damn, i owe almost $40,000 for an mfa in painting (with loans too for aa and ba degrees). what am i gonna do with that degree? i teach one course a semester at the local community college right now. just a foot in the door and experience until i can get a tenured postion making $50,000 a year in 5 years.
but yeah i consolidated, locked in the interest rate at like 2.5% forever. good deal. and i still pay more than the minimum monthly payment to get it down quicker.
i agree with not spending more than you have, but sometimes you have to invest in the future. had i not gone to grad school, i would have been a sad high school teacher forever. but even though i owe lots of money after grad school, i can have a much more rewarding career that i love in the future. it's all give and take. i drive a 24 year old car to save money to pay back my school loans (cheap insurance, taxes, and gas). soo worth it. i'll pay whatever it takes to reach my dreams. like they say, you can't take it with you (when you die). as long as i am doing what i love, i don't care what it costs. my happiness is far more valuable than monthly statements. if it takes 40 years to pay back my student loans, i'll be happy to be border line impoverished as long as i am happy in life!
barrett