conversation: User (__LordNibbler__): "I turn 18 in February 2017. I live in North Carolina. [I've also posted this](https://www.reddit.com/r/almosthomeless/comments/498i24/going_to_be_homeless_in_a_little_under_a_year/) in /r/almosthomeless:\n\n&gt; So my dad said he'll kick me out when he's legally able. How should I prepare for when I'm out? \n\n&gt; I know I need the following:\n\n&gt; * A car especially because of where we live where public transportation is basically non-existent. \n\n&gt; * Car insurance since I can't legally drive without it apparently. Or can I get by without it? How much trouble would I get in if I don't use it?\n\n&gt; * A job for obvious reasons.\n\n&gt; * I guess I can sleep in my car if I ever get one. I know of some places in which I can hide it and sleep at night. If I don't have a car by the time I'm 18 then I have a sleeping bag but I don't know where I'd go. \n\n&gt; Maybe if I can get into a college I can take out a loan and I'll just have to be homeless over the summer and last semester of high school before I get a dorm to sleep in. I doubt I'll be able to get any scholarships no matter how small, but I'll apply for those. How do student loans work though? Would interest start to accumulate after I've completed college?\n\n&gt; I'm currently a high school junior living in North Carolina. Does anybody know of any government programs that can help me financially?\n\nThanks. \n\nEDIT: Wow, I got way more responses than I thought I'd get. I'll have to finish reading them tomorrow. I'm reading every single comment. "
  Self: "Are you handy at all?? You could look into getting an apprenticeship in a trade. A lot of the time you will get your schooling paid for while you're working and learning your trade. It might be tough going in the beginning, trying to juggle high school, work and night school but you wouldn't be working on a short-term fix, you would be working towards a very well paying career. You might even meet some great people that might let you rent a room or crash in their garage till you can get an apartment etc. "
  