Basically, I survived on my financial aid and my babysitting job. In doing so, I have become very good at budgeting my money and not spending it on things I don't need. I live with my parents for free and help them pay the bills when I can. When I made the decision to go back to school, I knew there would be challenges, but I have shelter and food and I am grateful for that. Sometimes it's not easy to live here, especially when your younger brother also lives here and doesn't work or contribute to the household chores. It was very difficult last year when my mother lost her job and couldn't find one for a while, so the bills were piling up every month. His house was foreclosed on and I think our lights were turned out several times. But somehow we always manage to get through tough times like this. Some days, to save money on gas, I will stay at my boyfriend's house since he lives and works right next to MCC. I will also spend the night at my brother's house since he lives directly on campus. It's so easy to wake up and walk to school and it saves me a lot of money. Thank goodness for those two guys, without them I probably would have stopped going to school. I want small generosity like that, help me keep myself