College is Done! So What Comes Next?

You’ve finished school and you’re finally facing the bright and shiny future that everyone assured you would come with a college degree.  There’s only one little spot of tarnish…you can’t find a job!  You’re beginning to fear that you may have to spend the rest of your adult life waiting tables without ever making a noticeable dent in your student loans.  And you can just forget about buying a house (or a car that starts on the first try).  So what can you do to start paying off the black hole of debt that you amassed in college when you can’t even enter your chosen field?

Luckily, there are all sorts of options available to graduates seeking work (outside the food service industry).  You just need to know where to look.  To begin with, reaching culmination is an honor that speaks to no small amount of skill on your part.  You not only have staying power, you are also inclined to scholarly pursuits.  Why not put your credentials to good use?  Consider tutoring.  Businesses like Sylvan Learning Center (http://tutoring/sylvanlearning.com), which tutors kids in all subjects, and The Princeton Review (http://www.princetonreview.com), which offers test preparation services (SAT, PSAT, ect.) are always looking for college students or recent graduates.

Or if you like working with children, elderly, or handicapped, consider spending a few years as a caregiver.  This is an excellent way to save money (as it often includes room and board along with exceptional pay) and now is the time to do it, while you are still young and unattached.  You may even be able to travel.  Families in other countries often seek English-speaking nannies for their children (either for tutoring or because they are English speakers themselves).

If, however, you are determined to hold out for your dream job and are content to remain inequitably employed in the meantime, consider the ways in which you can cut costs.  For starters, learn to clip coupons and stop eating out.  Sure, you got stuck with fast food when you lived in the dorms and there was no other option, but now that you have a stove, learn to cook and like it.  You can save a ton of money by eating at home.  Super-saver tip: buy generic and get a club card at your local supermarket.  Next, park your wheels.  Cars are expensive.  Between gas, parking, and repairs, you are spending a lot that you could easily cut down by hoofing it, traveling by bike, or even taking public transportation.

Finally, and most importantly, pay extra on your loan whenever you can!  Pay your monthly dues with one check, then cut another and write “apply to principal” in the memo line.  This will go directly towards paying off the money you borrowed, not the interest.  Over time this will actually reduce what you pay in interest and it could save you a lot of money in the long run.

Guest post by Sarah Harris, of Zen College Life, the premier directory for online colleges. Find out more information about an online nursing degree.