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Midweek musings

I know a girl from the States, an international student over here, with a bunch of different student loans (most of them private). She was featured in an article in our student mag saying that her repayments on all of them, once she graduates, could be around $500 PER WEEK! That’s a full-time wage right there!

Stories like that make me so grateful to have been given a scholarship. My school was one of many with links to AUT, with two specific scholarships designated just for us. I earned one of them…and can’t actually remember who got the other one. Shame on me!

I’ve actually been meaning to write a thankyou note to the scholarships office; I finally did that a couple of months ago. I’m not sure if anyone would have even read it, but it was something I felt I should do because I’m going to graduate debt free, which is something not many can say.

Granted, my savings are pretty dismal. All up I have less than $4k – I’m owed close to a grand by ex-heinous-flatmate which I’ll never see, and a few hundred by T. But I’m going to be putting 4% into Kiwisaver, and I’m aiming to save 20% of my income. If T was working full time, this would be a lot higher, but c’est la vie.

Just by the by, (tentatively), he’s set his sights on an apprenticeship in automotive fabrication. Next step: creating a knockout CV and approaching potential employers. Any tips on how best to approach a busy workshop – phone, in person, etc, chime in! I’m thinking it would be best to call up, find out who makes the hiring decisions, and try to speak to them on the phone, followed by sending in a CV or a face to face meeting.

4 thoughts on “Midweek musings

  • Reply SS4BC December 3, 2009 at 09:11

    Wow, if your student loans are that high you’re DOING IT WRONG!

    I mean, if you have to borrow THAT much for school (and are not going to be a physician or a lawyer when you get out) then you’re just setting yourself up for disaster. Obviously she wasn’t realistic about what she could actually afford when she chose her school.

    Also, I think a thank you note is such a sweet idea. =)

    • Reply eemusings December 3, 2009 at 10:03

      Unfortunately, it’s super expensive to study in a foreign country, and her loans are based back in America. I don’t really know much of the details, but I would NOT be able to stomach payments like that! Our loan system here (residents) is way simpler – you can borrow all your tuition costs from the state, and a certain amount per week for living costs, plus up to a whopping $1k for course related costs. It’s not enough to live on, but the repayments are set at a certain percentage and you’re not dealing with multiple creditors, interest rates, etc.

  • Reply Amber from Girl with the Red Hair December 3, 2009 at 11:05

    Oh dear. Stuff like that makes me SO much more grateful that my parents have been so supportive of my post-secondary career!!

  • Reply me in millions December 3, 2009 at 15:28

    You should write a nice note! It will totally brighten someone’s day because I feel like they get yelled at all the time.

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