Hi everyone! Please enjoy this guest post from Brad, who is a former financial analyst and Wall Street executive as well as a regular contributor to How to Save Money.
The government of the United States is in league with US bankers to create a nation of well-educated debtors!
Note: This post may contain affiliate links.
Did that lead catch your attention? It was meant to be provocative. But still, it is at least partially true, even if the US government’s involvement is unwitting.
Every year in the United States, 60% of those who attend college borrow money to do so. That is 12 million borrowers. There are 37 million people who have outstanding loans currently. The estimates vary, but there is somewhere between $902 billion (that is billion, with a “B”) and $1 trillion in outstanding student loan debt. As of the first quarter of 2012, the average student graduating with a four year degree was $24,301 in debt.
There is now $85 billion in past due student loan payments. The default rate is 9.1%, and only 37% of student loan holders have made all of their payments on time.
Now get this, a huge 48% of 25 to 34 year olds who have student loans report that they are either unemployed or under-employed.
The Chains of Debt Are Wrapped Tightly
While it has been getting progressively more difficult to discharge student loan debt through bankruptcy since 1984, just a few years back Congress passed new legislation that makes it virtually impossible. And, interest rates on student loans can now go as high as 8.5%. This payable to your government at a time when the government charges banks only 0.25% to borrow money. Quite a difference.
I don’t really believe in conspiracies, but I do believe that the government and banks are looking out for themselves and your well-being comes in a far distant and remote second.
That means you have to look out for yourself and consider all of your options to reduce and eliminate your student loans. Translated this means that I believe we are all of us justified in getting rid of this debt by any means possible.
Getting Rid of That Debt
Sadly, there are not many means open to getting rid of student loan debt. You can die. The loans will not follow you to the grave (unlike taxes which will) but that isn’t a great proposition for anyone.
Another option is permanent and complete disability. This is how I got rid of my student loan debt (around $100,000 worth). I developed arthritis in my feet and can only walk with much pain. I don’t recommend this as a great strategy, but if you are disabled you can use it!
The interesting thing about discharging debt through disability is that I must now report the value of all the loans I received on my taxes as income for the year of the discharge.
So I’m disabled, unable to work in a traditional job, and am currently only earning income in the form of paltry pennies thrown at me by some blog owners, and I’m supposed to pay taxes on over $100,000 worth of income. Please tell me how that is supposed to work? The US government wants to get its pound of flesh no matter where it comes from. Ask me next April 15th if I managed it. In the mean time I am trying my best to find new ways to save money and also generate a passive income stream to assist with my day to day monetary needs.
While I am on the topic of disability, the maximum anyone can get through Social Security disability (which SSI says I’m not disabled enough to get) is just under $25,000 a year. Between income and self-employment taxes, my effective tax rate is roughly 25%. So I could pay 100% of my income in taxes, if I had an income.
Another Discharge Alternative
Do you think I should join the Peace Corps? Run away to sunny Africa? In fact, doing that is one of the ways you can discharge up to 80% of your student loan debt. It will take you four years of Peace Corp service to get rid of this much of your debt.
There are a number of other fields that you can go into that will allow you to discharge at least some of your debt. You could become a librarian for instance.
So we are left with the calculation of whether to pay off the debt early or just to make the minimum payments the government is looking for. Easy choice. Look at interest rates and the alternative uses for your funds.
Check Your Interest Rates
Do you have credit card debt with an interest rate higher than your student loan debt? Pay that off the credit cards first. Make a similar calculation for any of your other debts, mortgages, car loans, etc. Pay off the higher interest rate first.
Now my advice veers from the conventional. Ask yourself if, realistically, you can get a better return for your money from an alternative investment like a new business or the stock market. If you think you can, then do so.
Consider the amount of your payment here. There are not many 10% returns available for $200 a month. Also consider your age. If you are in your 20’s this is a better option than it is for someone in their 50’s.
The stock market is more of a gamble these days than ever before. The Federal Reserve’s program of easy money to stimulate growth has pushed the market to way over-priced levels. But if you want to join the parade, you should. Just be aware that the good times in the market are going to end someday and abruptly. Get out when you see this coming. [Editor’s note: While I agree that the stock market can be a gamble, my personal approach is more of a “buy-and-hold” type philosophy. I tend to buy stocks of solid companies (hopefully ones that pay dividends) and hold them for a long time rather than trying to figure out when to get out].
Not everyone should go this route. You have to accept some or a lot of risk. It might suit you better to join the Peace Corps.
What do you think? Would you ever consider joining the Peace Corps to pay off student loans? Do you think it’s better to invest if you can earn a higher interest rate on your money than your student loan interest rate?
Brad holds an MBA and is a former financial analyst and Wall Street Executive. He regularly contributes to How to Save Money, a personal finance website dedicated to helping people save money and find financial freedom.
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More from my site
How to Hammer Your Way Out of Debt
How I Paid for College Without Student Loans and Without The Bank of Mom and Dad
How to Earn an A in Student Loan Repayment Options
Proven Strategies to Minimize Student Loan Debt (from a soon-to-be college grad!)
Sometimes Less $$$ = More Happiness… But Less Debt is Priceless
5 Tips for Paying Off Student Loans Faster
Holly@ClubThrifty says
atThis country’s student loan debt problem is out-of-control. It simply cannot keep going the way it’s going! My daughters are 3 and 5 now and I worry they’ll never be able to afford college. I hope things change in the next 15 years.
Dee S says
atI know, it’s truly frightening how fast the cost of a college education has risen even in the past decade!
Brian @ Luke1428 says
atThe fact the U.S. government gives loans to 18-year olds who have never made a financial decision in their lives is ridiculous. It’s not based on any quality credit history or past merit. And the fact parents are so disengaged and allow this to occur, putting their kids in financial bondage, is an even worse tragedy. Parents have to step up and tell their kids “No, you can’t take out that loan and go to that expensive college.” There are cheaper alternatives for higher ed that can move students into the marketplace.
Dee S says
atI often think that the saddest thing about student loans is that they are geared toward young people who often simply don’t know any better. It’s so scary how a big mistake like taking out too much student loan debt can have a massive impact for years to come.
Kim says
atI agree with Brian. We have to make sure as parents that we pay attention to the higher education process and don’t let kids get hung up on “dream schools”. Unless you’re going to be President or work for some huge firm in NYC, no one pays attention where your degree came from. Also, it’s important to realize how much your chosen career might bring in as salary. Taking out $100K in loans to be a teacher or social worker just doesn’t make sense. I’m not opposed to student loans, but you have to be very educated about their consequences.
Dee S says
atExactly! I have heard of some folks with majors like social work who come out of school with six figure debt! That’s just nuts. There needs to be a lot more advance thought prior to taking out student loans.
Kurt @ Money Counselor says
atSadly a topic in which most of these grads are poorly educated is personal financial management!
Dee S says
atTrue story. So tragic.
Aldo @ MND says
atThe student loan debt is ridiculous. And schools keep getting more and more expensive – don’t know why. Our best bet is to start saving for college early and to educate our kids so they have a better understanding of how much college cost. Maybe they’ll work harder in school to try to get scholarships… maybe.
Dee S says
atI think you hit the nail on the head- start saving early and educate your children on financial matters!
Shannon @ Financially Blonde says
atThe student loan situation in the US makes me sick to my stomach. The federal government has put all sorts of restrictions and lending standards for home buyers thanks to the 2008 crisis; however, they do not put limits and caps on private student loans. There is no way that a student who has no proven earnings potential should get the type of money they are getting in loans. It’s wrong and ruining the future of an entire generation.
Dee S says
atThat’s an excellent point; it’s incredibly difficult to get a mortgage these days, but virtually anyone can get a student loan! Sadly, I bet the reasons why there have been so many fewer restrictions put on student loan debt is because it’s so difficult to get out of paying it back. It’s almost a guaranteed return for the federal government and other lenders.
Melanie @ My Alternate Life says
atThe student loan situation makes me sick. I would join the Peace Corps if their award was worthwhile for me. Our nation is built upon debt, and education is now big business. Most people in my generation are well-educated, but saddled with student loans. It’s hard to deal with, but I’m determined to get out eventually!
Dee S says
atFolks who manage to get out of school without student loans for whatever reason are certainly lucky; hope they realize it!
Poor Student says
atFortunately I don’t have to take out loans to finance my education. Some of my friends do and seeing the job prospect nowadays I’m even more grateful that I will graduate debt-free.
Dee S says
atThat’s awesome! Wish I could have made it out debt free.
Glen @ How To Save Money says
atThanks again for providing us the opportunity to post on your site Dee. Looks like a lot of people have strong views about student debt.
Dee S says
atA big thanks to How to Save Money for guest posting on Color Me Frugal this week! Thanks Glen!
Josh R says
atIt’s amazing to me how fast the cost of college has grown and it really does make me sick. There’s no reason that anyone should be told they don’t deserve a higher education because they can’t afford it, or because they don’t qualify for that loan. I’m lucky enough to never have had student loan debt, but I really do feel for those who do. Student loans are a lot like indentured servitude. The big difference is that the loans take much longer to pay off!
Dee S says
atGood for you for never having to have student loan debt! And I think you are right- “indentured servitude” about sums it up. I actually have a post on that coming out in a couple weeks…
Syed says
atGreed is playing the major role here. Greed from colleges by raising tuition prices to near unsustainable levels and not giving a shred of financial education to its students. Greed from the student loan companies in giving away loans like candy to anyone and everyone. And greed, of course, on the part of politicians who have to help out the poor lenders who backed their campaign. In the process, the student gets hurt the most.
The best thing we can do is keep our student loans as low as possible and pay them off as soon as possible, especially the high interest ones.
Dee S says
at“The best thing we can do is keep our student loans as low as possible and pay them off as soon as possible, especially the high interest ones.”
— I could not have said it better!! Especially the part about keeping the loans as low as possible- sure wish I would have been more cognizant of that when I was in school.