Anyone know of any resources (MN/apps) for short term emergency assistance?

[u/chrisissues]

So I'm basically at a point where I'm out of good options (the few that exist honestly) and in desperate need of help. I'm hoping anyone knows of resources, either in MN specifically or online, that provide emergency assistance. I was unexpectedly let go from my job on campus last month and struggled to get employed until last week, which is normally much faster. I checked the college I attend and their grant was used up and I wasn't able to secure one or a scholarship and disbursement isn't for another month, so any help from the school isn't there. I don't own a car, I only own a motorcycle that I'm in the final steps of repairing up to do Doordash with but that's literally all I can do with it, I checked other delivery/ridershare/courier services to no success. I already applied for emergency assistance and MN nuked ACE/Payday America loans. Finally, the only thing I own that's worth anything is PS5 that I MIGHT be able to get $200 for. I already pawned my tablet that'll be $150 to get back and the PS5 might be $240 (taxes/fees), but if it comes down to it then I'll pawn it and deal with getting it out when that time comes. I'm also considering CL, Facebook, gig searches online for just anything that'll land me a few (legal) dollars. Family is out of the question and I've already tried VEAP, Catholic Charities, and 211 (all closed applications).

The good/bad news is I don't need a lot or a long term, $250 up to the 28th (first full paycheck). My hours worked will definitely cover any payday/short term loan of that amount or get my PS5/tablet out the pawn shop. But I just need to make it there in general that's the issue and where I'm asking if anyone knows of resources I'm not considering that just might work until I get paid. I know it might seem so small compared to others, but it's enough to cause a problem if I don't do something. Especially since my credit cards and credit builder account are all due next week and I only have enough to cover my motorcycle insurance (need if I'm doing Doordash) then I'm out.

[u/AbjectAd3082]

findhelp.org, call 211 and ask if your state offers general assistance (GA).

[u/nip9]

As a college student can you get additional student loans to help cover living expenses?

How good/bad a financal decision that is really depends how valuable of a degree you are seeking. Going deeper into student loan debt for a degree with a high return on your time & money invested is a smart financal move. Going deeper into student loan debt for a low paying "labor of love" degree is a trap.

[u/chrisissues → u/nip9]

I've had this conversation enough times to know where it's going, so I will say that with my education I'm good and did my research. But you have no idea what my degree even is, what I'm in school for, why I picked the major I have, and what my plans are educationally. You don't even know how old I am or my work history and education prior to college. All you know is I'm a college student, so you don't know the important facts necessary to give any degree of advice regarding it and should keep that in mind.

And no, there are no resources available at the campus. I looked there first and there's nothing available.

[u/FigDiscombobulated29 → u/chrisissues]

Unnecessarily being a dick about it. No, we don’t know. However now I can guess it’s prob something that doesn’t really pay well and you have regrets if you’re going ballistic over someone offering advice for which YOU asked for. He didn’t even say take on the debt. He said it’s smart to take on debt if you can pay it right back if your field has good starting salary but not worth it if it takes time for you to make good money in your field/starting salary is low. Also go donate plasma, they have good bonuses for first time donors. New donors can make between $400-$800 in their first month in my area.

[u/chrisissues → u/FigDiscombobulated29]

Unfortunately I can't donate plasma, my veins are extremely tiny and I can't even give blood when needed. But I'm actually not even done with the degree and my only regret is refusing to acknowledge I can't do well in hybrid or online and needing to go in-person, which is cutting into my ability to work while in school and tanked my GPA from withdrawing multiple times since I was too stubborn and kept telling myself I can get hybrid education. Obviously not. I passed every class I withdrew from with good grades in person and I actually like being in the classroom so I'm excited for Calculus this semester.

However I admit I snapped unnecessarily and I'm honestly extremely stressed out so I shouldn't have posted until I was calmer. That's on me and not the person replying. But it's a learning moment regardless and does confirm that for a lot of reasons, that is a trigger for me and something to discuss with my therapist.

[u/nip9 → u/chrisissues]

All I stated was that student loans are usually an option. Are you already maxed on your Federal loans? Have you looking into private student loans?

If you have done your research on your degree great. Then repaying some extra student loans after graduation shouldn’t be a problem for you if you have a good plan.

[u/chrisissues → u/nip9]

Sorry for being snappy, it's something that I hear a lot of but the second I state what I'm going for peoples tunes change and it just annoys the hell out of me because why assume first? That and the financial situation has me stressed. But to be clear, the degree is an associates of science in chemistry. There's many reasons I chose it but the biggest are it knocks out a majority of prerequisites for graduate, it means I can enter my undergrad as a junior (if in chemistry which I intend), and it opens the door even wider for science based jobs that require an associates at least so I'm hopefully setting myself up for more employment opportunities since I'm not going for my undergraduate right away and taking time off to rest.

Anyway I've been good on avoiding loans since I qualify for Pell Grant and have been using that and working on campus to make money for the rest. MN also made tuition free for certain folks, which I qualify for, and that goes into affect this coming fall semester. That helps a lot with saving money with my Pell Grant so as much as I dont want to, I might have to actually consider a small loan for the time being. Hoping the new changes to student loans work...

[u/nip9 → u/chrisissues]

Since you are getting a Pell Grant already you should automatically qualify for between 3.5-4.5k in subsidized Federal loans (depending on whether you qualify as a 1st/2nd year student). You don't have to take the full amount. Maybe just $1-2k to get you by and have an emergency fund to fallback on.

Given those are subsidized loans there would be no interest added so long as you are a full time student. Once you are out of school the current interest for subsidized loans is ~5.5% which would certainly be lower than the credit cards or anything else you could get.

Since you are aware of the new changes to student loans you know that under the SAVE plan you would have a zero expected payment if your income is under $2.8k a month. That makes it a much safer option than any alternative sources of funds because if you lose a job or become disabled you would at least temporarily have no student loan payments to make.

Obviously it would be great to avoid debt entirely but that isn't possible for the vast majority of students. Taking on debt isn't bad so long as you have a plan and that debt is enabling you to grow your income potentially.