How to Survive Student Debt

You made getting a college degree a goal, but the cold, hard truth is, college is expensive. Student loans seemed like a logical option at the time. Now that it’s time to pay that money back, though, it’s a mixed bag. In one hand, you’ve got your hard won diploma. In the other, a stack of bills big enough to crush the life out of you. How the heck are you going to pay those loans back?

When you started school, you didn’t imagine the economy would be in such shabby shape when you finished. Unemployment is high and wages are…well, let’s just say they’re not what you hoped they would be. Now you need to pay your student loans and provide for your basic needs, like rent, transportation, the occasional pizza and beer. Can it really be done?

Start with a Plan

Tackle your student loans the same way you earned your degree. You chose a major and followed a set course to reach that goal. Do the same with your student loans. Study the payment options and decide which is most feasible with your current income. Determine the least amount you need for necessary expenses, a bit of savings, and your loan payment. That is your budget. Do what you must to make it work.

Read more...