[hillbillyrockstar]

Just as a warning, this is a long post, so if your not in the mood to give financial & life type advice, it prolly isn't for you...

Anyways......

I know it's rough times out there; (ecspecially right now in Michigan) A lot of people are probably feelin the squeeze on their finances and whatnot. I know I am, and I know I make less than some people, but I also know I make more than a lot. With that in mind, I have realized, that in order to move ahead in my career (firefighter), and make more money and get on a department that is busier to gain more experience, I need to go back to school, especially while I am still relatively young, (I'm 23). I looked and looked all around up by Traverse City, where I work now, and can't find shit in the line of classes that are being offered that will work with my current work schedule, (M-F; 4PM-12AM). I've tried talkin to my bosses to do trades/get time off/leave of absence, etc, all to no avail. Basically it comes down to this. Unless I can find a medic class that works into my scehedule, (which I can't), I need to quit my current job in order to pursue that dream.

So that's what I plan on doing.

I am planning on going back to school this fall. I am signed up for Macomb Community College's paramedic ACADEMY style class. My deposit for the class is already paid so I am in for sure. It starts on October 13. For those who don't know the difference between a "normal" style medic class and the "academy" style I am signed up for, here's the difference. The normal class is about a year long, meets twice a week, (4-6 hours at night usually), starts in August and gets done the following August, and is considered to be 12 credit hours through the college. The academy class I am in lasts about 6 months, starts in October and ends next April, and is 5 days a week, for 8 hours per day. I signed up for the academy because I want to get it done as quick as possible and am planning on quitting my job in order to do it.

I know this sounds like a fawkload of time in school....(which it is)....

And I know what a lot of you must be thinking....you can't work while in that class.....(which is also true, for the most part).....and how are you going to live and pay for shit with no money comin in while in that class?

Well here's what I am planning. Right now, I have 3 jobs and may have a 4th. I am a fulltime firefighter, I do carpentry part time, and just got a job working at Target part time unloading cargo trucks. Here's my schedule right now:

Sun: 4AM-9AM- Target- unloading cargo trucks

Mon-Friday: 4AM-9AM- Target- unloading cargo truck
9:30 AM-2:30PM- Carpentry side jobs
4PM-12AM- Fire Department

Sat: 4AM-9AM- Target- unloading cargo trucks

I know that I'll only be able to sleep a couple hours a nite between my Fire Dept. job and Target, but that's o.k. cuz' I can crash a couple hours while at the fire station while waitin for calls n whutnot.

Here's the part I'm lookin for advice on from all you "financially wise" people out there.....I am going to do some serious saving in order to be able to support myself while in the medic class. The following is a list of my income and expenses.

Here'z about whut I make a week- (take home/after taxes, give/take a couple dollars):

Fire Department- $450 (salaried)
Carpentry- $300 (ish)
Target- $235 (ish)

Weekly Total from above-$985 (possible only if I get that many hours at my 2 part time jobs above)

Realistic Total- $7-800 ?? (This is due to rain days at carpentry job, and hour cutback wherever)

Now knowing that I have around $750 a week coming in, which adds up to $3000 a month, here are my weekly expenses.

Rent(util. incl.)- $100
Truck Pmt.- $37.50
Gas- $100....Grrrrrr
Insurance- $17
Phone- $25
Food- $35
Credit Card Pmts-$100

TOTAL----------$414.50

These are my expenses. All of them. Per week. I'm being completely honest.

I have around $1800 in credit card debt that I'd love to have paid off by October 13, and I Know that prolly won't happen, especially only paying about $100 a week on all of it. I really should be paying like double that, but I need to be realistic here. The reason it's that high, (or low) depending on who you're talking to, is because I had to put some of my school tuition on it along with my books. Yea, it got used for some other shit, but that's the biggest part. Some people might think it's stupid of me or whatever, but hey, ya gotta do what ya gotta do, right? And I figure, if I'm gonna charge something, college isn't the worst thing I could use it for.

Anyways, knowing that I bring home around $335.50 after I put what I need to put, ($414.50) towards my bills, that adds up to $1,342 in a month in savings, and remember, that is underestimating the money I will bring home.

Total for 2 months saved comes up to $2,684.

Now keeping in mind that I have $2,684 saved, I will still have to pay some bills while I am going to school. Stuff I can't avoid. I am moving back in with my parents....grrrrr.....while going to school, (which I actually am very grateful for), so rent & food will not be an issue. I do however have some other things that I need to pay for while in class still. Here is that list per month;

Truck Payment- $150
Truck Insurance-$ 80
Gas- $400
Phone- $100
Credit Card Bills $100

This adds up to $730/month I need to come up with. The money I have saved up will cover me for about 3 months into this, then I will be broke.

So what I am looking for is advice from people who have had to make major cuts on the expenses side of their budget. Here are a couple things I have thought up that I could do to cut back on my expenses.

Take my phone, and sign up for the cheapest, lowest price plan I can through Verizon, which I think is around $40 a month or something, which actually comes out to be around $50 a month after taxes/insurance, etc.

For gas, I figure I can save a ton, because I have a buddy who drives from Port Huron (where I will be living while going to this class), to his job (which is about a 1/4 mile from the location of my class). He said he might be able to drive me to and from class if I covered 1/2 of the gas. I drive a Z-71 and he's got a Monte Carlo, so gas would be about a 1/4 as much per week for me....since he pays about 1/2 what I pay, and I'd be paying 1/2 of that.

If I didn't have to drive my truck for the time being, I figured I could eliminate the insurance on it. But then I remembered I need to do clinicals and to get to those, that requires me to have a vehicle to drive.

And credit card bills simply can't be avoided....but FOR THE TIME BEING WHILE IN CLASS TO CONSERVE THE LIMITED MONEY SUPPLY I WILL HAVE, I can pay double or triple my minimum. Yes, this will be less than I am paying now, but it is still a good deal above the minimum and even with the interest being carged, I will at least be makin a dent in the principle, while in class.

So after taking into consideration the areas I figured I could cut costs on my budget, here is the revised expense list.

Truck Payment- $150
Truck Insurance-$ 80
Gas- $100
Phone- $ 50
Credit Card Bills $100

The new total is about $500/month in expenses....or $3000 total for 6 months with absolutley no income. That is pretty close to what I will have saved by the time class rolls around on October 13.

I figure I am working about as much right now as one can safely work, but I may have 1 more job poppin up here in the next couple weeks workin on Fridays and Saturdays at a bar collectin beer bottles bein a bottle bitch. That might help a little extra. Plus, while in class, I may be able to get a part time job on 1 or 2 nites a week and maybe one day a weekend to help take the squeeze off a little. We'll see what happens. I don't plan on buying ANYTHING outside of what I got budgeted above. No clothes. No movies. No dinner dates with the girlfriend. Nothing. I know it's gonna be the suck. Big time. But she understands and I know the payoff will be worth it.

Some people brag that they worked while doing this, but those are also the ones who usually arn't certified or arn't very good at what they do....and in my line of work, if you're not good at what you do, it's not only the company, it's product and your reputation that take a beating, but most of all, the patient you're workin with. And for me, that's just not fuckin good enough. That's why if at all possible, I don't want to work if I don't have to while doing this class.



Congratulations if you made it this far! I know this prolly seems like a lot of personal shit to put up on a board like this, etc.....but I am an open minded person looking for any and all advice you guys can give up. Also, if anyone has done this medic academy at Macomb or anything similar or had to make MAJOR budget constraints like this, post up, I'm all ears, or eyes....whatever!

 

[xjmichigan]

Just a question, do you currently have a state emt-b license?


Just remember after actually passing the academy with a 80% you must be able to pass the National Registry Exam that kicks a lot of people's ass.
During the times in the Academy it takes total determination with no spare time for a girlfriend or sig. other at most times. It's a hard road to travel with a bright light at the end.

 

[hillbillyrockstar]

Just a question, do you currently have a state emt-b license? Just remember after actually passing the academy with a 80% you must be able to pass the National Registry Exam that kicks a lot of people's ass. During the times in the Academy it takes total determination with no spare time for a girlfriend or sig. other at most times. It's a hard road to travel with a bright light at the end.

I have been a Nationally Registered EMT-Basic for the last year and a 1/2. I currently work for a Fire Department right now up by Traverse City as a full time firefighter/EMT-Basic and have been for about a year.

About the significant other......we'll see. We have been together for about 3 months with her livin in Port Huron and me up here. Pretty much suckz, I'll be honest, but she's worth it, and apparently she thinks the same of me. I told her if we can stay together bein 250 miles apart, and then through my medic academy and her goin to school for her masters in the next year, we outta be ok. We'll see though.

And yea, from everyone I talk to, the medic academy is a tough road. Sometimes I think the only people who can truly understand how tough it really is, are those who have gone through it or another, academy style 8 hour a day, 5 day a week, 6 month long class.

Ya sound like someone who has done this academy before. Any truth to that?

 

[Monkeyevil]

You are a man. That is all I have to say.

 

[hillbillyrockstar]

You are a man. That is all I have to say.

Not really sure what ya meant by this, but either way, thanks bro....

 

[xjmichigan]

I have started at MFR with SOM FF/I/II to the almighty EMT-P. When you make your decisions to goto the academy, feel free to ask for advice.

 

[hillbillyrockstar]

From above:

Also, if anyone has done this medic academy at Macomb or anything similar or had to make MAJOR budget constraints like this, post up, I'm all ears, or eyes....whatever!

When you make your decisions to go to the academy, feel free to ask for advice.

I am going fosho.....I'm all for any advice....hook me up. I've been reviewing my Basic books and whatnot and my books are all on order right now and should be here tommorrow or the next day and when they come, I'm gonna start reading through them. What else advice would ya give? Did you do the academy style class through Macomb?

 

[hillbillyrockstar]

still lookin for any and all advice ppl might have.....keep it comin....

 

[Blonde with a doggy]

I took my medic in 1996. I called it the 6 month power-medic course. I was in class for 12 hours, one day a week, worked full-time and finished up all my clinicals with a month left in class.

If you are eligible for a student loan, I would consider it. The interest rates are low and you don't have to start repaying until you stop going to school for 6 months. It will take the pressure off having to work as much as you're considering and you can pay that off relatively quickly once you are employed after graduation. You will need the time you are looking at working to apply yourself to your studies. Like you said, you mess up in this field, people can die. You can't take those mistakes back.

I took the National Registry after being a medic for 10 years. I was more scared to take that test than I was to work on any patient I have taken care of. Once it was over with, I realized I stressed myself out way more than necessary. I passed all of my practical stations on the first try.

Best of luck to you. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.

 

[lilwhitejeep]

You are a man. That is all I have to say.

That is a lot of work and responsability for a young guy, that in it's self is commendable. The next time you see big dumb Jeremy over there at the station, kick him in the nuts for me. LOL

Good luck to you my friend, determination is what is sorely lacking in most young people and you've got that smoked, stay motivated.

 

[hillbillyrockstar]

If you are eligible for a student loan, I would consider it. The interest rates are low and you don't have to start repaying until you stop going to school for 6 months. It will take the pressure off having to work as much as you're considering and you can pay that off relatively quickly once you are employed after graduation. You will need the time you are looking at working to apply yourself to your studies. Like you said, you mess up in this field, people can die. You can't take those mistakes back.QUOTE]

Yea, I've thought about it, and I just may do it if it looks like I'll be running low on cash at the end, but like I said, I really don't wana work at all throughout the academy, so I'mma do what I can till then. I just wana be that one guy who goes through college without any student loans if at all possible....I know, sounds kinda stupid, but w/e, ya know?

Thanks for the good aadvice and kind words guys. Keep it rollin in.

 

[Stan]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that a firefighter only makes $450.00 a week.

 

[Fatty Matty]

Good for you on being motivated and wanting to get somewhere in life. Most of the jackasses your age can barely hold a job, let alone want to further themselves. Especially all those slackers/trustfunders around TC.

Save yourself the stress of worrying about money and take out a student loan.

 

[brandonfiremedic]

If you can do it now, get it done. Requirements are only going to get tougher in the next couple of years. Once you get your Registry keep it up with the CE's. They are hiring the sh*t out of medics down south and pay a bit more.

I hope the 450/week is take home pay!

 

[hillbillyrockstar]

That is a lot of work and responsability for a young guy, that in it's self is commendable. The next time you see big dumb Jeremy over there at the station, kick him in the nuts for me. LOL

Good luck to you my friend, determination is what is sorely lacking in most young people and you've got that smoked, stay motivated.

You talkin bout Metcalf? I try n kick him in the nuttz any and every chance I get....

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that a firefighter only makes $450.00 a week.

Yea, its uh.....hard to swallow sometimes, but thankfully, I knew this before I got into this line of work. Some guys don't really think about it and it surprises them when they're first couple paychecks come. Don't understand how it can surprise you if you know ahead of time what you're gonna be making....

Most of the jackasses your age can barely hold a job, let alone want to further themselves. Especially all those slackers/trustfunders around TC.

Save yourself the stress of worrying about money and take out a student loan.

Yea, it's honestly been tough meetin people I can relate to up here cuz' it's hard to look past the fact that so many of em are slackers livin on the coattails of their folks. But there are a couple guys I met who are pretty chill and real.

Like I said, we'll see when October comes how my finances are lookin, but till' then, Imma bust my fat hairy white Irish ass so hopefully I won't have to do the Student Loan thing.

If you can do it now, get it done. Requirements are only going to get tougher in the next couple of years. Once you get your Registry keep it up with the CE's. They are hiring the sh*t out of medics down south and pay a bit more.

I hope the 450/week is take home pay!

Yea, the 450s take home. Not bad pay, but not stellar either. Keep in mind, I'm still rather new to the department I'm on. (About a year). So $30K a year starting out really isn't that bad. There are no raises tho really so to spaek, cept' for a cost of living raise every year, which equates out to MAYBE 1-2%, so therefore, in about 10 years, I'll still only be making $32K-$33K a year. And that, I do have a problem with; especially when I know that most unionized Metro Detroit area Fire Dept.'s, along with Traverse City all pay their Firefighters about double that after 10 years when they're maxed out. And there are no pay increases for if you make Lieutenant, Captain or Assistant Chief.

BTW, where you at Brandon? What department you on?

 

[94bronc]

what department are you on up there?

 

[brandonfiremedic]

BTW, where you at Brandon? What department you on?

Brandon Fire Department, Ortonville Michigan. FireMedicDave is on here too.

 

[hillbillyrockstar]

Wel, I ended up getting into the medic academy and am about 5 weeks into it now. We just started going over cardiology last week and I love it. The money situation is tight as fuck, but I definitely made a good decision. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone who can swing it if you are looking to get your paramedic license and want to get it done fast. Thanks for all the good advice and questions everybody. I should be all wrapped up with it around next March, so this will put me big time ahead. Again, thanks for all the advice and whatnot.

Zach

 

[oz97tj]

Good luck!

 

[Blonde with a doggy]

Best of luck. I wouldn't give up being a Paramedic for anything. :thumb: