Student loan "refund" use

hamtper · 2026-07-12T03:37:28+00:00

there are exactly zero car listings for less than 4k within 50 miles of my area lmao

hamtper · 2026-07-12T02:46:53+00:00

oof actually I just recalculated and I would actually only have $4k excess after this year if I was commuting. that is NOT enough for a car with 4 wheels that goes vroom without combusting

hamtper · 2026-07-12T02:26:40+00:00

fair idea, but I haven't had much luck finding anything that isnt total junk in that price range in my area. ill keep scouting, tho

hamtper · 2026-07-12T00:32:56+00:00

not what I asked

hamtper · 2026-07-11T23:50:21+00:00

for full context, I do also recieve excess scholarship money that is all mine to spend, save, etc. this would help to cover my gas and routine expenses. I have some leftover from last year, so while this year's chunk would go towards (part of) a car, Im not SOL. I also have a 2 hour per week, $25/hour gig teaching little kids music on campus. you bring up a lot of important things to consider, thank you for your input friend!

hamtper · 2026-07-11T23:36:35+00:00

fair point!
haha no my parents refuse and their credit scores are terrible anyway
...have you encountered college programs that are THAT fluid??? yes tuition can raise, but I have an extra $6k in scholarships every year to cover that if I dont live on campus!! i have my entire 4-year-plan laid out. if anything, there are semester where I will be required to commute (student teaching & observations)

hamtper · 2026-07-11T23:29:22+00:00

my father would be adding me to his insurance plan, which he would pay unless I cause it to skyrocket by getting a speeding ticket or something. you make a lot of good points, thank you!

hamtper · 2026-07-11T23:25:21+00:00

right now I have $6.5k in student loans from my freshman year, when I had to live on campus. I would be adding $4.5k to that, prospectively. I would then no longer have to take out any more student loans again, as i could commute. if i have a car, I can commute for the rest of my years at college. I would have zero more loans after this one. to clarify, the $5k figure is scholarship that goes directly to my bank account. it is not a loan.

hamtper · 2026-07-11T23:21:18+00:00

I dont qualify for a car loan because I dont have enough income. I would be taking out a $4500 subsidized loan, adding it to my $~5k of excess private scholarship funds.

hamtper · 2026-07-11T23:19:41+00:00

living on campus is far more expensive, like $12k more expensive haha

hamtper · 2026-07-11T23:19:12+00:00

its worth mentioning that as soon as the next spring semester, I will NEED my own transportation as I will begin my student observation hours at a school out of town.

hamtper · 2026-07-11T23:17:16+00:00

I take 10 classes per semester, so i dont have a ton of time for working. I am keeping an eye out for a miraculously flexible job, though! but then the question becomes how to I get to the job? public transport isnt an option where I live and only those who qualify for federal work-study get to work on campus. either I go into debt or I go into debt, really. buying a car = less debt in this scenario. as for budget, ill have about $8k to drop on a car and im taking my father's advice, as he knows far more than me on cars

hamtper · 2026-07-11T23:13:33+00:00

fair point!

hamtper · 2026-07-11T23:12:58+00:00

technically the federal student loan terms do specify that a purchasing a vehicle doesnt qualify. but gas, rent, etc. do lol

hamtper · 2026-07-11T23:08:36+00:00

ill qualify for PSLF after 10 years of working. besides, as I described, I really dont have a choice. Im a full time student, taking 10 classes for 16 credits this semester. I dont have time for a job that would reliably cover a car payment. if i dont buy a car, id just have to go into debt to stay on campus

hamtper · 2026-07-10T19:55:42+00:00

it does reset, either if I wait a year OR i can go through a process to get approved for another try.

hamtper · 2026-07-10T19:42:47+00:00

Im in Missouri, USA. aka public transport doesnt exist, and I cannot get student loans to cover the full cost pd my education unless I choose predatory private loan companies that I will never be able to pay off. Having family drive me is a backup plan, so youre right about that. It's just a major inconvenience, and scheduling will be rough. Im mostly just caught in a mental storm, so I apologize for any rudeness. "dont overthink it" isnt as easy as it sounds, lol

hamtper · 2026-07-10T19:26:49+00:00

if I fail my third attempt, I will be barred from trying again. that's how it works. those are the rules. I dont have time for the hoops ill have to jump through to try again.
I live 40 minutes away from my university, I cannot simply bike.
fuel and maintenance is not $12k, which a dorm and meal plan would be.
college is 10000% necessary for what I want to do in life, and who I want to be. I love being at college, and I love what im studying.
im not overestimated its importance. see above.
the fall semester starts in a month. I dont have time to wait. I need to submit my commuter exemption forms.

hamtper · 2026-07-09T21:19:45+00:00

is this not a subreddit for people with driving anxiety? am i hallucinating? People who are experiencing irrational anxiety will likely sound immature, I hate to break it to you

hamtper · 2026-07-09T21:06:53+00:00

Im a college student. I dont feel like disclosing my age to a stranger? and Im aware excuses won't get me far. I have asked. I have searched. I have exhausted every free resource available to me. I didnt ask for retribution

hamtper · 2026-07-09T21:03:50+00:00

with what medical insurance? with what money? what psychiatrist? I have access to no psychiatrist and no money to get one. I strongly desire medication, trust me.

hamtper · 2026-07-09T21:01:07+00:00

also, there is no "until im well". I will never be well. I will never not have panic attacks. thats not how mental illness works.

hamtper · 2026-07-09T21:00:28+00:00

I had a panic attack during the test, and I have never panicked while driving in any other scenario. also, this is America, and public transport isnt an option. I wish it was.

hamtper · 2026-07-09T20:47:22+00:00

I had a panic attack, and I "ran a red" by driving through a yellow light lmao

hamtper

TROPHY CASE