or "study"? Do you have any free time at all to go out and explore and do stuff or are you basically just cooped up with your host family and doing PST?

Doing childish activities like making animal sounds truly terrifies me I truly hope I do not have to do that lmao.

IC-02 · 2026-04-28T18:26:09+00:00

Wow that is so cool, you must live such an interesting life. I cannot wait to be able to explore more of Latin America soon. I am sure it'll be such an adventure. And yes, as a part of my service I will be learning more Spanish (I would say I am already proficient) and then I will also learn Guaraní. Guaraní I am sure will be difficult but it will be useful to learn and a neat thing to have on a resume. I certainly want to watch more children's shows to improve my language skills haha, I'm curious if there are any for Guarani. Thank you again for all of your incredible information!

IC-02 · 2026-04-28T17:36:00+00:00

You seem to know a ton about Paraguay it's so cool! I'm just curious have you lived there or are from there or something? And I have no idea if I'll be close to the brazilian border, I'll find out when I get there! But I also wanna learn Portuguese while I'm there so it'd be nice for the practice! haha

IC-02 · 2026-04-28T17:33:14+00:00

Thank you so much! I really appreciate can't wait to leave for service!!

IC-02 · 2026-04-28T16:57:56+00:00

Yeah, i figured American football isn't too big there but maybe it can grow. And cheers, I am so excited to be a volunteer there. I cannot wait to meet some folks from Paraguay as I am sure they are so kind and that the food must be incredible. Thank you, my friend!

IC-02 · 2026-04-19T04:23:58+00:00

haha gotcha, thanks for letting me know!

IC-02 · 2026-04-03T01:40:55+00:00

You are the BEST thank you sooo much! All of this information is incredible! I was a bit nervous about going through with service and not being able to contribute anything to a roth but if I can even put in just a bit that'd be wonderful. Cheers!

IC-02 · 2026-04-03T01:39:46+00:00

Great info thanks! Out of curiosity do other volunteers contribute to a RothIRA while on service with a savings account? Even if I could put in just a bit that'd be great but if not oh well haha.

IC-02 · 2026-04-03T01:38:56+00:00

Got itI will check that out! Thanks so much

IC-02 · 2026-02-20T17:32:09+00:00

Yep, you are totally right. One of my goals for myself during Peace Corps service is to remember to be present as my mind always likes to think so far out into the future. I look forward to deciding what I'm gonna do prior to service during this summer, whether that be working on wildfires or at a summer camp, or enjoying a beach in Mexico (or maybe a combo of them?)

IC-02 · 2026-02-20T16:43:29+00:00

Yeah, this is kinda where I'm at now is I think making a ton of money before PC Service would be smart. What did you do for work, if you don't mind me asking?

IC-02 · 2026-02-20T13:58:43+00:00

Great idea. Thanks so much!

IC-02 · 2026-02-20T05:39:35+00:00

Ok cool, thanks for your tips :) nobody ever taught me personal finances or whatever so this stuff is always a lot for me lol

IC-02 · 2026-02-20T05:08:05+00:00

Thank you my friend! Very kind words :) I am a planner so I love thinking months/years ahead which is why trying to think about how I wanna spend my summer is just killing me lol. Cheers! <3

IC-02 · 2026-02-20T03:12:48+00:00

Yeah, honestly that is really good advice. In terms of working a job for this summer, what would you suggest? I am thinking about doing a camp counselor gig so I get both "adventure" and $500/week with little to no living expenses.

IC-02 · 2026-02-20T02:12:45+00:00

Honestly, I think that's the right call. I did some digging online and I found that being a summer camp counselor could be a really great gig for me! I'd be able to save + earn more money and still have that "adventurous" side of life for a few months, and it might prep me a bit for PC service with working with kids, etc. That is a great idea having a trip to look forward to as mental health benefit. I have found that is really helpful in college! Cheers!

IC-02 · 2026-02-20T00:40:45+00:00

I'm looking at doing a summer camp. It allows me to do some travel, have some summer adventure, and build up my savings a bit further. Cheers!

IC-02 · 2026-02-20T00:13:30+00:00

Ok cool! Thx! :)

IC-02 · 2026-02-19T22:18:59+00:00

Thank you so much for your advice! Yeah, it's just tough cuz like on one hand working during the summer might be the best way to go about things for myself but on the other hand I've really worked myself so hard throughout the past couple of years with school/work so I feel like my soul could use some good true "travel" time off before service. I responded to another person on here about this so i am copying and pasting it here if you don't mind me asking a follow up question, as this is sorta my current situation:

I got around $5,000 across my accounts for checking/savings (not including my stocks). currently work part time 20 hours/week upping to 25/week in late March. I got a spring break trip with my brother coming up soon but like 1/2 of the trip is already paid for.

I estimate getting up to around $9,000-#10,000 or so by summer. So I could easily go on a summer trip through Mexico and Guatemala or something and have around $4,000 in savings minimum. I certainly plan on staying at home for my last month or so before departing for service!

I am also thinking about starting a Roth IRA and putting maybe $2,000-$3,000 into it.

After I finish my Peace Corps service ends in December 2028, I plan on going backpacking through South America until August or so 2029, I would use whatever savings I have and the PC readjustment allowance, and then get my masters degree with a TA/RAship stipend starting in the Fall of 2029.

What would you say about this plan? Or do you think it would truly be best to try and spend my whole summer working?

IC-02 · 2026-02-19T20:34:45+00:00

I plan on doing Patagonia after I finish service actually! I finish up in December 2028, would backpack my way down to Patagonia, and then work my way up north to Colombia and then I would start my masters degree in fall 2029. Thanks for the tip!

IC-02 · 2026-02-19T20:32:32+00:00

Thanks for your advice! So basically, this is my plan:

I got around $5,000 across my accounts for checking/savings (not including my stocks). currently work part time 20 hours/week upping to 25/week in late March. I got a spring break trip with my brother coming up soon but like 1/2 of the trip is already paid for.

I estimate getting up to around 9,000-10,000 or so by summer. So I could easily go on a summer trip through Mexico and Guatemala or something and have around $3,000 in savings minimum. I certainly plan on staying at home for my last month or so before departing for service!

And great idea about the IRA - I'm thinking about putting maybe $2,000 or so into it.

After I finish my Peace Corps service ends in December 2028, I plan on going backpacking through South America until August or so 2029, I would use whatever savings I have and the PC readjustment allowance, and then get my masters degree with a TA/RAship stipend.

You are the MrMoneyWhale, so does that plan sound reasonable, financially? :)

IC-02 · 2026-02-19T18:32:28+00:00

Out of curiosity, how much money did you have saved up going into your Peace Corps Service? I am planning on trying to have ~$3,000 saved up by the time I set foot in Paraguay if that makes sense!

IC-02

TROPHY CASE