[jmtame]

those college loans are split up, you pay them off in monthly increments like $100 or $200 a month, which is basically a car payment. you could consult for companies with technical skills on roughly the same amount an engineer would get in salary (probably higher if you can negotiate that you're not taking benefits, equity, etc). that's at least $5k per month if you're smart, determined, and enjoyable to work with. i know friends consulting with funded startups on a contractual basis; it's sometimes easier on the startup because they don't have to offer benefits and there may be tax advantages with contracting vs full-time hires.

my guess is his antisocial personality isn't helping his odds, but even that is a controllable factor. from talking to a lot of founders and asking what they look for in hiring, they almost all say "personality" first; if the guy comes across the wrong way (antisocial) that might hurt his chances, although not saying that explains why he hasn't had luck.