I was a first generation college student with uneducated and financially illiterate parents when I took out student loans. I finally finished my nursing degree in 2023 and then midwifery graduate degree in May 2025. I now make $130k/year and my monthly payments will be $1080, as I have $129k of student loan debt.
We were looking forward to my husband being able to go back to school while just I would work but nope, cannot afford that now. We own both our cars outright, our kids go to public school, I budget grocery shop, we rarely eat out, never buy anything new aka thrift, don't go on vacations (legit my 2 kids were harassing me about how we have never gone onna vacay).
Our only expense is our mortgage which yes, is expensive at $3895 but that plus how expensive utilities, gas, insurance premiums, etc. have gone up, it is unsustainable.
Options:
Stay at current job and hope PSLF sticks around for 10 more years.
Find a different job and hope I get picked for HRSA student loan forgiveness and have to stay for 2-3 years.
Move to Canada and never come back or move and work there and make less than $100k so then my US payment would be $0.
I'm a dual citizen and #3 is looking truly like the best option because I am DONE with this game.
Posted by aFoxunderaRowantree
7 Comments
Your mortgage isn’t just expensive, it is LUDICROUSLY expensive. You chose to be house poor. Sell the house and buy something reasonable…
You can’t afford that house.
How much is your husband make? Does he also have loans in the $100K level like you?
Why don’t you just pay your loans?
Your issue is that you are house poor, not your student loans. You chose to borrow more than you could afford despite your debt.
PSLF was passed by congress, so it is generally considered more safe than some of the other plans such a SAVE which were by executive order. I believe RAP was also passed by congress.
I’m sorry the trolls found your post. I think moving to Canada makes sense for so many reasons, including the loan issue. Quality of life, freedom, not being in trump’s america.