Don't let money get you down...

Money is not a new concern when it comes to the life of a student. Heck, for the last few weeks of school, most of us start getting concerned with how we are going to pay for our student loans, where our next paycheck is going to come from, and how much money we think we are going to get from distant relatives for graduation. Still, it has hard not to become concerned about money when the prospect of not having it is constantly looming on the Horizon.

I suppose I should preface this by informing everyone that I have accepted admission to Drake University Law School, and put a down payment on an apartment, so I will have somewhere to live when I start in 11 weeks. Overall, it was a relatively expensive, yet productive trip, and I have to say that the school itself is pretty nice. While I know that it is a good investment in the future, as soon as they started going through the tuition prices, I have to say it was more than a little daunting.

While I am lucky enough to have family members that are able and willing to help me out with some of the tuition prices and rent, but that doesn't mean I'm home free. I did some basic budgeting yesterday, and while it is possible for me to make enough at the law firm over the next few weeks to live like a poor person for the next year, the prospect of paying all my bills, furnishing the basics of my new apartment, having enough for textbooks and getting to buy enough groceries is none-the-less daunting.

Still, I think the one thing that keeps me going on this ambitious career path is the idea that in the long run, it will all be worth it. Making a few cutbacks might be what is necessary to realize my desire to become an intellectual property attorney, plus it will be good for me to learn what living on a budget is like - very tight budget, granted. At the end of the day; however, it is important not to let financials keep you from pursuing something that you really want to do. As my father always says: "10 years from now, you won't even remember what you didn't have while working towards something you want to do."

So, as daunting as law school is going to be, it is something that I have to do. Will it be expensive? Heck yes. Will I have to make some sacrifices to make it possible? Undoubtedly.

Will it be worth it in the end? Absolutely.

Now, it is just a matter of working my butt off over the next few weeks to lessen the blow as much as possible. Do you have any money-saving tips? Post a comment and let me know!