Buying gear/paying for MSF and insurance with FAFSA money

[MrAtom]

So, my Financial Aid should be here within a few days, and I was wondering if I could buy motorcycle gear with it. I think I can, because it's part of my transportation to school, and I can't exactly be at school if I'm in the hospital. What do you think?

Also, I plan to pay for the cost of my MSF and insurance with it, but that's a little less iffy; it's more of a direct cost to my transportation to school.

What do you guys think?

[csmith12]

It's your $$$, do what you want with it.

[MrAtom]

Originally Posted by csmith12

It's your $$$, do what you want with it.

Well, no. It's money that's supposed to be put towards my college education. I could misspend it on anything because of how unenforced FAFSA money is, but I think it's bullshit to spend the money that was gifted to me on anything other than a college education. I think buying gear is justified with it, but I wanted a second opinion.

[csmith12]

No brah... been there done that. You spend it as you see fit. The gov. don't give 2 sh*ts either way as long as you pay it back. Simple as that really. AND.... you said it yourself, it was sent to you, not the college. Sure it comes with an earmark but again, nobody gives a crap but you.

ps.... it's not a gift if you have to pay it back w/ interest. If your talking the grants... then that is a different ethical question all together.

[csmith12]

If it's that much of an ethical dilemma for you, then decline any excess funding you get from aid and only take what you need to pay for classes. /problems solved....

[csmith12]

Sorry, I am not trying to be a douche or anything... I just gotz me somma dat down home KY common sense.

[MrAtom]

Originally Posted by csmith12

ps.... it's not a gift if you have to pay it back w/ interest. If your talking the grants... then that is a different ethical question all together.

Should have specified; it's a grant. Not a loan.

[csmith12]

Ah, I feel ya! I would decline any excess out of ethical reasons myself.

[Desmoluci]

Originally Posted by MrAtom

I think it's bullshit to spend the money that was gifted to me on anything other than a college education.

I think buying gear is justified with it,

Wait, what?

[tfkrocks]

I don't see a problem with it when the money is going directly to you. If you run out of money for school though that's on you.

[masashi02a]

buy what you need. if you need this to get to school then do so. just spend wisely meaning buy good stuff the first time around and dont get spend happy.

[LNasty]

On their website it says you can use the money for housing, food, and other living expenses, transportation and the cost of repairs for your transportation. I'm pretty sure gear is quite alright believe me. Back when I was in school and got a huge grant I used some of it to throw a massive kegger for my friends and a few hundred others. So I think your ethical thoughts are not bad just unwarranted. Get the gear, get the degree. I got mine and I will be paying back my loans for the next 20 years. At least I had a tiny bit of fun getting there.

[MrAtom]

Originally Posted by masashi02a

buy what you need. if you need this to get to school then do so. just spend wisely meaning buy good stuff the first time around and dont get spend happy.

I plan to get an Icon Overlord in textile, some RHOK pants and whatever brand boots. Overall, it'll still be cheaper than a car; I've done all the math.

[BoBO]

PO, FAFSA or Financial aid -Fees-tuition-books= Your money. You don't have to pay back GRANTS. The gov may put " The fear of God into you" but as long as you're passing your classes whatever that's left over is yours to spend or save.

[MrAtom]

Originally Posted by BoBO

PO, FAFSA or Financial aid -Fees-tuition-books= Your money. You don't have to pay back GRANTS. The gov may put " The fear of God into you" but as long as you're passing your classes whatever that's left over is yours to spend or save.

I'm kicking ass in all my classes, and I already had to spend a lot out of my pocket that I needed to save for when I move away. Plus, I'm a frugal person and I'll probably get stuff that's on sale, anyway :P

[masashi02a]

where in CA do you live? i have an icon overlord textile jacket im willing to part with for a small fee

[snot]

Wish I qualified for FAFSA, then I could take more than one class at a time . All the money I spend now for school would be at the track instead too.

[MrAtom]

Originally Posted by masashi02a

where in CA do you live? i have an icon overlord textile jacket im willing to part with for a small fee

PM sent!

Originally Posted by snot

Wish I qualified for FAFSA, then I could take more than one class at a time . All the money I spend now for school would be at the track instead too.

There's one dude in my English class that has to do the same thing because he's from out of state, and my English teacher often cancels class on short notice, or we'll only be in class for 15 minutes. While all the full-time students like me are all happy to leave, he's upset that he came there just for 15 minutes of class

[choneofakind]

...you're taking English still? Dude, are you a freshman?

Lol. Don't spend FAFSA dough on moto-junk. Save it for food senior year when you have to buy a suit for interviews or when you don't get that summer internship and don't make money, or when you have to take an unpaid internship and are already broke.

It's money intended for school. Use it as such. Hell, I just started full time work Co-op'ing and am pushing my senior year off a year. I'm giving my parents half my income to pay for tuition next year to help them out. I could buy a track bike or a badass car, but I'm not. Why? Because I'll have time and more money for that once I'm older with a real job. Might have to wait till I'm 50, but that's fine with me.

It's your money, use it how you see fit, but savings go further later on when you don't want to be the kid who's broke and bitching about money. No one likes that guy.

[dcj13]

If it doesn't seem the right thing to do, it's probably not the right thing to do.

Your most important possession is your good name.

Do well in school, stick it out, and get your degree! Good luck and best wishes!

[BoBO]

Originally Posted by MrAtom

I'm kicking ass in all my classes, and I already had to spend a lot out of my pocket that I needed to save for when I move away. Plus, I'm a frugal person and I'll probably get stuff that's on sale, anyway :P

That's good to hear, as long as you manage your money right, pick the right major, and land a job after school, your pretty much set. Depending on your field, you might want to invest $$$ on a few suits before you graduate, make sure their nice.

I'm in school as well, I work FT, go to school FT, and have my own place. It sucks my family doesn't help me, but that's less people for me to see during the holidays. Key word is FRUGAL and you hit the spot. BTW, whats your major? if you don't mind me asking.

[MrAtom]

Originally Posted by BoBO

That's good to hear, as long as you manage your money right, pick the right major, and land a job after school, your pretty much set. Depending on your field, you might want to invest $$$ on a few suits before you graduate, make sure their nice.

I'm in school as well, I work FT, go to school FT, and have my own place. It sucks my family doesn't help me, but that's less people for me to see during the holidays. Key word is FRUGAL and you hit the spot. BTW, whats your major? if you don't mind me asking.

Electrical engineering. I want a minor in computer programming, too.

[choneofakind]

Haven't started the minor, still taking english classes, and looking to spend FAFSA money on motorcycle stuff; yepp, my money is on you being a freshman.

Am I wrong? I'm curious now for the sake of pride in my guessing skills.

[Sirref]

go for it, I know a guy who took his money and got himself a house (not a particularly good house but it's his) and a truck which he used to start up his first small business, was a general workman. Basically he did tile/basic electric stuff/etc and he did it cheap partially because he wasn't legally qualified to do some of the work but he knew how to anyway. Never took a single class at any university and paid the loan well within the expected time frame. He never heard anything of it.

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Haven't started the minor, still taking english classes, and looking to spend FAFSA money on motorcycle stuff; yepp, my money is on you being a freshman.

Am I wrong? I'm curious now for the sake of pride in my guessing skills.

could be a sophmore, not into the important jr/sr classes though fosho if taking english

[MrAtom]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Haven't started the minor, still taking english classes, and looking to spend FAFSA money on motorcycle stuff; yepp, my money is on you being a freshman.

Am I wrong? I'm curious now for the sake of pride in my guessing skills.

Yep. Also, to be fair, I'm only looking to spend money on motorcycle stuff because my truck is on its last legs and I'd rather spend a few hundred bucks on a motorcycle I already bought than even more money on another car. And, I technically have started my minor; C++ programming counts towards both :P

[tfkrocks]

Originally Posted by Sirref

go for it, I know a guy who took his money and got himself a house (not a particularly good house but it's his) and a truck which he used to start up his first small business, was a general workman. Basically he did tile/basic electric stuff/etc and he did it cheap partially because he wasn't legally qualified to do some of the work but he knew how to anyway. Never took a single class at any university and paid the loan well within the expected time frame. He never heard anything of it.

That's different from receiving grant money though.

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by tfkrocks

That's different from receiving grant money though.

it was from fafsa, figured it was a relevant enough situation

[choneofakind]

nailed it! my online life is now complete.

[tfkrocks]

Originally Posted by Sirref

it was from fafsa, figured it was a relevant enough situation

you still pay back loans though no matter the source (or you're supposed to anyway lol). yeah lower interest, but still not the free money like grants are. also, i'm pretty sure with grants, they just come as a package deal and you don't just opt to receive a portion of it whereas you aren't required to take out the maximum amount of loans they'll allow for you.

[tfkrocks]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

nailed it! my online life is now complete.

time to retire from ninjette

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by tfkrocks

time to retire from ninjette

Better buy that R6 I earned this summer. Although, I'm thinking WR250X instead. I've got me some hooligan itch to scratch.

[KawiKid860]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Haven't started the minor, still taking english classes, and looking to spend FAFSA money on motorcycle stuff; yepp, my money is on you being a freshman.

Am I wrong? I'm curious now for the sake of pride in my guessing skills.

I'm in an english class, I'm a junior, sooo.... it's 400 level so right where I should be pretty much. English doesn't automatically mean 101

[tfkrocks]

Originally Posted by KawiKid860

I'm in an english class, I'm a junior, sooo.... it's 400 level so right where I should be pretty much. English doesn't automatically mean 101

but what's your major? engineering majors don't exactly need higher level english courses, hence chone's reasoning.

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by KawiKid860

I'm in an english class, I'm a junior, sooo.... it's 400 level so right where I should be pretty much. English doesn't automatically mean 101

But he already said he was EE. I took 1 English class because it was required. Go figure, it was a creative writing class and it actually did bad things for the writing I've done since.

Technical reports =/= creative writing.

[Hero Danny]

Spend the money for gear. What else would you spend the money on anyway? Like you said, if your bike is your main transportation then you can justify that it is something you need for your bike.

When I was in Community college I remember they would send me a check for about $500 even after paying for everything, it was great. I would pretty much just either save/blow the $500 but oh well lol.

Now I am in a 4 year school and am trying to scrimp by. Don't take that "free-money" for granted.

P.S my major is IT, + a few certs.

[choneofakind]

...uh. food? tuition? school supplies?

[BoBO]

Originally Posted by MrAtom

Electrical engineering. I want a minor in computer programming, too.

Nice, that sounds good. I have an AA in (Bus) and 1 year away from getting my BS in Bus Admin w/ emphasis in Accounting. What CSU or university are you enrolled at?

[BoBO]

Originally Posted by Sirref

go for it, I know a guy who took his money and got himself a house (not a particularly good house but it's his) and a truck which he used to start up his first small business, was a general workman. Basically he did tile/basic electric stuff/etc and he did it cheap partially because he wasn't legally qualified to do some of the work but he knew how to anyway. Never took a single class at any university and paid the loan well within the expected time frame. He never heard anything of it.

I knew a guy who did that, no certifications at the time but knew how to work on houses. The guy just lived off of working on hardwood floors, and building houses. The guy had many side jobs at the time, and now he is qualified and starting his own construction company.

[BoBO]

Originally Posted by KawiKid860

I'm in an english class, I'm a junior, sooo.... it's 400 level so right where I should be pretty much. English doesn't automatically mean 101

+1 that's right, it all depends on the major your shooting for. I got English out of the way before I transferred to a 4 year. Sometimes people take English or whatever just to maintain a full-time schedule for various reasons, especially if the school you are attending is impacted.