Student Loan Debt Help

Repaying Your Student Loan Debt

The average college student graduates with $19,000 in student loan debt, but many carry

up to $40,000. For students continuing on to professional or graduate school, or those

who attended top-tier schools, the tally can top $150,000. The simple fact is that student

loan debt repayment can’t be permanently avoided, but there are several ways to take the

sting out of the monthly bill. Below are some student loan debt help solutions and advice.

Pre-Pay Student Loan Debt

If possible, repay some of your student debt before you graduate or your interest deferral

period ends. Early payments for subsidized loans are applied to the principal, which

reduces both your principal balance and the interest you pay over the life of the loan.

Payments toward unsubsidized loans are first applied to accrued interest, but that can also

reduce the life of the loan and save you money in the end.

Consolidate Student Loans to Create New Payment Options

Federal student loans issued before July 1, 2006 have variable rates, which means the

interest rate resets annually on June 30. Federal loans issued after that date have a fixed

interest rate.

If the current interest rate on your federal loan is variable, consolidate the loan to lock in

a fixed rate. Consolidating fixed rate loans also has advantages, including the ease of a

single monthly payment. Many lenders also offer bonuses for consolidation such as a rate

reduction of .25 to 1% after a number of on-time payments, and possibly an additional

.25 to .50% rate reduction for automatic payments.

In addition to the potential rate reduction of up to 1.5%, most consolidation loans include

choice of repayment plans. Repayment plans determine your payments by dividing the

principal plus total interest by the life of the loan. The amount of the payment depends on

the plan you choose:

* Standard repayment – equal payments for the life of the loan, usually ten years.

* Extended repayment – equal payments over a longer term, which reduces monthly

payments but increases the total interest.

* Graduated repayment –lower payments at first, when your income is lower Payments

gradually increase until the loan is paid off.

* Income contingent repayment – monthly payment amounts are reset each year based

on your annual gross income as reported on your US tax return.

* Before you consolidate, research various lenders until you find one that offers the

best terms.

Some lenders offer a two to nine-month grace period following your graduation. The

grace period may include interest subsidies. To ensure you receive all the subsidies, ask

your consolidation lender to accept your paperwork in time to receive the best rate, but

delay processing until your grace period is about to expire.

Don’t Let Financial Hardship Lead to Financial Ruin

When money is tight or you experience a financial hardship, it’s tempting to skip a

payment, or stop paying altogether, but default penalties are severe. Instead, contact your

lender as soon as you know you’re in trouble and ask them for help choosing a different

repayment plan or applying for a deferral or forbearance.

Student loan debt can feel overwhelming, but taking advantage of consolidation offers

can help you get a handle on your payments, and reduce the number of bills you have to

pay every month. For more articles on Student Loan Debt Help, visit Bills.Com