Like most Americans, I’m in debt. I’m a student with a part-time job and I’ve sunk into some pretty nasty debts. I have medical bills to take care of, as well as other other stuff. I’ve read a bit about debt consolidation and lots of sources say it’s pretty much a scam (you’re not eliminating the debt, you’re just moving it). I don’t think bankruptcy is a good idea.

What can a college student (undergrad) do to eliminate 00+ debt? Are there loan programs that just give you money and a few years before you have to start repaying it? Are there other alternatives?
I’ve decreased personal expenses to pretty much nonexistant. I don’t really buy clothes and food and such and all of my expenses are either medical bills, textbooks, or a monthly laptop payment.

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I’ve been told in the past that I had to wait 7 years before moving forward. Also, it seems very expensive to try and restart now. Dell computers wanted 29.9% to finance a laptop.

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I am 23 years old, in college part time and working part time. I am recently divorced and have about ,000 in loans and credit card bills I got stuck with that were all aqquired during the marriage. Since I can only afford minimum payments (and receive no financial aid) I feel like I should look into bankruptcy.
I have two credit cards, so If I file bankruptcy on just my loans (,000) and one credit card, does keeping the one credit card plus an account balance with Dell (for a laptop I financed) help my credit score at all, as opposed to filing on everything I owe?
And everyone says to do it before I get any older if I’m going to do it. And I don’t expect any new bills (I have a dependable car and low rent) anytime soon.
Sometimes I feel like bankruptcy is "cheating" but I had an extra income at the time I signed for the loans, and of course didn’t expect to get divorced. I feel helpless, as the balances barely go down and i’m spending money I need to live, or I’m going to have to quit school.

Technorati Tags: 23 years, account balance, bankruptcy, college part time, credit card bills, credit cards, credit score, dell, dependable car, extra income, financial aid, laptop, loans, low rent, marriage, minimum payments, spending money