Advice and info on loans and debt.

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Hello all I'll try to keep this brief since I want as many replies as possible.

Right now I work full time and make around 24,000 a year. I'm going to nursing school in the fall. Knowing I will have to quit work and go to school full time for the next 2 years at least, how has recovering from student debt been for you folks out there? Is it worth the time paying it back or should I try to work as much as possible while in school?

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Knowing what I know now.. I would say work as much as you can, up until the point it interferes with school. On the flip side, lots of people can't work and go to school. But if you can manage it.. work! Another thing I'd say is.. live like you're in college. Live very frugally and try to pay for books and uniforms out of pocket.

I probably could have managed to pay for books using cash- but I still used loan money. Over the course of 4 years that was probably well over 3,000 in borrowed money with interest. Lesson learned says the lady paying out the wazoo every month to Sallie Mae.

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Take a loan if you have to, your education is most important and nursing studies are hard. If I can get a good-paying job, I plan to keep my standard of living low, so I can repay the loan back faster.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Personally, I would continue to work as long as possible unless your grades are being affected. Although people say that student loan debt is 'good,' the burden of debt over one's shoulder is no joke. Minimize the amount of money that you must borrow.

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I have student debt from my unrelated bachelors degree. I've paid most of it off and the payments were never unreasonable, though I always paid more to keep it going down. But I have a direct loan, which is through federal aid (FAFSA), not private. I found that working with them has been easy and you can defer the loan if you don't have a job or if you can't afford it.

I'm also starting school this fall and I'll also be unemployed again. But I've been saving for the last few years but will have to take a small loan anyway. I'm not too afraid about it since I've managed my past loan pretty well. I just know that I cannot keep my current job and go to nursing school.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ER, LDRP.

I have also been faced with taking out student loans and working part time when I start school in the fall. I have considered deferring a semester, but have pretty much come to the conclusion that I would probably end up doing the same thing to make it through. My fiance has been incredibly supportive, but I still worry that this is a large burden.

I keep telling myself, and I have to believe, that two years of struggle will be worth it in the end. The moment is here, and I need to be brave and believe in myself.

We all do in order to make it

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Specializes in CNA.

Oh I am in debt like $7,000 so far and I'm not in nursing school yet..ugh..but I gotta do what it takes to get through..can't work because it interferes with my school work.

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Personally, I would continue to work as long as possible unless your grades are being affected. Although people say that student loan debt is 'good,' the burden of debt over one's shoulder is no joke. Minimize the amount of money that you must borrow.

I would not agree with "good". A house debt is "good". School debts outrank credit debt. School debt has interest that can keep you paying for the rest of your life. Just be aware that you will need to pay this back. Sooner the better. Get school done, GET A JOB! And start paying back what you borrowed.

Do you have a weekend only option for work. That's what I'm doing to supplement my household income.

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I agree with the weekend work, I do Fri & Sat nights. If you can wait tables in a busy restaurant you can make really good money!

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