General Discussion

phylny

(8,814 posts)

60. For my first degree, a BA awarded in 1980,

Sun Nov 3, 2013, 05:56 PM

Nov 2013

my "debt" was $1000, a loan we took out the year my father was out of work. That was the extent of my debt, and I paid it off in about a year (the payments were about $50/month, but I ended up just paying it off early).

For my second and third, BHS in 1996 & MHS in 1999, no debt - my husband and I paid as I went. It would be very difficult for most students today to do this on their own.

We promised our daughters that they'd receive their college educations, paid by us, for four years. Anything after that, they'd pay for.

Our first decided to go for a Masters degree that she didn't finish, and has about $20K in debt left. Our middle had to go for a ninth semester, and took out a loan for $9,000 that she paid off in a year. Our youngest has no debt, but will incur debt for her graduate degree unless she gets some money from whatever school she attends.

Today's students are being screwed over big time.

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Student Loan Debt... [View all] Agschmid Nov 2013 OP

Never had student debt PasadenaTrudy Nov 2013 #1

I was extremely lucky gopiscrap Nov 2013 #2

nice concerning the debt beachbum bob Nov 2013 #4

yeah, but it could have been so much worse gopiscrap Nov 2013 #5

Same here... KansDem Nov 2013 #10

I agree with you gopiscrap Nov 2013 #16

At the next DU meetup, I'll buy you a beer... KansDem Nov 2013 #22

sounds cool gopiscrap Nov 2013 #25

Kansas City KansDem Nov 2013 #28

I went to college in my late 30's and incurred around beachbum bob Nov 2013 #3

Question... Agschmid Nov 2013 #7

the field i was i had worked in beachbum bob Nov 2013 #19

Makes a big difference then huh? Agschmid Nov 2013 #23

yep it does. beachbum bob Nov 2013 #26

Being self-righteous doesn't win you friends duffyduff Nov 2013 #9

Easy loans Inspired Nov 2013 #13

Doesn't explain the situation for non-traditional students who have debt duffyduff Nov 2013 #17

People have to be ruthlessly realistic when it comes to student debt. Igel Nov 2013 #36

I think I was too sheltered... Agschmid Nov 2013 #45

tough to watch beachbum bob Nov 2013 #24

I teach college, and while I believe tuition rates, textbook costs, and tblue37 Nov 2013 #29

Thanks for the thoughtful response. Agschmid Nov 2013 #37

I have a friend who is in a low earning career. IdaBriggs Nov 2013 #40

I'm in graduate school. Vashta Nerada Nov 2013 #6

It took me pretty much 10 years sharp_stick Nov 2013 #8

My daughter is on a 25 year payment plan. Inspired Nov 2013 #11

Elementary Ed is a VERY bad major because of the glut of people in it duffyduff Nov 2013 #15

Other. 10+ years, never had student debt. trackfan Nov 2013 #12

Back when I graduated from college (1968) Blue_In_AK Nov 2013 #14

It's like another world now! Agschmid Nov 2013 #18

to true but this is beachbum bob Nov 2013 #21

I know. Blue_In_AK Nov 2013 #41

Which is how it ought to be treestar Nov 2013 #58

I was lucky Aerows Nov 2013 #20

My husband paid my way through college in the mid-'90's and it was ... Tikki Nov 2013 #27

I had tons of part time and temp jobs when I was first out of school shenmue Nov 2013 #30

Good job! I am close to done... Agschmid Nov 2013 #31

My wife's situation is Broken_Hero Nov 2013 #32

My dad paid for my college. Union plumber. n-t Logical Nov 2013 #33

I'm 68 years old. There were no student loans when I went to college. MineralMan Nov 2013 #34

I'm still working on the last bits of a bachelor's degree, and paying off loans bhikkhu Nov 2013 #35

I'll be paying this off forever. a la izquierda Nov 2013 #38

Hang in there kiddo. You're paying it forward as much as back. nolabear Nov 2013 #43

I know... a la izquierda Nov 2013 #51

the bad news is.... mike_c Nov 2013 #44

This is a little off topic, but... Vashta Nerada Nov 2013 #47

I had to take out some... a la izquierda Nov 2013 #48

Ouch. Vashta Nerada Nov 2013 #49

I was kidding about the marriage part. a la izquierda Nov 2013 #50

Other. laundry_queen Nov 2013 #39

Paid as I went. But I went mostly as a working adult. nolabear Nov 2013 #42

I had to pay back the VA $900 because of their overpayments to me. Tierra_y_Libertad Nov 2013 #46

My dad was a Marine (wwii, korea, and vietnam); mom became a real estate agent peacebird Nov 2013 #52

I had a small loan Turbineguy Nov 2013 #53

Mostly grants for me, some loan. roamer65 Nov 2013 #54

Still paying... CFLDem Nov 2013 #55

only took out loans the last 2 years of my doctorate.... drthais Nov 2013 #56

I had 20K of debt treestar Nov 2013 #57

you are correct. kids are taken advantages advantage beachbum bob Nov 2013 #59

For my first degree, a BA awarded in 1980, phylny Nov 2013 #60

Other: More than 10 years out of school, never had any debt. MadrasT Nov 2013 #61

max debt allowed was only 9500 when i went to school in the 80s Liberal_in_LA Nov 2013 #62