running out of options

the deadline for gab to head back to college is fast approaching and i'm worried that we won't have the money for her to go. the financial burden is double what the fafsa said it would be. even with the extra money from my parent plus loan being rejected, the amount i need to come up with is a thousand dollars more then last year, plus books, plus expenses. i just don't think we will be able to cut it.

i have to call the school again and see where they are on the parent plus loan application. my terrible credit is really biting my kid's future in the ass right now. i had no concept of what credit was in college, so i took every credit card i was offered. i had to file bankruptcy within a year after graduation.

i limped along. and things were somewhat better when the layoff's started. 3 times in 2 years. the credit cards got maxed out, then i couldn't pay them, then they defaulted and now i'm being garnished to pay them off. and my credit is worse then it has ever been. i had hoped she could take out a private loan on her own, but she has no credit, so they wouldn't give it to her. she needs a co-signer. unfortunately, the entire family has suffered the last couple of years and no one has the credit score needed to co sign with her.

i hate to think she has to give up her dream or even alter it's course, but i'm running out of options. even if she gets a job on campus that will only cover expenses, not tuition. i barely paid the bill last year, if it hadn't been for a big tax return, i'd still owe the school money. i'm praying for a miracle and hoping for one too, but with our luck, she'll have to drop out, and get a real job, and work and save to go back after a year off. she hates the idea, but as i told her, life doesn't always go the way you want it too.