| Do you find it increasingly harder to pursue higher | | | | This could suspend or even reduce your monthly |
| education due to student loan debt? No one blames | | | | payments. However, interest will continue to grow on |
| you. The average student graduates with | | | | loans that are not federally subsidized. |
| approximately $21,000 in debt. Here are a few tips to | | | | 5. Income contingent repayment plan |
| help you pay off that debt. | | | | This only works if you have loans through the Direct |
| 1. Consolidation | | | | Loan program. You can make payments based on |
| Student debt loan consolidation bundles up your loans | | | | your income and your debt load. |
| and combines them up into just one monthly | | | | 6. Income-based repayment program |
| payment with a lower interest rate. This will also | | | | This option works just like the income contingent |
| save you from having to deal with multiple creditors. | | | | repayment plan, but it is more dangerous as you can |
| 2. Refinancing | | | | have a higher income, yet pay less per month. |
| Refinancing you student debt loan will lengthen the | | | | The loan terms for these last two programs require |
| term of your loan, lowering your monthly payments | | | | you to make payments of up to 25 years. After |
| by as much as 50%. However, a lengthier loan life | | | | that, your remaining will be forgiven. If you work in |
| means you will pay more in the long run. | | | | the public sector (teacher, public defender, etc.) your |
| 3. Faithful payments | | | | student loan debt will be forgiven after 10 years. |
| Make payments on time and pay more than the | | | | As you can see, you have many options of debt |
| minimum whenever you can afford it. By making late | | | | relief to choose from depending on your financial |
| payments or missing them altogether your interest | | | | situation. Consider the strong points and negative |
| will accrue and you'll pay more the next month. | | | | sides of each of them and see which one suits you |
| 4. Economic hardship deferment or forbearance | | | | best. |