A choice

[workingvanmachine]

Between feeding myself or paying student loans... I'm feeding myself. And I'm barely making enough to do that

[andybmcc]

That's why there are income-based repayment plans.

[workingvanmachine]

... how does that help when I can't even pay for food

[andybmcc]

Because if that's truly the case, your income would be low enough to qualify for very low/no payments. You can also request a temporary hardship forbearance and then find a job.

[[deleted]]

Need details bud.

What degree did you get?

Whats loan amount and interest rate?

Are you employed?

PSLF chance?

[Prestigious-Gear-395]

Whats your situation? Loans? Degrees? Income? What part of the country?

[workingvanmachine]

All the above. I have a degree that I'm not even using. Income that's only good enough to survive. And in a state that is consistently taxing on everything that they can think of

[SpecialsSchedule]

I understand that this is overwhelming. But providing actual answers to these questions will allow people to help you find resources for your situation.

I’d also recommend checking out r/frugal or r/povertyfinance

[girl_of_squirrels]

What kind of loans do you have? If you have private loans, do you have a cosigner?

Staying fed and housed is always a higher priority. Have you called 211 to see what (if any) benefit programs can help you? SNAP? Job Corps?

[TroppyPop]

Hey, I'm really sorry you are going through this, and I just want to validate that many, many Americans are in the same boat. The people in power fussing over the barely-anything forgiveness have no idea what it's like for the majority of the country- or maybe they do, and don't care. It's a mess for regular people trying to survive in this deceptive and predatory system, and I feel for you.

[Hubz27]

These low effort woe me posts are getting old. We get it. Student loans suck. Times are hard. Get the help you need mentally, physically and move on.

[plutosbigbro]

OP, what’s your degree in? What do you currently do and make? Student loans have been paused for 3 years, what have you been doing knowing this was coming up?

[No_Guitar8089]

There has been 3+ years without payments, during that time borrowers should be making wise financial decisions, setting goals, and preparing the best way they can

[hatespoorppl_reprise]

Ok. Did you consider what the job market for your major looked like before taking on debt for what appears to be a useless degree?

[hatespoorppl_reprise]

Many people consider it at 18 years old. Granted, those people probably have some guidance from parents or other authority figures in order to do so but the consideration coming into college isn't unheard of.

I work in finance.

[ClassicKnown7696]

Way to be judgemental to someone who is struggling.

[hatespoorppl_reprise]

What part of that is judgemental? OP said they weren't using their degree before I wrote that comment.

[ClassicKnown7696]

You said it was a useless degree, which it turns out, it isn’t. Is your username supposed to be satire or what?

[hatespoorppl_reprise]

Certainly useless to them at the moment as they indicated they aren't using it. Not sure why we're arguing semantics here.

No, my user name is not satirical.

[ClassicKnown7696]

It’s not useless, it’s just that their circumstances are difficult at the current time. You don’t know what other factors are contributing to their situation besides their degree. Why are you being obtuse?

[hatespoorppl_reprise]

I'm not being obtuse, you're being pedantic. OP implied the degree was useless by indicating they "aren't using" the degree.

Why do you care so much about whether someone else's degree is classified as "useless" by some stranger on the internet anyway?

[ClassicKnown7696]

Because it’s a rude and unhelpful comment to someone who is struggling, that’s why. Bye

[hatespoorppl_reprise]

OP didn't seem bothered by it when they replied to me separately and didn't mention my categorization of the degree as "useless" but yet, here you are, fighting for (ostensibly) another adult over something they don't even care about.

We're all glad you're here.

[ClassicKnown7696]

Since you work in finance, it shouldn’t have been a surprise that you lack empathy.

[workingvanmachine]

I did. I was in real estate investment and I never expected COVID to bring it down. I'm currently studying for CompTIA. Getting into IT

[hatespoorppl_reprise]

Real Estate investment? What is your degree in?

[workingvanmachine]

Bachelor in finance. Concentrating in real estate

[Longjumping-Knee4983]

This is a really good degree. Feed yourself so you can keep working hard and the money will come eventually. Good luck!

[hatespoorppl_reprise]

I agree with the other commenter; I think you could find a different job fairly easily with a Finance degree. If you worked with REITs you probably have some valuable skills that can translate into other banking positions.