This year, Dwayne is living at home and attending Fullerton City College, where tuition is $2,000 a year. Baker won't let him take out student loans because she doesn't want him to build up debt as she has. But Field said Baker needed to let him do so.
"You are sacrificing your future for your kids," Field told her. Once Baker is on stable ground, "you can always help him make payments later."
As for Bryne, Field urged Baker to enroll him in one of several high-quality public schools in the neighborhood.
If she brings her expenses down, Baker might be able to buy her mother's home. Field figures that Baker would end up paying about $1,400 a month on a mortgage, including insurance and taxes. That's $400 more than her rent.
Field suggested that Baker soon start putting $400 a month into a savings account. "I want to see if you can do that and just not touch it," Field said. "You have to pretend it just disappeared."
But other priorities may interfere. Field said Baker should pay down the CashCall loan first, then the IRS debt, credit cards and finally her student loans, which have a relatively low interest rate of 5.375%.
Baker already has cut her living expenses. She ate out only twice last month. For fun, she used to travel to jazz festivals around the country, but she's going to local ones this summer and bringing all her food and drinks.
She has a steady boyfriend, but they are not engaged.
"As soon as I'm married, then just all of my financial woes will go away," Baker said, sweeping her arms in a circle with a huge laugh. "I told him I just want to have myself together so that I can bring something to the table."
But by that time, she said, "I may not even want a husband."
Before meeting Field, Baker was so afraid of finances that she avoided any mention of the subject. Now she's paying attention. A recent garage sale at her home netted $400, which will go to paying for her eldest son's books at college.
"I've had an epiphany," Baker said. "I am becoming more disciplined, which is what I expect from my students."
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