25F college student needs advice on moving out

General
1

Hello!

I’m finishing my last semester at community college in Spring 2025 and planning to transfer to SF State or Cal State East Bay by Fall 2025. I want to move out for campus involvement, internships, and job opportunities, but I’m stressed about my $838 car payment, $200-300 gas costs, and helping my mom with bills. I’m looking for jobs paying $25/hour or more and advice on managing these expenses with Bay Area rent. Commuting isn’t ideal, but I might stay with friends on class days. How should I approach this situation? What jobs should I consider to make this work?

2

The car is killing your budget, is there a possibility you can sell it?

3

It is killing my budget! But unfortunately I can’t simply sell it, my car is the only reliable care in my immediate family that doesn’t break down and can take us safely from point A to C :confused: in the case of anything happens to my mom’s or younger brother’s, we have my car to rely on

4

So let me get this straight, you are going to leave it with your mom when you move? As well as pay for it?

5

Her car causes stress with constant repairs. I’m responsible for payments, whether I keep it or not.

6

if you do decide to leave with her, you should transfer it into to her name and expect her to make the payments.

I fully get helping out your parents, but you shouldn’t do it at the expense of your finances.

7

thank you for the advice, but my mom has a lot on her plate already I can’t make her get another high payment. She doesn’t exactly have a job that pays great either. Although yes it kinda stings I would have to still pay for it from far away, a high car payment is more weight added when she is already full with big bills as a single parent.

8

oh that sucks, the best thing you can try to do is increase income, otherwise there really isn’t a way of working out a budget!

But i get that might be hard with college!