Questions regarding paying for transition

[ItachiUchiha]

Ok, so I am 19 (well in 10 days I will be) and I am looking to transition (mtf). I haven't yet gone to a gender therapist or told anyone, but I'm planning on coming out to my mom this weekend and looking for a gender therapist then, so that's not the question. The problem is, I am in college without a job and my mom is just barely being able to pay for things like insurance and gas for me. There is no way either or us could pay for hrt, therapy sessions, or anything like that. My dad left a couple years back, so it's just us.

I have been looking for a job, but no one here is hiring and I can only work weekends anyway, so if I did get hired I wouldn't get payed much anyway. My week is busy to the point of I don't get home until 7-9pm and have class every morning at 8am. So a job during the week is out of the question.

So, any ideas on how to pay for all this? I can't wait because it is eating away at me and the sooner the better as far as results. Also, I can't drop out of college because I have a couple scholarships and it is a life goal to finish college.

So, any ideas here? I feel like this is an impossible task just money wise, not to mention everything else. I'm stressed out and just need some ideas. Is this just an impossible situation? If anyone else went through a similar situation, what did you do? Thanks!

[King Malachite]

You could take out a loan but I could understand if you would not want to do that.

You could cut down spending on any hobbies you may have or how much you eat out etc.

Put all your change in a piggy bank and even look on the ground for change.  I do that proudly.

Sell unwanted items on Ebay or if you don't want any fees involved go with Craigslist.

This is a stretch but you could do some gigs online at fiverr.com for $5 per gig.

If you have a talent you could sell that such as making arts and paintings and selling them or if you can cook well sell the food you cook or fix things for a price.

You could look into public transportation and start taking public transits to your college.  In my area students ride for free.

As far as saving for surgery if you plan on having any I say take it one surgery at a time to save for so you won't overwhelm yourself.

[Catherine Sarah]

So, any ideas here? I feel like this is an impossible task just money wise, not to mention everything else. I'm stressed out and just need some ideas. Is this just an impossible situation? If anyone else went through a similar situation, what did you do? Thanks!

Hi ItachiUchiha,

To answer your question as to whether yours is an impossible situation, the answer is plainly - No-

With the right attitude and determination (similar to the one you have about college) NOTHING is impossible. If you get a job on the weekend, you'll be paid. (50% of something beats a 100% of nothing) Every single thing you do that takes you forward in this journey (irrespective of how small it may be) is an accomplishment within itself, worthwhile of celebration. Even finding the name of a TG friendly therapist. Is there a counselor at college that you can talk to about your concerns?

What free time do you have during the day? Is it regular where you could offer your time to work part-time? Anything. Mowing lawns, letter box deliveries, shopping centre deliveries, tutoring or something that can be worked part time. Map your weekly timetable out, see where you can do work on your journey, refine it, stick to it, and before long you'll get there.

For you to transition, it's going to take at least 2 year minimum to attain all the prerequisites necessary for GCS, and with the right plan in front of you, it is highly achieveable. It's a little bit like, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

There are no free lunches on this journey, and it simply requires you to do everything possible and necessary to get there. It's obvious you need your college degree, so it's a matter priorities. Your journey is second priority.

Keep in touch and let us know how you are coping. In the meantime, be safe, well and happy

Lotsa huggs
Catherine

[ItachiUchiha]

You could take out a loan but I could understand if you would not want to do that.

You could cut down spending on any hobbies you may have or how much you eat out etc.

Put all your change in a piggy bank and even look on the ground for change.  I do that proudly.

Sell unwanted items on Ebay or if you don't want any fees involved go with Craigslist.

This is a stretch but you could do some gigs online at fiverr.com for $5 per gig.

If you have a talent you could sell that such as making arts and paintings and selling them or if you can cook well sell the food you cook or fix things for a price.

You could look into public transportation and start taking public transits to your college.  In my area students ride for free.

As far as saving for surgery if you plan on having any I say take it one surgery at a time to save for so you won't overwhelm yourself.

Thanks! These are all great ideas I have already cut down on hobbies, I walk to classes and I just need gas because I head home every weekend which is about an hour drive (which I plan to head back every other weekend now), I'm going to start saving change, and I absolutely plan on taking everything a step at a time. I want to see a therapist and start HRT ASAP, and I'm hoping to be able to save enough over a couple years to get things done like srs and ffs (if I need it) and then electrolysis on the way at some point.

Theres just so much money involved and me being in college with little time and next to no money as is just makes it super difficult. Hopefully I can come up with some kind of plan though, I'm amazed at how difficult and expensive it is to fix a disorder I was born with. Just wish insurance would pay for it all :/

[King Malachite]

Hi ItachiUchiha,

To answer your question as to whether yours is an impossible situation, the answer is plainly - No-

With the right attitude and determination (similar to the one you have about college) NOTHING is impossible. If you get a job on the weekend, you'll be paid. (50% of something beats a 100% of nothing) Every single thing you do that takes you forward in this journey (irrespective of how small it may be) is an accomplishment within itself, worthwhile of celebration. Even finding the name of a TG friendly therapist. Is there a counselor at college that you can talk to about your concerns?

What free time do you have during the day? Is it regular where you could offer your time to work part-time? Anything. Mowing lawns, letter box deliveries, shopping centre deliveries, tutoring or something that can be worked part time. Map your weekly timetable out, see where you can do work on your journey, refine it, stick to it, and before long you'll get there.

For you to transition, it's going to take at least 2 year minimum to attain all the prerequisites necessary for GCS, and with the right plan in front of you, it is highly achieveable. It's a little bit like, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

There are no free lunches on this journey, and it simply requires you to do everything possible and necessary to get there. It's obvious you need your college degree, so it's a matter priorities. Your journey is second priority.

Keep in touch and let us know how you are coping. In the meantime, be safe, well and happy

Lotsa huggs
Catherine

Catherine Sarah hit the nail on the head.

[ItachiUchiha]

Hi ItachiUchiha,

To answer your question as to whether yours is an impossible situation, the answer is plainly - No-

With the right attitude and determination (similar to the one you have about college) NOTHING is impossible. If you get a job on the weekend, you'll be paid. (50% of something beats a 100% of nothing) Every single thing you do that takes you forward in this journey (irrespective of how small it may be) is an accomplishment within itself, worthwhile of celebration. Even finding the name of a TG friendly therapist. Is there a counselor at college that you can talk to about your concerns?

What free time do you have during the day? Is it regular where you could offer your time to work part-time? Anything. Mowing lawns, letter box deliveries, shopping centre deliveries, tutoring or something that can be worked part time. Map your weekly timetable out, see where you can do work on your journey, refine it, stick to it, and before long you'll get there.

For you to transition, it's going to take at least 2 year minimum to attain all the prerequisites necessary for GCS, and with the right plan in front of you, it is highly achieveable. It's a little bit like, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

There are no free lunches on this journey, and it simply requires you to do everything possible and necessary to get there. It's obvious you need your college degree, so it's a matter priorities. Your journey is second priority.

Keep in touch and let us know how you are coping. In the meantime, be safe, well and happy

Lotsa huggs
Catherine

Thanks I am definitely going to start looking for a job again. As far as time during the week, I have next to none. I have classes Monday-Friday and 8am classes every morning. I have classes until about 5 every day and then I go to the library to study for several hours to make sure I'm prepared and have my work completed. I usually get back to my dorm around 7-9pm, but about once a week I dont get back until 11pm.

I don't think I can do anything during the week since I get back fairly late then I still have to eat and I need at least an hour or two to relax in my day or I won't stay sane long haha. That's a major problem though, with the classes I'm taking, college is requiring a huge amount of my days, except for the weekends.

[King Malachite]

I'm nearly in the same boat with you on the college and money issue.  It sounds like you got a good head on your shoulders and you study more in one day than I do the whole semester.     It will pay off in the end. 

Also you may want to look in to CIGNA if you are a U.S. citizen.  I believe they cover some parts of transitioning under their insurance.

http://www.cigna.com/customer_care/healthcare_professional/coverage_positions/medical/mm_0266_coveragepositioncriteria_gender_reassignment_surgery.pdf

[cindianna_jones]

Finish your education, get a good paying job, and save your money. That's how I did it. Without the college degree, I could have never done it.

Cindi

[Jeneva]

Does you college offer a mental health clinic?  If so you may find that to be very cheap way to get access to a therapist.  Also the medicines themselves (in the US) are fairly cheaply available once you get a prescription.