Unexpected costs are everywhere with student loans. Interest grows every day, and one mistake can mean getting hit with late fees. One mistake that can cost thousands of dollars comes with Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plans like Income-Based Repayment (IBR) and Pay As You Earn (PAYE) re-certifications. That statement is worth …
IBR and PAYE for Married Couples who Both Have Student Loans
Over the last few days, I’ve received several questions about IBR, and other income-driven plans such as REPAYE and Pay As You Earn. It seems there is a ton of confusion about calculating income-driven payments with spouses who each have student loans. Many couples fear that if they get married, …
Meet the Worst Federal Student Loan Repayment Plan
There are a variety of federal student loan repayment plans, all with unique pros and cons, but the one that is undoubtedly the worst is the standard 10-year repayment plan. Borrowers on the standard repayment plan sacrifice flexibility, have no route to forgiveness, face larger monthly payments, and limit their …
Wait for IDR Forgiveness or Aggressively Repay Federal Student Loans?
At first glance, the decision is easy: student loan forgiveness on an IDR plan is obviously better than repaying the debt in full, even if forgiveness takes 20 years. Upon closer reflection, things are not so obvious. Twenty years of living with debt is a long time. Between taxes and …
The Best Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Plan: IBR vs PAYE vs REPAYE
Under the right circumstances, IBR, PAYE, or REPAYE might be the best Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Plan. Deciding which IDR plan is the best option will depend upon many different factors. Marital status, loan age, tax strategy, and loan type all impact which choice will have the lowest payment. Today I …
Federal Student Loan Repayment Plan Options and Strategy
When it comes to federal student loan repayment plans, there isn’t an option that is clearly the best. Some plans work great in certain circumstances, while others excel under different conditions. Picking the best repayment plan requires more than just picking the one with the lowest monthly payment. Each plan …