You are correct. You can't be eligible for financial aid to help you pay for school until you get your GED. Talk to your community college about how to get your GED with them. They may offer GED prep classes for very cheap or even free. Or they may offer the 24 credit program (although you'll need to pay for your classes until you finish the credits.) But make sure you are very clear on which options are open to you, and which one you want to pursue.

BTW, I don't believe the 24 credit program exists in California, but you can ask. And ask what your other options are. There is the GED, but I understand that California also offers another high school equivalency exam that some students like better. Ask.

If your college offers a 24 credit program, then from this point on, only take the classes required for that program. If they do not, then stop taking college classes, and focus on getting your GED. You can start taking college classes again once you have your GED and are eligible for financial aid.

See if you can find, in all your spare time (not), a near-FT job that provides good training for a higher paid job or tuition reimbursement for a local college. The big thing is to be working toward something you enjoy, not just toward a degree. If having a GED opens up financial aid, can you study up on your own and take the test? (I'm not clear how that works.)

The PT job is great to provide minimal income, but be looking for something better all the time.