Hard times, what do I do?

Go to school part-time, work full-time, save up and get an apartment or other affordable place to live. Many people have been in your situation and have made it work.

However, if you cannot afford an apartment, you can still work while finishing pre-reqs so that you can pay your own bills and take that responsibility off of her grandparents.

First...you need to determine your own expenses what is the amount of money you need to live on. Determine a budget, there are many websites you can find via google that will help you make a family budget--food, baby care, toiletries, rent, insurance, transportation, utilities, medical, and other expenses including school tuition, fees & supplies. Maybe only one of you go to school while the other works full time. You will need to include child care in your budget, contact local day care centers to determine cost and if there is any assistance. Some schools have on campus day care centers that are more affordable for full time students.

Like everything else, you need to do your research. Take a job--whether as a hospital transporter, cafeteria worker or find a nursing home/long term care that will train you as a CNA in exchange for a job. I gave you links on your other threads as to how to become a CNA in NC. If you need to contact social services to see if they can recommend affordable options for housing.

Its not sad. Im sure the grandparents love the baby and want to see you two succeed. If you two are prenursing students right now, how would you guys be able to afford an apartment once you are attending the nursing program full time? It would be difficult financially. Are you two married? If not your financial aid refund checks should be substantial enough to help your grandparents out with some utilities. Tax time is also coming. Put that money away for future use. Good luck

I would suggest staying where you are. If you already need help paying bills, adding rent to that won't help. I you decide to get a job while in school, make sure it doesn't interfere with your grades and focus on saving money for yourself and your child. I understand the frustration of staying at home when you feel like an adult, but it is best to wait until you have a reliable income that will meet your financial needs before moving out.

I really didn't want to comment on this because I didn't want to bump it but I want to give you some advice.

If you have the amazing blessing of being able to live with people who not only love you, but your child, in a time where you are obviously still a child yourself why would you want to move out? I'm assuming that you've never lived on your own before, due to your age, but let me tell you as someone who tried to make the jump of moving out too quickly. I moved out of my home at 17 to get my own place and was in SHOCK of how expensive living was. I honestly couldn't imagine doing it with a baby, while not working. It's foolish to think that anyone anywhere could get by with 2 people going to school fulltime and working full time with a new baby. Diapers, childcare, health insurance, formula, plus your tuition, your rent, your utilities, your food, your transportation. It doesn't add up.

Obviously I don't know you or your girlfriend. But don't get married for the tax refund... that is the worst advice I've ever read on a forum, ever. Marriage is no joke and at 19, even though you have a child together, neither of you are now who you one day will be and I never would suggest anyone get married that young.

Stay with the grandparents, go to school, make something of yourself, if you and your girlfriend make it through school and still love each other, then get a place and get married and save for your childs college education.