conversation: User (Sly_R): "I'm putting this out there to see what options may remain for me:\n\nI was a financial moron in college and racked up tons in student loans, then didn't pursue my intended career path and ended up working in retail, barely scraping by.\n\nSince I was in school, I learned to manage money better. Having to live on cash will do that for you. But my credit score is abysmal. \n\nNow my wife and I support two toddlers. I have roughly $80k in student loans to pay off. Interest alone is almost 400 per month -- WAY more than I can afford. I already went through a rehabilitation program, then defaulted again; and apparently, once that happens you can't rehabilitate again.\n\nI began applying for school to get my Masters, but it seems I won't qualify for financial aid while my original loans are in default.\n\nI have pretty much accepted that I will never pay off this loan. I need to effectively double my income, but I can't without further education, which I can't afford. I am ashamed of how this could affect my family.\n\nIs there any kind of way out of this? Just cutting some expenses here and there doesn't seem to even put a dent in the interest payments. My chief concern is to get a better job. If I could do that, my problems are solved. But with only an undergraduate degree in Music History/Theory, I am practically unhireable for any position that would pay even a teacher's salary."
  Self: "[The best article I've found about dealing with Student Loan Debt Burden](http://community.nasdaq.com/News/2011-05/the-dark-side-of-student-debt.aspx?CID=SYN-OUTBR-20100831-001)\n\n\nI also suggest you look into [Financial Peace University](http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/)\n\n"
  csguydn (csguydn): "That article is fantastic."
  