Your Two Cents: Do You Have Student Loans?

July 18, 2008

Soaring college tuition means it's difficult to get a degree these days without taking out student loans, and monthly payments mean less money available for saving. How many of you can't wait until those loans are paid off?

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54 Comments

Ladytron7000 4 years 43 weeks

I paid for undergrad and a fancy law school because my stepmom makes too much money for me to get grants. Although I have a posh job lined up, I am overwhelmed by debt and scared about my future. I still live in a college-style apartment.

TidalWave 4 years 43 weeks

I have 30k and that is the least of my worries. The interest rate is so tiny and what little interest I do pay I can just claim it on my taxes anyway.

graduatedsqueaks 4 years 43 weeks

I've got a hefty amount in student loans hanging over my head, but I'm trying to pay them down as fast as possible. I'm not a fan of having negative net worth (my loans outweigh my savings and retirement funds) but I'm working towards it.

cordata 4 years 43 weeks

the price of education is out of hand, that's all I can say

LeanneLand 4 years 44 weeks

I've paid off one and have two left. :p

elliedee 4 years 44 weeks

My father has been a professor at a private university since I was born so as long as I busted my tail to get in, 95% of my tuition was covered. That still left me with room & board, which was equal to in state tuition + room & board at many universities. My parent's covered that for two years but I decided to commute from their home towards the end to save money. When I think about the top notch eduction I received without worrying about student loans, I feel so fortunate. Especially when the university I attended is frequently ranked one of the contries most expensive schools.

porkypocky 4 years 44 weeks

none because my parents were awesome enough to save up since i was born. talk about planning ahead. i have my own CC debt to pay off though because i'm not as smart as my parents :(

caligirl101 4 years 44 weeks

YEP. My parents didn't help at all. I did it on my own and had to take out loans.

GeriAnne1932 4 years 44 weeks

I know it's important to invest in ourselves and our educations and the pay-off will be great...but what a sad nation we are when so many of us have to take on so much debt to improve our lives. Even at state schools which were intended to be reasonably priced for the masses has gotten out of hand. While I was in college, tuition doubled over 5 years at a state school in Wisconsin. I just think that's insane because it is rare to find a job without a degree or to move up quickly into management and yet it is such a heavy cost.

anakiya 4 years 44 weeks

I had student loans but I paid them off. However, my husband still has student loans from chiropractic college. We can't wait to pay them off but we are very far from being able to do that. I think these days they are a necessary evil.

Lilavati 4 years 44 weeks

Yay Poland! My school is free. Life isn't, but I'm living with my parents and they support me. And oh yeah, I started working two weeks ago!

Lilavati 4 years 44 weeks

Yay Poland! My school is free.Life isn't, but I'm living with my parents and they support me.And oh yeah, I started working two weeks ago!

GlowingMoon 4 years 44 weeks

Nope. We paid off our educational loans several years ago. We're completely debt-free.

hithatsmybike 4 years 44 weeks

I'm working my butt off to graduate from my BSc with none -- and so far so good! I'm definitely going to make it: no loans, no parental help, no nothing, just a good work ethic. If I choose grad school, I'll be paid to attend at my university, so that'd be free + about $30 000 a year... but if I choose med, I'm expecting to finish with anywhere from $30 000 to $300 000 in debt, depending where I go.

hithatsmybike 4 years 44 weeks

I'm working my butt off to graduate from my BSc with none -- and so far so good! I'm definitely going to make it: no loans, no parental help, no nothing, just a good work ethic.If I choose grad school, I'll be paid to attend at my university, so that'd be free + about $30 000 a year... but if I choose med, I'm expecting to finish with anywhere from $30 000 to $300 000 in debt, depending where I go.

sweetpeabrina 4 years 44 weeks

I have about $70K. My dad is helping me pay it off which has been super nice. Mom says I should marry a rich guy. ;)

lizs 4 years 44 weeks

I've been paying for four years and still about about 20k left from undergrad + grad school. I'll get there...I'm not rushing, because I feel like it's "good" debt. I'm so thankful for the scholarships, grants, and loans I got along the way...can't imagine how long I'd be paying without them!

Megatron 4 years 44 weeks

Yep.I went to a community college first so I would only have to take out loans for my upper division courses. I have a year left and at the end will have about $10k in loans to pay back.

LadyAngel89 4 years 44 weeks

Nope none for me. I got lucky and fell into the "everything" financial aid category. I actually got a little money back to pay for my expenses while in school, I didn't have to work my first year of school. If it wasn't for financial aid I would have never gotten to go to college :(

fleurfairy 4 years 44 weeks

My parents always paid my tuition on time. I was very lucky. But I also went to a public university as opposed to an expensive private college.

carhornsinapril 4 years 44 weeks

oh yeah. my parents didn't contribute to my education... i think my debt totaled about $60K when i graduated (though that's about 1/3 of the cost for all 4 years--i received a ton in scholarships and aid). i have a minimum payment of $620 every month, though i shoot for $700. note to all future parents: save for college so your kids can actually afford food when they're adults!

carhornsinapril 4 years 44 weeks

oh yeah. my parents didn't contribute to my education... i think my debt totaled about $60K when i graduated (though that's about 1/3 of the cost for all 4 years--i received a ton in scholarships and aid).i have a minimum payment of $620 every month, though i shoot for $700.note to all future parents: save for college so your kids can actually afford food when they're adults!

brielleblonde 4 years 44 weeks

i have about 20K in loans. boo! but im co-oping a year with an oil company, which for two months of working will easily pay off my loans.. i pay for everything though (tuition, rent, utilities, etc) which sucks when my two roommates are studying abroad and won't let me sublet their room, but don't want to pay for anything! must be nice to have ur parents pay to go to italy and leave me to pay for everything at school!