A Guide to Recovering from Student Loan

Is your student loan debt still piling up? You aren’t alone. Debt isn’t unique to college students or graduates. Even though recovering might not be easy, you can do plenty of things to minimize the damage.

According to studies, college graduates spend nearly a fifth of their salary on student loan payments. Therefore, this guide will help you with tips to recover your student loan debt if you’re one. So let’s dive in.

1. Set a Priority for Loan Payments

Source: forbes.com

As you repay your college debt, interest rates will rise. List all your borrowings if you have taken money from several sources. Keep track of how much you pay in interest for each loan.

Your first goal should be to pay off the debt with the highest interest rate. Afterward, move on to the next most expensive debt on the list.

2. Student Loan Refinancing

You could end up paying thousands more in interest charges if your student loans have a high-interest rate. Getting your loans paid off can be difficult when so much of your monthly payment goes toward interest.

You can consider student loan refinancing if you’re looking for a way to manage student loans. Here, you use a private loan to pay back your old debt. The interest rate and monthly payment of the new loan are different.

3. Increase Your Monthly Payments

Whenever possible, pay more than the minimum monthly payment to decrease the overall interest you pay. Have you received a larger tip at work than usual? Are there any holiday bonuses? Invest it in paying off your student loans.

Additionally, you can ask your friends or family to support your college debt by giving you money instead of buying you a holiday or birthday gift.

4. Negotiate Interest Rates

Source: studentloansherpa.com

Transferring your debt to another bank can lower your interest rate if you have some college debt on credit cards. Shop around at multiple banks, then decide which bank will offer you the best interest rate so that you’ll stay.

You may want to check with other banks to find out if you can get a better offer if your bank says yes. The cost savings could add up to hundreds or thousands over time.

5. Get a Second Career with Repayment Help

You could qualify for repayment assistance if you work in a profession with a shortage of professionals, such as teaching or medicine.

Therefore, you can do a teaching aide course to help increase access to special education services and qualify for repayment help. Furthermore, it can help to ensure that all students have access to the resources they need to succeed in school.

States with high-needs offer special incentives to attract talented individuals. By taking part in the program, you’ll be able to get some or all of your student loans repaid.

6. Increase Your Earnings

While still a student, you can work full-time or part-time jobs or find internships to pay for college grants. Furthermore, you can make extra cash online by uploading documents like this answer sheet and have your money within 48 hours. After college, it is advantageous to work in your chosen industry – preferably during your college years.

Consider ways to increase your income if you have already graduated – you could ask for a raise, move to a better-paying job or take another part-time job.

7. Avoid Accruing New Debts

Source: cnn.com

Do not take on additional loans to make things easier for yourself. You cannot anticipate all the expenses you will have down the road. Don’t put off paying for high costs or emergencies until later. Set aside a regular budget for them.

This way, you won’t have to borrow money if something comes up. Due to this, you’ll save on interest on the loan.

8. Create a Budget Based on Your Expenses

The simplest way to save money is to write down your expenses so you can see how they add up. Knowing how much you spend each month or year will help you plan your budget.

Making better financial decisions and avoiding overspending is easier if you plan your income versus expenses.

9. Get Rid of Your Stuff

Create a list of things you could sell. Internet access, for example, allows you to watch TV on your computer or smartphone while selling your TV.

It may be more cost-effective to switch to public transportation or look for a more economical one if you have a car.

10. Seek help from a financial counselor

Source: nerdwallet.com

Rather than trying to deal with financial stress alone, seeking out the help of a qualified financial counselor can help you identify areas in your budget where adjustments might be necessary. A trusted financial advisor can provide personalized insight and guidance that you may not be able to get from generic online resources or money-saving advice websites.

Your counselor will review your budget, credit report, and current financial situation with you and work to create an action plan tailored specifically to your circumstances. He or she will help you assess all of your available options and provide strategies for constructive budgeting. You may also be advised on strategies to address overwhelming student loan debt, such as loan restructuring and consolidation.

Seeking professional advice on managing your money is especially useful if the debt you are struggling with consists primarily of student loans. Your counselor may be able to offer additional advice on refinancing or income-driven repayment (IDR) plans that could help lighten the burden of loan repayments while still providing a manageable monthly payment amount. With the right plan in place and support from a professional, you can begin working towards greater financial security.

11. Find support from friends and family

It can be difficult to ask for help when you’re dealing with a financial crisis, especially if it is because of student loan debt. Remember that it’s OK to ask for support from family and friends. You don’t have to go into the details of your financial situation, but simply expressing that you are dealing with some hard times can be the first step in finding people who are willing to listen and support you. Talking about this issue will also help reduce your own stress levels.

Conclusion

Take comfort in the fact that you have overcome challenges before in your life. You achieved your big goal of getting a college education. By following the steps outlined in this article, you, too, can live debt-free by paying your college debt.