A
female
age
36-40,
anonymous
writes:Hi not really a love question but anyway here goes. Im 21 ill be 22 next month and im at uni. I have another year to go and am already in debt with fees and everything. My problem is im dying to go travelling and I feel like everyone my age is going away but Im stuck at home. I feel like i havent done anything with my life and im being left behind. I cant go away this summer because im so broke and next year im gonna have to start working because i need to pay off my loan. im afrais that life is passing me by and by the time i get to go travelling im gonna be really old and the experience wont be the same. I know this might sound stupid but im getting really depressed about it. Ive only ever been on holidays to Europe and America before but ive never done any real gap year travelling. I had the chance to go to australia for a summer when i was 20 before the debts had mounted up and i didnt because my boyfriend was staying at home and i didnt wanna leave him. I regret it now. Any advice??
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female
reader, Emilysanswers +, writes (11 May 2008):
Type Summer Jobs into Google.
You can go fruit picking or get bar work or holiday camp work all over the world. You can get to Europe pretty cheaply one way, so you could get away form home and earn cash to hit the overdraft.
There is also cruise ship work which would mean you get to see the world and have a large chunk of pay when you get home.
Don't worry too much about your student loan, they never ask for it back. I'm 25 and I am only just starting to earn enough that I'm thinking about paying some back.
Get out there if you can but if you can't then dn't worry too much, there is all the time in the world for you yet.
Good Luck!! xx
A
female
reader, Twirly +, writes (11 May 2008):
 You're never too old Sweetie, I know it must feel crap at the moment but there are loads of options!
Firstly, you could find a summer job asap after this years ends, then use the money to go somewhere at the end of summer.
Second, you could work abroad somewhere this summer, start scouring for bar/waitress/casual jobs perhaps in Europe.
Third, you could plan to go away after you finish your final year by doing a similar thing, work for 2 months in a day job with perhaps a part time night job, and then go to somewhere like Australia where you'll be able to live in backpackers hostels and also do casual work.
If you set up a minimum payment scheme for your student loan then you can have your year of travelling and then settle down into a job when you get back. Loads of people I know did this, you can't be expected to pay a ton of money per month right away.
I definitely think you can manage to get away this summer, even if it's only a fortnight in Greece or Spain! I was in a similar situation to you after college and did exactly as I suggested, I worked 2 drappy jobs for 2 months and then buggered off to Australia and worked/backpacked over there!
The main thing with loans is that you keep them informed, it is worth calling them and chatting about your options, you can say that you are planning to move abroad for a year after college and ask if deferring your repayments for a year is an option? Or arrange some kind of minimum direct debit based on having no or little income.
Good luck, Im kind of saying all this off the top of my head here but I hope some of it is helpful! You deserve a holiday and Im sure you will get one somehow! xx
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