College debt has ruined my life, and I’m mad at myself for leting it happen.?
I am beginning to regret going to college, it seems the only thing I have attained from it, is debt. When I went to school I was allured to the dream of being an airline pilot. I finally got my pilot’s license, but it got to expensive, so I switched to Aviation Management. I am so depressed and mad at myself for letting this happen, and it seems like there is no way out. A few times I forgot to fill out the FAFSA so I had to take out loans to cover the expenses, or I was late getting it in and got no money.
Here’s where I am at:
1 Loan for ,000 (Monthly Payments of 476/mo); 1 Loan for 620 (Monthly Payments of 128); 1 Loan for 00 (Monthly Payments of 50), and Credit Card Debt of about 00. So I have loans totaling 420.
I also have a car payment, cell phone, however I pay no rent, but my grandparents will soon be asking for that.
I just got a new job that pays me 000 per year. So if I don’t put anything into savings I can pay off my loans in about 4 years, however when you begin to figure in my other expenses it’s more like 7 years.
Consolidation is not really an option, because the 000 is an “Education Alternative Loan”, it’s not a federal loan. The 00 loan is a no interest loan. And the 620 is a direct federal loan.
-My dilemma is that, I have a girlfriend that I want to begin a life with. I wish to get an apartment with her maybe in the next year or so. And I want to marry her.
Situation 1- Do I put no money into savings and just tackle the loans head on? I will have no money for retirement or a down payment on a house.
Situation 2- I put some money aside into savings, and it will take longer to pay off?
Situation 3- Declare bankruptcy if I can?
I apologize for this taking so long, but I don’t know what to do. Thank you for your help.