I need to go back to school, but how do I pay for it?

We expect to endure hard times when we lose our job. But what do you do when you are working full-time and you still cant pay the bills? Of course, the first step should be to tighten the budget and curb the spending. Next, consider consolidating your credit. But ultimately, increasing our earning power is the only thing that will improve your long term ability to meet and overcome financial distress and achieve your long term financial goals.

So how do we go about increasing our income? The law of supply and demand says we seek out positions that everyone uses but few are qualified to perform. These are usually the positions that require more schooling and specialized training which means your going to need money to pay for this.

Consider these sources when trying to fund additional schooling:

• Your current employer - Many companies have tuition reimbursement/assistance programs that will help pay for training in areas vital to the company's well-being. Some have no restrictions on what you study. Some companies offer scholarships for employees and their family members. Ask your HR rep.
• Employment Security Commission - Veterans who have recently separated, displaced workers, and others may be eligible to be re-trained in a growth industry at the government's expense. Contact your local unemployment office.
• Department of Social Services - If you receive public benefits, you may be eligible for subsidies that would pay for school and daycare if needed. Also there may be work training programs that offer paid training and apprenticeships through relationships with major employers.
• Local Unions - often offer paid apprenticeships in fields that require professional licensing and/or certifications. HVAC, plumbing, contractors, machinist often earn far above minimum wage once finished these trainings.
• Check with your church or other area faith based organizations.
• Companies/Organizations you do business with or have membership in. Your insurance carriers, sororities/fraternities, youth organizations etc.
• Start saving yourself and look for matching funds or ways to invest and grow the money over time. In NC, check out the College Foundation of North Carolina's website for info on 529 plans and other savings tool. (More to come on this topic, check index) Every state has one, so google 529 to find your states comparable site.

To start, talk with the financial aid department at the school you want to attend. Fill out the FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid to determine eligibility for most traditional need based student aid. Also if you are Heading Back to School? - Don't forget to find scholarships for college at FastWeb.com. FastWeb is the premier megasource for private educational funding opportunities and its FREE!!!! Also check out Upromise - Turn your everyday spending into college savings I joined seven years ago an have amassed $1129.00. Now that may not seem like alot but here's the kicker. At the beginning all i did was link my grocery store discount cards and my bank debit cards to my Upromise account. Then I forgot all about it until 8 months ago when i started the college search process with my daughter. I came across the Upromise site again and recalled having signed up. Luckily for me i am a creature of habit. I haven't changed m email and I only have like 3 passwords i use for everything. When i logged in to my surprise i had over a$1000 an I hadn't done anything. It was amazing! The only downside is that I could kick myself for not linking all the many other eligible opportunities to earn rewards. I have one so since and plan to use the process for my other girls. Check out the site for all the details.