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Student Loan Debt- Should It Be Forgiven?

Last week I followed a Tweet from GeorgeGSmithJr to an article on The Huffington Post. The topic is forgiving student loan debt to help stimulate the economy. An attorney from New York has started a petition on Facebook to cancel loans so that those monies can be injected back into the economy.

The comments on the article are interesting and range from (and I'm paraphrasing) "Why not help those who are struggling?" and "If bankers can buy $40,000 chairs then why not?" to "No way! You willingly took out the loans, they should be paid back in full."

George and I had a conversation where I said that I didn't want to be seen as a deadbeat. The loans are my responsibility but the monthly payment amount is one we just can't swing right now.

I spoke with the Department of Education about my loans just last week. They've advised me on the best course of action given our situation. I'll be keeping the loans in forbearance status but making a payment we can afford which will go more towards the principal than the interest.

I think the petition has some merit and is worth further investigation. I don't think loans need to be entirely forgiven but drastically reducing the interest rates, forgiving the interest that has accrued to date or allowing people to volunteer to work off the debt are ideas I think the government should at least look into.

The idea of fairness and whether this type of plan would actually help stimulate the economy is a slippery slope for sure. But so many people I know bought into the idea that we needed to go to college or else we'd be failures, and we went to college thinking we'd definitely be able to pay back the loans easily because a degree automatically guarantees a good job. I can't speak for anyone else but the monthly payment the bank wants would take a huge chunk of our monthly expenses.

Are you weighed down by student loan debt? Have you found a payment option that works well for you? What do think of the petition?
(photo from Google Images)

Random Quirk

I can't drink regular coffee. It has to be flavored. I can't drink coffee with out creamer (half and half too, but I can live with out it). My creamer has to be the same flavor as the coffee or I can't drink it. French Vanilla coffee = French Vanilla Creamer.


What are your random quirks?
(photo from Google Images)

I'm Here, But I'm Not *Here* (picture it in italics)

Hello! You're still here? Awesome. Thanks for sticking around! This week has been Cuh-Razy! I am a perfect example of be careful what you wish for. I am in the weeds. I'm treading water and barely keeping my head above the surface, but it's been stimulating, exciting, challenging and fun. I hope it's a sign of good things to come. Bullet points of my week (sorry, I know that's so lazy):
*Met with an event planner I know from my book club. She actually asked for my advice on marketing, PR and social media (sucker!). We talked for several hours and I think I gave her a lot of ideas on things she can do going forward.

*Met with my friend's boss about her medical spa and also talked marketing etc. and created a flyer for them for a Spa Week they're having soon.

*Started on our homework from the financial advisor who's helping us for the magazine article. We each pulled our credit scores from one of the three agencies. Hello 880! Pam gave us a lot of good advice and we're hoping she's right about several things that can lower monthly payments and allow us to funnel money toward debt management and savings.

I am hoping to get back on track and resume regular blogging next week. I'm contemplating sneaking out of the house one day this weekend with Phil's* laptop and squirreling away somewhere with free WiFi so that I can get caught up on all the things I owe people.

What's been going on with you? Miss you guys! Have a great weekend. *Yep, that's his real name. He gave the OK. Photo from Google Images.