Debt Dumpers 2026

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

our community colleges were colleges as well. back then one offered at least one program that resulted in a bachelor's degree and I think they've expanded to include a few more now. the community colleges (I had 3 within reasonable driving distance) offered night classes in primarily general ed and excellerated general ed summer classes (science and lab for 4 hours/5 days a week and whack it out in half a quarter). the cost for doing a summer class was 25% what the university charged, and as far as the night classes went-as a freshman or sophomore at the university you were at the bottom of the list to sign up* for classes so they were often filled fast so if the same prof was teaching the same transferrable class at the community college it was a no brainer to take it there. I clearly remember taking my general Ed bio class/lab from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. one summer (then heading off to my job).


*when my oldest went to college I remarked about how nice it must be to not have to stand in a looooooooooong line stretching outside and around an admissions building with your school's class catelog for that particular quarter in hand scribbled with all your notes on what class to take if you could'nt get into another and then subsequent options if those classes were also filled.

I understand I was just trying to set the record straight. To me sounded like it was being utilized differently than how it is in my area. At least according to their 2024-2025 school year 61% were there to get their degree or certification, 27% were intending to transfer their credits elsewhere.

As far as signing up at least at my alma mater it went by credit hours not by year in college. That's why dual college/high school student or dual college credit or taking summer classes, etc could give straight out of high school a leg up at least here because their year in college may say freshman but their credit hours may not put them in that range. Some courses like I said the Western Civ were not open to freshman, typically psychological statistics was done as a junior but it was just a 300-level course so you could do it earlier (realistically with other courses like Psych 101 you wouldn't do it as a freshman since a pre-req was Psych 101 to get to Psychological Statistics). The only course I can think of for the classes I was involved in that I know was popular that would get scooped up every time unless you had enough credit hours to be considered in the senior year range was intimate relationships (a psychology course I think because people assumed what the topic would be) but the main issue is the professor who taught it only taught it one semester per year a common enough situation when you started getting into more specialized courses.

My husband had a different experience since his was more micromanaged in what courses he had to take, he did have to take a few gen ed courses but much much less than me. And it wasn't the same situation as needing to vie for a spot in a particular course. His classes were already very small.

One thing to note though for anyone considering the community college route to get gen ed or other courses done is make sure they transfer. Majority around here will transfer especially in my immediate area with reciprocal agreements but it doesn't mean for every course.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I'm almost halfway to paying off my phone - can't wait to get that stupid $25.74 back each month LOL

I might be one of the few people that wish for contracts to be back. My phones were either free or $50 and I gladly paid that while being under the 2 year contract. Once that went away when it was Sprint it was either buy it outright or lease it and for a time you could only lease it. I had to buy a phone at Best Buy to avoid the lease aspect though luckily I could still get it for cheap.

 

[Tygerlilly]

It's about $200 to pay off hubby's phone and my watch. I think that lowers our bill by $45. However, his phone charging port is being a pain. I'm going to call the local place and have them take a look at it before we go the upgrade route (he really doesn't care about what he has). If we do need the upgrade, we'll keep his old phone and use it with wifi calling as a "home phone" for the kids.