It's been one year since I graduated college with an outdated degree in print journalism. The future of journalism unraveled before my very eyes, yet I was oblivious to it believing that a college degree would be the answer to my financial prayers.

Go to college, get a degree, earn a starting salary of $35K a year - that was the propaganda that I was brainwashed with during my youth. How foolish I was to believe such nonsense!

A year later, my student loans are entering repayment status and I don't make anything close to what I need to be making to pay off my student loans, which I've calculated to be about $800 - $900 a month, which is about how my rent is. Of course, I could always live in a cardboard box if I wanted to get out of "good" debt ASAP.

Instead, I've opted to go to graduate school (putting myself in further educational debt) since it was my only viable option to postpone my student loan payments yet again. I'm nervous about this decision but its either go back to school, or default on my student loans and lose any chances of financial aid in the future should I decide to return back to school later.

I hope I made the right choice. I think I did because I have a good feeling about the New Year.

My New Year's Resolution is to actually save money for once in my life. My first step involved debt consolidation in an effort to reduce my monthly credit card payments. My second step involved getting accepted into grad school. My next step is submitting my deferral request ASAP since all my payments are due next month!

After the New Year Rings in and I've assessed my financial situation (which I do about once a month), I will be posting my next steps.

My goal is to achieve some sense of control over my finances because it seriously spiraled out of control during my time in college.

I've learned my lesson the hard way, and I promise I won't make the same mistakes this time around.