Should I use my student loans to go to the DC meet up?

[Wetzelbill]

As I am now considered a resident of Arizona, I only have to pay resident tuition, so I don't necessarily need student loans to cover my tuition, plus I have a decent surplus to boot. However, I am still offered them as part of my financial aid award.

Let's just say I would have enough to make it to DC for a few days.

It is tempting. For sure. :)

[terrya]

1. Let's just say this...the DC meetup doesn't happen every day.

Just sayin'. :-)

If there's no penalty to do this, then go for it, IMO.

[wallwriter]

2. With all respect intended, I disagree.

You don't realize what a huge burden student loans are until you have been paying them off for a number of years. Save the money if at all possible. Use it to reduce your debt.

[Wetzelbill]

15. I owe a lot already

so much I will not mention it right here.

40,000...... (higher)

[wallwriter]

66. If you spend foolishly now,

You will regret it for many years to come...

[JimmyJazz]

3. You mean we are FINALLY going to meet! *swoon*

:hi:

[terrya]

6. Yep.

:hi: :-)

[Shell Beau]

4. The way I look at is would you take out a loan to go to DC, b/c

that is basically what you are doing in a sense. If it is really worth it to you, then do it, but you could also use that money to pay back some of it!

[leftofthedial]

5. dude, like what's your major?

[Wetzelbill]

11. pretty useless double major

creative writing/Political Science

plus, I have a Video Production degree.

[leftofthedial]

13. then by all means use your loans to go to DC

It fits every category! You'll be furthering your edumacation.

[Wetzelbill]

37. I could maybe weasel some extra credit out of it...hmmmm.....nt

[leftofthedial]

52. it sounds like a creative political writing project to me!

write about all the drinking and debauchery parts

and report on the "bush sucks" parts by commenting on the rise of online political communities and their effect on politics . . .

[Mutley]

7. As long as you're not screwing yourself up by doing that then

HELL YES! Come to DC!

[Wetzelbill]

9. I'm staying with you

:)

[Mutley]

31. Rent is $100/night.

:rofl:

[Wetzelbill]

34. psh you better

be one helluva cook and give out plenty of back rubs in that case. :)

[Mutley]

38. If you mean cook as in order a pizza

and backrubs as in beer, then I gotcha. ;)

[Wetzelbill]

43. Sold!

[Mutley]

46. BAM!

[LynneSin]

8. Consider how much you THINK you're going to spend

If you can do this less than $1000, I say go for it.

If you do this and blow all of the student loans & surplus we'll think you're George Bush since that's what he would do

[LynneSin]

10. BTW, consider this - I think he could do the trip for under $500

Flight would be $208 Phoenix to BWI roundtrip.

We have people staying at the Braxton which is a Hostel/Hotel so the rooms are cheap. That would probably be another $60/night

He would then have $150 left for incidentals - food, metro, booze.

[Wetzelbill]

12. I know I was thinking it could be relatively cheap

[LynneSin]

16. I think if you keep it under $500 then you should

This is going to be a massive protest and probably the largest gathering of DUers to date. What I don't want is for you to spend money you don't have and get yourself into financial trouble. But if you're not looking to spend your accomadations on first class tickets, Four-SEason hotel and lobster 3 meals a day, then I think you could do it.

[Wetzelbill]

25. well, I wouldn't spend anything

other than my extra student loan cash, I wouldn't even touch my surplus cash from my other financial aid awards. I would be all paid up on bills, books and tuition before I'd even roll with this extra stuff. But, I also may have other commitments too, so I have to check those as well.

[Mutley]

32. You have no commitments more important than coming to DC.

I demand it! :D

[progmom]

14. that's a tough one

adding more debt is always a questionable decision. i hate being in debt.

[Wetzelbill]

19. no kidding

Plus, I may go to L.A. too. My friend was nominated for a Technical Emmy so he wants me to meet up with him and some of our director/producer friends there. I'm debating what I'll do.

[progmom]

22. yikes

tough choices.
is this the friend you did some work with on the short?

[Wetzelbill]

27. I did some with

him on a different short film. Actually, a couple different projects. I haven't seen him or my other struggling filmmaker friends in about 4 years this fall. So yeah, tough choices all around.

[LynneSin]

20. HE did say he had a surplus AND his tuition was covered

Even I checked out flight information and it was damn cheap. I'm half tempted to book a flight to Phoenix and hang out there for a few days, I expected the flight to be about $150 more than what I found

[Misunderestimator]

29. Well... A surplus that's not really a surplus... it's a loan.

If he doesn't spend it, he can use the money to pay back the loan.

I'm too risk averse... I wouldn't use a loan to pay for a trip like this. I just wouldn't. :shrug:

[Wetzelbill]

36. psh.....

you're just scared to meet me. :P

Intimidated by my maleness. (well, that does it, I'm not going since I may have just hastened imminent death)

:)

[Misunderestimator]

40. Right...

:crazy:

[LynneSin]

68. You saying you could scare MisU straight?

Hell, we'll take up a collection for that one! Wonder what the odds are?

[Wetzelbill]

70. oh no way could I even

compete with NSMA. Not in a million years. :) I'm not even in the same league. :)

[Wetzelbill]

39. although I should say I'm pretty risk averse myself.....

In the end, I may not be able to go through with it. :)

[Misunderestimator]

42. From another post, I understand you already have a hefty loan

stacked up against you ($40K!!). It just seems irresponsible to get yourself more into debt for this. Just my perspective.

[WCGreen]

17. Hell yea, I used my student loan for liquor and drugs....

[Wetzelbill]

21. jeez

I have been pretty good regarding that. Of course, I never started college until I was almost 25, I was relatively mature by then.

[WCGreen]

24. Didn't stop me........

You can learn more in one night sucking the delicious smoke out of a bong shaped like a pair of titties that you can from three Weeks in a physics class...

It's all just theories anyway....., Right!!!!!

[Wetzelbill]

28. hell yeah

you're a smart fucker that's for sure. Maybe I should listen to you more often. :)

Pass the pipe. :smoke:

[WCGreen]

33. Duuuuuude........

Yea, you better go Cause I am and I'll get to give you a head rub for not finding a treasurer yet.....

[Wetzelbill]

41. good lord

it seems everybody I try to contact has changed numbers or something. That's what I get for not keeping touch with people back home.

[liberalitch]

35. I'm not advocating sex, drugs and rock-n-roll for everyone....

...but it certainly worked for me! (I miss hunter)

[OldLeftieLawyer]

51. August 20

Keep that date in mind. HST gets launched.

We just got our Ralph Steadman t-shirts from the Flying Dog brewery. We're getting launched with him .................

[In_The_Wind]

18. will wonders never cease

AND here I thought we would never meet ~ IF it isn't going to cause you any lasting finical grief ~ YES! come to DC and meet everyone who can make the trip!

[Wetzelbill]

23. just a few hundred bucks

but I may have other engagements too. I may have to go to L.A. or Seattle for different reasons, so I don't know.

[In_The_Wind]

26. I'm sure you'll be welcome to share a room with some of the DUers.

where there's a will there's a way


come and join us in DC if you can


I'll even buy you a beer if you're there

[pdx_prog]

30. no....

for obvious reasons..:)

[Wetzelbill]

44. I should warn you all though. I'll probably get drunk and fight...

somebody like Charlie Rose or something. For DU's reputation you might want me to stay home. :)

[In_The_Wind]

47. Bill

I was married to a man who boxed in the Golden Gloves ... you'll never hit anyone without a reason. AND from what I've learned about you in our shared PMs .... you aren't likely to HIT anyone while you're with DU in DC.

[Wetzelbill]

48. I'm a former combat athlete and a short person...

never rule anything out. :)

[In_The_Wind]

50. have it your way

who am I to tell you anything




BTW .... I think short people are cool

[Wetzelbill]

54. we are cool

Just kind of wild and crazy.

However, I am pretty laid back now.

[SOteric]

45. No.

It's tempting and a worthy cause, but put the same monies in a high- interest account and you'll be that much farther ahead when it comes to paying the damned things off.

Sure, it's nice to meet fellow liberals. But paying off student loans has made all but slaves out of more than a few former students.

:hi:

[knowbody0]

49. consider it an education

please come to DC. smile from me

[enigmatic]

53. Do it

I'll tell Mom you're studying in the dorm:)

[Wetzelbill]

55. always trying to corrupt me

:evilgrin:

[enigmatic]

60. Seriously

It's up to you. If it were me, I'd probably head for Crawford instead, but that's just me. Just don't put yourself in a financial hole that you won't be able to get out of..

[stlsaxman]

56. Do it '60's style-

hitch hike, or share-a-ride, go w/ others, commune with the group... do all that hippie shit....

we need to re-establish the Yippies and the Panther Party et al...

ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE, PERIOD!

[Catchawave]

57. Definitely good use for your educational funds.....

...and maybe you can write a paper about your experiences! Is there a College Dem group? ROAD TRIP :woohoo:

[Mutley]

59. There IS a college group.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=239

[Mutley]

58. So, have you made a decision?

I'd love to meet you, but I understand the point a lot of people make here about using school loan money not being a good idea.

[Wetzelbill]

61. not yet.....

I have been leaning towards no all day though. :)

[Mutley]

62. Well, if you can't make it

then we need to arrange some sort of meeting for sometime. I think it would be fun.

[Wetzelbill]

64. well, I may be back there

for an internship. I will for sure if I don't win my election, but if I do then I'll maybe take an internship when in DC when I'm not in school and when the Lege is out of session, so I plan on being in DC at some point in the next year or two.

[Mutley]

65. Cool! Let me know when you're in town.

[Dastard Stepchild]

63. advice from someone who makes poor financial decisions

I would totally go. It won't be THAT much money, and it won't be what breaks you when you pay off your loans. So, were it me, my tickets would be booked already. But, as I warned above, I am always guilty of making somewhat poor financial decisions. But I have a fun life because of it. :)

Well...I have fun now. I'll be paying for it all later...

:scared:

[I Have A Dream]

67. Which of the following would you feel most strongly?

-- If you went to DC, kick yourself when you finally have to start paying off those loans and regret the money spent even though you got to meet all of the fellow Duers.

-- If you don't go to DC, kick yourself for not having gone and wish you had spent the money.


Use this to make your decision. My guess is that you'll go if you can arrange it time-wise.

[cmd]

69. No - organize something on campus

You will make a bigger splash that way, and save money.