Well everyone… Thanks to summer graduation, I am now the proud owner of a bachelor’s degree! 
Unfortunately, the fall semester is quickly approaching and hastily thrown-together plans are unfortunately what my coming year will consist of. I expected to spend the next year finishing up my bachelor’s degree, but because of a VERY rare technicality I discovered in late May that I would be able to complete my bachelor’s degree over the summer.
I snatched that opportunity as quick as I possibly could, and made some really quick plans to enroll in grad school (Master’s) at my same institution so that I at least had something to do in the fall. But things aren’t looking so bright exactly. For one, because I applied on the VERY last day for applications to be due, I received no funding for my master’s degree. I believe it’s too late right here in August about two weeks before the start of the semester to request a TAship. I’m somewhat conflicted on what to do. I have savings of about $17,000, but I’m almost positive that I’m going to eat through them just in the first year. Housing/living costs for the next 2 years are estimated at about $16,000 of that.
Part of me says that I should just wait until next year’s round for grad school so that I can apply and make sure that I get the best funding provided for first-time students. But that’s an entire year to wait. Is it advisable to talk to the graduate advisor about what they believe I should do? I’m just somewhat afraid of coming across as a complete flake and then they don’t seriously consider me the next time around or something.
So you signed up for a masters so you would have “something to do,” but it’s not really something you can afford, it sounds like. Why not get a job while you figure out what the best route is for graduate school?
One year is nothing in the grand scheme of things! You can temp, use the time to improve GRE scores or get more research experience, etc.
Rushing into graduate school just to have something to do at the last minute isn’t a great idea. You need to select a graduate program based on what’s the best fit for you and your career goals - it’s not really just something to fill the time. And you definitely don’t want to spend $30,000+ just because you want to rush into something this year instead of waiting.
I started to reply to the OP, and when I looked up at @juillet 's post I realized I was saying EXACTLY the same things.
If there is one thing that I would emphasize, out of what has already been said:
One year is DEFINITELY not a major sacrifice if that time allows you to find clarity with what you want to achieve. Do not get entrenched in the idea that you have to complete undergraduate and graduate education without a single break in the process. It was the best decision of my life to leave school for a year before the end of my undergrad to get away from it all, work for a company, and learn about what I wanted to do for a career. It allowed me to find a specific future research interest and jobs I wanted to pursue. It also allowed me to develop a stronger balance in my life beyond school.
Don’t do graduate school simply for its own sake. You need to go in with a very clear plan which also requires that you take the time to find the schools that have research that fits exactly with your plan.
WHY do you want to go to grad school? What is your end-game? What will a MA/MS do for your future?
Unless you can answer those questions, you should do something else. A barista would be better while you figure out your next steps.
btw: many Master’s programs do not have much/any funding anyway, and TA-ships may give priority to PhD students, so those are questions that you might ask.