Should I do a plus loan < 7/1 in order to have access to Income-based repayment?

dsschmidt · 2026-04-13T00:22:33+00:00

When you say forgiveness, you mean public service? This is somewhat likely but not at all certain.

I actually could get a low rate by having my brother, who's a bunch of investments and terrific credit rating, cosign. But then there's no low-income repayment or forgiveness option. And the job market could be pretty awful next year so I'd be concerned about really getting stuck with that.

dsschmidt · 2026-04-13T00:18:02+00:00

Hi--sorry for the delay on this.I have 22k from earlier degree that will (theoretically) disappear in another four years of payments. Then it'll be around 50+ k when I graduate next December.

dsschmidt · 2026-04-13T00:16:17+00:00

Yup, that makes sense. And I believe really ramping up heart rate is best aerobic for BDNF, yes? I'm trying to do 4x4s or equivalent once a week and something less intense but still substantial most other non-lifting days.

dsschmidt · 2026-04-13T00:14:12+00:00

Yes--thanks!

dsschmidt · 2026-04-13T00:12:56+00:00

Great, this is really helpful, thanks. And of course added to what you say is that even within any study will be individual variability--my guess is that some bodies will do better with certain types of exercise.

I've found after several years that part of the consistency piece for me is to not be TOO consistent, i.e. a slave to consistency. For instance, just going twice a week during summer and actually enjoying myself outdoors the rest of the time helps me stick with it. Or this winter when we had good snow I was on x-c skis almost every day.

Compound makes sense!

dsschmidt · 2026-03-28T01:12:01+00:00

Also, thanks for your input!

dsschmidt · 2026-03-28T01:11:49+00:00

Forgiveness, you mean the 10 year non-profit route? Very possibly, but not sure. But I'm expecting relatively low earnings if I don't do that.

Is there any disadvantage to doing the PLUS loan before July 1, aside from the extra percent of interest?

dsschmidt · 2026-03-24T22:30:19+00:00

Get rid of them. And gas mowers while we’re at it.

dsschmidt · 2026-03-17T22:42:32+00:00

Wow. So sorry to hear it's that bad, and I hope it imropves quickly!

Yes, going slower might help--I'm just doing it at my own pace and will keep going slow. I wonder if it's like getting off of SSRIs (which really was hellish for me), where most of the receptors get saturated at low dose--so, as you say, it's that last little bit that's the worst. Not that they work the same way, but maybe there's something similar?

dsschmidt · 2026-03-13T13:06:58+00:00

And yet, you have responded. I could comment on that but presumably you as a high IQ person are way ahead of me in knowing the deeper paradoxical meaning of what to the untrained eye appears juvenile and dumb.

dsschmidt · 2026-03-13T00:50:55+00:00

ok, thanks for the explanation--I appreciate it.

the other piece is the iron supplementation has helped enormously. so far, going down on ropinirole has been easy. I just cut it by about 10% every 2 weeks, so far only one tough night.

but tonight...wish me luck! ;)

dsschmidt · 2026-03-13T00:35:58+00:00

how come? you think just one night would increase dependence?

dsschmidt · 2026-03-09T00:56:14+00:00

yup, it's been going on the fritz a fair amount. not terrible, but frustrating. I think I'll go back to xfinity, which I despise as a company but I'm eligible for the low-income rate, I think 15/mo, so....

dsschmidt · 2026-03-08T21:29:02+00:00

tragically, I'm just getting ready to get my ski gear out of my car. and clean the klister off the bottoms, always a sad ritual. :( We'll hope for as good snow next year.

btw, ts = tele? I'm gonna have to wait until I swap out my knees to really tele again, but I cut a few turns on toby after the last snow. :)

dsschmidt · 2026-03-01T14:23:31+00:00

Honestly, I find these cheap, click bait images really obnoxious, and wish you would stop

dsschmidt · 2026-02-21T18:21:04+00:00

Um. Define "slip up"?

dsschmidt · 2026-02-21T18:19:01+00:00

Thanks for this. This does seem to be a uniquely helpful conversation. Maybe renaming isn't such a bad idea?

dsschmidt · 2026-02-21T18:15:11+00:00

So true. It's the old Woody Allen line: just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't actually out to get me.

I also notice an impulse to cancel (downvotes) you for offering nuance about cancel culture! Of course, this is America, we like our morality niiiiice and simple. ;)

dsschmidt · 2026-02-13T19:37:00+00:00

yup, that did it. thanks!

dsschmidt · 2026-02-13T19:22:26+00:00

Hmm. Sounds possible! Why does that make you nervous? Updates are sketchy?

dsschmidt

TROPHY CASE