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Going to Trade School


Worried About The Price Of College For Your Kid? Creative Options To Cut Costs While Still Ensuring Their Bright Future

With millions of Americans dealing with being under- or unemployed, family budgets are feeling the financial strain. This can make finding funds for children's college tuition, dormitory fees and other student expenses difficult, or even impossible. If you have a child approaching college age and you are unsure how you can afford to pay for it, the following ideas can offer you some creative ways to make these costs more affordable as well as some alternatives to college that will still offer your child a bright future with excellent earning potential. 

Skip the dorms and live at home

Many cities and towns have either community college options or access to larger schools through local satellite campuses. If your community offers this type of educational opportunity, have your child opt to attend school there and live at home. Even if their college major will require attendance in a larger school later on, spending the first year or two at a community school will result in a huge savings on the cost of housing, food and other expenses they might incur if living away from home. If you cannot convince them to attend a local school, consider having them choose a school located in your state, even if it means a commute or having to live in a dorm. In-state tuition costs are typically much less expensive than a similar education in another state. 

Take advantage of the internet

Online educational opportunities have expanded exponentially over the past decade, as distance learning has gained more credibility and acceptance. In fact, it is now possible to get a full degree online in some fields of study. Even if your child uses online study for only a portion of their college courses, the savings can still be substantial by allowing them to shave one or more years off of a traditional college campus degree program. In some cases, high school seniors can enroll and take basic college classes while still in high school, which will cut down on the total cost of college after high school. 

Help them find a live-in work option

Another way to alleviate some of the burden of college expenses is for your child to secure a live-in work arrangement in the city where their college campus is located. Options for this type of work include:

  • providing childcare or nanny services during hours they are not in class
  • acting as a caretaker for an elderly or disabled person
  • providing tutoring, cleaning or cooking services
  • becoming a house or pet sitter for households who are traveling for long periods 

To find this type of work, consider placing ads in local newspapers or online classified sites, as well as contacting service organizations that work with seniors and the disabled. Parents should help their child screen all responses carefully, however, to help ensure that the potential work situations are reputable and safe for their child. 

Consider trade schools

An excellent way to slash the cost of college and reduce the likelihood of incurring student loan debt is to skip college and opt for a reputable trade school, instead. Trade schools, such as those that offer an electrician certification program, like HVAC Technical Institute, typically offer improved options for entry into high-paying, skilled trade employment opportunities. In today's economy, trade school graduates often experience better job opportunities than other young adults who invested thousands of dollars into a college degree and have struggled or been unable to find suitable employment in their field.  

Look for opportunities to apprentice

Another way for your child to build a secure future with good earning potential is to find a successful local business or craftsman and ask about opportunities to apprentice with them in an on-the-job training program. This is often a good way to learn skills such as cabinet making, welding, masonry or other skills that will enable your child to either take over the existing business or start one of their own, once their training is complete. 

About Me

Going to Trade School

When one of my friends started going to trade school, I found myself wondering if he would have a job by the time he finished his studies. However, when my buddy graduated, he was more successful than any of our other friends. He had a great job, he was his own boss, and he made a bunch of money. After seeing how successful he was, I decided to see about going to trade school myself. I investigated local schools in my area, and I found an awesome place that accepted the credits I had already earned. Check out this blog to learn more about trade school.