Should I Pay Student Loans With a Credit Card?
Putting a student loan on a credit card trades income-driven payments, forgiveness, and death/disability discharge for an unprotected 22%+ balance.
forbearance
They Said My SAVE Forbearance Months Still Count Toward My IDR Forgiveness Clock. They Don’t.
SAVE forbearance months don’t count toward your IDR forgiveness clock. Unlike PSLF, there’s no buyback fix for IDR — here’s why, and what to do.
DHS Shutdown May 2026: What Federal Workers and Coast Guard Members Need to Do Before the First Missed Payment
DHS shutdown hits 35,000+ workers in May 2026. Coast Guard members have utilities cut. Here’s every hardship program available — and why you must call now, not after you miss a payment.
Navient Settlement Payments Have Started — Here’s What to Know
The CFPB’s $120 million enforcement action against Navient is now paying out. Checks started going out February 13, 2026 through Rust Consulting. No claim form required for most borrowers. Navient is also permanently banned from servicing federal student loans.
Student Loans Secretly in Forbearance During Servicer Transfers
When student loan servicers change, your loans can be automatically placed in forbearance without your consent. Over 30 million borrowers have been affected. Interest keeps accruing during the transfer, and if you don’t act quickly, you could owe more than expected.
Student Loan Forbearance Relief: Myth vs Reality
Quick Answer: The Department of Education’s forbearance relief addresses historical administrative failures by providing immediate debt cancellation for at least 40,000 PSLF borrowers and giving over 3.6 million borrowers additional credit toward income-driven repayment forgiveness. These changes remedy years of mismanagement that previously denied eligible borrowers access to loan forgiveness programs.The Department of Education announced …
Texas Guaranteed Review: Is It Legit?
Quick Answer: Texas Guaranteed appears to have legitimacy issues based on this teacher’s experience of poor customer service and unresponsive communication regarding loan forgiveness eligibility. The borrower paid $67,000 over 11 years as a Title 1 teacher but received condescending treatment and false claims about contact attempts from representatives.Question:Dear Steve,I have been a teacher since …
I’m in a Debt Despair Over My Navient Student Loans and Need Advice
Quick Answer: A borrower’s Navient private student loans increased from $32,781 to $57,475 due to variable interest rates ranging from 5.25% to 9.25%, with monthly payments jumping from $330 to $450. Private student loans offer fewer relief options than federal loans, so the borrower should explore income-driven repayment alternatives or consider refinancing with a different …
Private Student Loan Options: Myth vs Reality
Quick Answer: Private student loans offer limited relief options compared to federal loans, as demonstrated by a borrower who accumulated $95,000 in debt and exhausted all deferments and forbearance periods. Unlike federal loans, private loans typically lack income-driven repayment plans and comprehensive hardship protections.Question:Dear Steve,I took out both federal and private loans to go to …
Student Loan Debt at Retirement: When It Helps and Hurts
Quick Answer: Student loan debt at retirement hurts when using forbearance, as shown by a 62-year-old’s balance growing to $345,000, but federal loans offer protection through income-driven repayment plans and potential Social Security garnishment limits. Consolidating federal loans into Direct Consolidation with income-based payments provides better long-term protection than forbearance.Question:Dear Steve,I’ve been getting forbearances forever …
