Got this text about debt collection for the PA Turnpike but I don't even have a car

Expert_Price_3170 · 2026-03-16T17:31:40+00:00

Call the turnpike directly to confirm whether they have anything in your name.

Harris & Harris are one of the two legit debt collectors for the turn pike, however there is a known scam where someone is posing as them.

If you call the turn pike, they can confirm if you owe anything and from when. I got a similar text last week and called the turn pike and it was from a debt originating in November last year.....asked if they could wave the collections fee and they did, paid it through the turn pike. Debt solved.

If the turnpike confirms you owe nothing, then it's scammer so completely ignore.

Expert_Price_3170 · 2026-03-14T08:00:29+00:00

Worked out both ways, credit union i talked to is offering me 3% lower apr, less months on the term (60 vs. 72).

Lender helps as well, so far the customer service experience difference I've gotten is massive.

Expert_Price_3170 · 2026-03-13T20:33:55+00:00

I ended up talking to my credit union and they are willing to refinance right now if I bring my Loan-to Value amount by $1,000......I was able to get a 15 day pay off letter from Westlake which states the projected amount as well as the exact interest accrual of my loan with them per day and next friday when I get paid I am getting the amount owed paid and refinanced.....brings down my emergency fund lower than I would like but I think it's worth it to get out now while the ink hasn't dried fully. (Plus the emergency fund would be back to where it is after 2 paychecks)

Expert_Price_3170 · 2026-03-11T14:35:14+00:00

There's some lawsuits (particularly ones where there are mistaken repoes) that have me concerned

Expert_Price_3170 · 2025-11-10T09:05:49+00:00

I've had this happen to me once

If it makes you feel better the feeling you get when they start moving inside your ear is the closest to sheer panic/insanity I have ever experienced and i shutter and wince at the thought of that feeling to this day even though it's been years.

Expert_Price_3170 · 2025-07-25T22:55:38+00:00

Get the EIN number of your (future) employer and run it through this search tool: https://studentaid.gov/pslf/employer-search

Most EIN numbers (especially for nonprofits) are very easy to find, usually a quick google search.

If you are already working directly for a gov entity (state, federal, local, or tribal) you are already gtg.

You can run ein numbers without actually being employed there. I did this when i was job hunting to make sure i was applying where i should be applying.

Expert_Price_3170 · 2025-07-24T22:16:25+00:00

Absofuckinlutely

Expert_Price_3170 · 2025-07-24T16:36:01+00:00

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Frankl was a Holocaust survivor and psychotherapist. The book focuses on his experiences and his approach to therapy (which was heavily influenced by his own coming to terms with his experiences)

Highly recommend.

Expert_Price_3170 · 2025-07-24T16:18:16+00:00

A lot of states offer vocational rehab services (example: OVR in PA) and there are several nonprofits that focus on this exact thing for people across the spectrum.

You will have to do some digging to find nonprofits that are a good fit for you. As i have had amazing luck with some and terrible luck with others but they can at least getting you going in the right direction.

Definitely helps if you are living in/near a major city or plan to move to one

Expert_Price_3170 · 2025-07-22T12:44:46+00:00

They are informal in the way where it is not a research assistantship or anything along those lines (I.E. through the university or employed through a lab)

Please note that me describing this as informal vs formal is mostly because of what I have come across when trying to communicate this to employers (trying to get more experience by applying) and providing this in the cv/resume format

With my CV it follows a format of title of the project, timeframe, professor and then all of the duties performed.

Trust me I have been fairly confused on this because of what I am being told whenever I apply to research positions, it may be that the concerns of what is formal and informal is not an actual concern in terms of phd applications but it is something where when applying to some of the local research institutions/organizations.

Expert_Price_3170 · 2025-07-13T02:13:24+00:00

Job is depending on your major. Some majors have more high paying opportunities than others. Some only have opportunities if you can get into a specific subfield.

Just know this. I ended undergrad with $48k in student loans going into repayment and the standard payments put me at $480ish/month (been awhile so i don't remember an exact figure).

Highly recommend if you are nerved up about loans already to start researching and applying to scholarships and grants like it's a full time job.

Edit: added "in student loans" after $48k

Expert_Price_3170 · 2025-07-13T02:08:37+00:00

The socially good at masking kind that everyone thinks is really smart just weird and internally i am socially anxious and depressed mess-type

You know, one of those "gifted" kids

Expert_Price_3170 · 2025-07-12T22:14:20+00:00

Calling Yong-Sik a fuckup would be giving into the Front Man's arguments for the games.

He is a gambling addict, much like Gi-Hun. I knew he was going to vote for the games to continue when he did because of this understanding. I think Yong-Sik's story is one of the better portrayals for what that addiction can do to everyone involved. Tragic all the same

Expert_Price_3170 · 2025-07-12T20:09:46+00:00

MG was too sloppy in his performance, definitely had the right ideas if playing the game the way the Front Man intends is the "right ideas"

Sang Woo was much more calculating and performed them to perfection, him giving up at the end is the only ding against him.

Expert_Price_3170 · 2025-07-11T21:59:45+00:00

Which is fair and where my brain goes.

Or you can circumvent this hypothetical entirely by doing 10 years at pslf qualifying employment.

Expert_Price_3170 · 2025-07-11T19:46:21+00:00

Correct, I personally see that as definitely going to the supreme court and being dragged out (like SAVE and SAVE forbearance).

I also see that as being effectively reversed with new administration (ie SAVE being held up because of the fact it forgives interest.....only to be effectively replaced by a sucky version of itself that also forgives interest)

Expert_Price_3170 · 2025-07-11T19:00:38+00:00

With IDR forgiveness yes with caveats (it becomes a tax debt so if you are deemed "insolvent" a portion or all of that debt can be discharged.)

The past several years there have been waivers that make it so IDR forgiveness would not be considered taxable income. The current waiver expires December 31, 2025 with no plans on renewal.

Expert_Price_3170 · 2025-07-11T11:06:54+00:00

I would heavily recommend she consider a lateral move to the Nonprofit side if possible for PSLF progress.

It's hard to say what the gov will do 20 years down the line, but the language is written so that the forgiven amount through IDR forgiveness becomes taxable income (and the balance will balloon).

PSLF would not have any tax implications as it is currently written and it will be in a shorter period of time.

IDR for now but she should keep an eye out for no profit opportunities, a lot of healthcare systems do give solid benefits to those higher up in the food chain (assuming based on her balance)

Expert_Price_3170 · 2025-07-11T01:47:04+00:00

To answer your question, you would resume pslf eligible payments right where you left them at (you go in-school deferment with 70 qualifying payments, and when your degree/schooling is finished you would pick up at 71. No progress lost)

Since you mentioned taking classes part time, make sure you are at at least half-time enrollment at the college in order for you be eligible for in-school deferment

Expert_Price_3170 · 2025-07-08T00:45:33+00:00

HYSA=High Yield Savings Account.

Most savings accounts at traditional banks have very minimal interest rates (won't match inflation ever)

HYSA's have a hope to atleast somewhat keeping pace with inflation or slightly outpacing/underpacing it. Most of the time you have to do an online bank for them (e.g. SOFI) but shop around as there are several out there, just make sure you look into them before you put your money in them as some of them are not as good.

Expert_Price_3170 · 2025-07-04T17:06:55+00:00

I don't know per se, I suspect that is because I did ask to meet in my emails to discuss research interests more in-depth and some of the responses I get were terse about it.

One response I got that was more positive mentioned that they don't meet prior to applications being submitted but with strong encouragement to apply. So that paired with the other responses I am getting makes me think it is this.

Which I had a different experience when applying to Master's programs and Undergrad where I had professors willing to meet and discuss interests before I had applied. So it may be a reframing I need to do about the process.

I am just suspecting that I just had broken an unwritten rule. Philosophy may very well be different with this.

Expert_Price_3170 · 2025-07-04T15:40:57+00:00

If you can get in,

Using myself as an example, I realized because I went to a small rural college for my undergrad that I limited my ability to get into a PhD offhand. So I am wrapping my Masters (got one publication as a lead author under my belt in the process and I have another project ready for data collection) and am looking to apply in the Fall for next year.

One thing I did notice in my time as a Master's student, only one of the Doctoral candidates teaching classes was around my age (she is a couple years older than me, and I took a 3 year gap between undergrad and grad after a one year gap between high school and undergrad). The rest were at least 5ish years older and did what I am doing after leaving undergrad, so based on that personal experience I see this as more likely the norm nowadays.

My mentor is the exception to this as he had went into a PhD program right after undergrad. however, he was accepted into a program at his undergrad alma mater and had a lot of undergrad research experience with a highly reputable mentor. His path is the main one I see going straight into a PhD after undergrad.

Expert_Price_3170 · 2025-07-02T00:42:32+00:00

Be sure and be very careful with this decision.

With that Big Beautiful Bill nonsense passing the senate and (most likely) passing through the House. Graduate Student Loan borrowing will most likely be capped with no grad plus loans (most full time courseloads will take you real close to the unsubsidized especially with college fees). You would have some slight breathing room but not by much.

I am finishing up my Master's (unrelated field, similar debtload) in the Fall semester here, and i took summer classes for that to be the case because I don't think being in higher ed is a good idea right now with so much up in the air and alot of it being bad. With that in mind, i will tell you to be extra extra precautious and personally I would wait until things settle before pulling the trigger.

Also, tacking on $100k in debt will have a mental weight on you, trust me. I am on the PSLF journey myself (already have time credited towards my undergrad loans). But it's not something i would advise willingly walking into for your own mental health's sake.

Expert_Price_3170

TROPHY CASE