All Posts Tagged With: "loan payment"


Perhaps I don’t understand the frustration…

Jennifer McClelland | RSS | Mon, Sep 21 2009 | 0 Comments

healthinsurance

Alright, I am a supporter of a public option for government sponsored health insurance. This may make me a “bad guy” to the conservatives of the country but I truly don’t understand what is wrong with wanting an option to have government sponsored health insurance that I PAY for.

Currently, I can’t afford car insurance, my mortgage payment, my student loan payments, AND health insurance so something has to go. Sure, I had a bout of bad luck when I had to have my gallbladder removed a few months ago, but other than that I have not had any troubles with my health.

I would really like to have some form of health insurance and I honestly don’t think that those who have insurance through their employer really understand how much it can cost for the rest of us. Even without a preexisting condition, the cost per month can be $150 with a $5,000 – $10,000 deductible. That is outrageous considering car insurance costs me $80 per month for FULL coverage with a $500 deductible AND I’ve had a car accident that was deemed my fault in the last 3 years.

I wish I did not have to pay that much for health insurance. Over the course of a year, if I did not have to pay over $1,200 for health related costs then I would be ahead over paying for health insurance (if I were paying $100 per month for insurance). Then again, if something disastrous were to happen, then I would be up “that” creek without a paddle (if you know what I mean). I hate the fact that I rely on hospital charity for serious conditions, but paying for health insurance simply is not worth it in my opinion. And in the opinion of the charity workers of the hospital, I do not make enough money to have to pay for health care.

I just do not understand why people argue so much about something as simple as a universal health care OPTION (this is not even something that is forced on you, it’s just an option). I wish, more than anything, that I could afford health care for not only myself, but my husband also. I feel as though we pay too much for health care we never use. I get dirty looks when I visit the doctor and tell them I don’t have health insurance, and even though I can pay for my visit, they still give me the look of someone who has stolen something.

This has gotten absolutely ridiculous. I have nurse friends who agree with me. I wish that I could encourage everyone to support some kind of health care for everyone, but I don’t think that will happen because some will “stick to their guns”. I just wish that those people could see the problem from my point of view or have the same issues I have. Then, perhaps, they would be willing to change their minds.

Related posts:
I don’t think I’ll ever fully understand the opposition to government health care
This Poll Was Not Taken In My Part of the Country

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College graduation: A diploma in one hand and a mountain of debt ahead.

Jennifer McClelland | RSS | Wed, May 13 2009 | 7 Comments

College is supposed to be the next step after high school; it is supposed to be where you become a well rounded individual and educated to get out in the “real world” to earn money and afford the life that you dream of.

This is not so much the case when the economy has gone sour.

I just witnessed firsthand a college graduation; I graduated with my B.B.A. on Saturday. Looking at the future is scary, and not having a job is worse. I will be taking classes through the summer, but August will be here in no time and I will be expected to have something lined up so I can start paying my $30,000 in student loans.

Luckily, I have been fortunate enough to be able to make it through college with only student loan debt and not credit card debt. A recent report has indicated that many students are graduating college with around $7,000 in credit card debt and much more debt in student loans. So of course the rate of default on student loans has increased in the past year.

The entire situation of hundreds of thousands of people graduating is exacerbated by unemployment and employers being far more particular about whom they hire. After looking for jobs in marketing, I’ve realized that if you don’t have at least 3 years of experience in the field, you are unlikely to find something right out of college at a marketing firm (unless you graduated with highest honors it seems).

There is some hope though; in July a new federal program will go into effect that allows graduates to cap his or her monthly loan payment to 15% of his or her income. While the program was created to give some relief to those who go into lower paying industries like teaching, it will help everyone. Another benefit to this program is that in some sectors, public service loan forgiveness will go into effect after 10 years of payments; all graduates’ loans will be forgiven after 25 years of payment.

I can’t imagine still paying back loans after 25 years. I am personally hoping to have my loans paid off in 10 if all goes well. I would love to have them paid off sooner, but I have to make sure that the bills are paid first. I think this is where the problem is coming from when students graduate. Like me, they live with their significant other or spouse, or are on their own and have to make sure that they have a place to live rather than worry about student loan payments.

However, it looks like this federal program will be helpful to graduates that will have a hard time paying back their student loans because of other financial obligations.

Related posts:
Student debt is on the rise
Students continue to face huge amounts of debt; and it’s increasing.
What are the lies that got you into credit card debt?

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“Living within Your Means…” a broken record

Jennifer McClelland | RSS | Tue, Nov 25 2008 | 0 Comments

I have read a lot of articles online saying that the number one way to keep your life “recession proof” is to live within your means. This means to live comfortably, as long as you can afford it with “cash-in-hand”. However, I find that this is common sense and sometimes people need more than this as a guideline.

How many times do we need to be told not to max out our credit cards, after the fact? I’m a 5th year senior, of course my credit isn’t as great as it would be if I was a graduate and paying off my student loans…I have to live with my decisions in these hard financial times, and when I graduate (sometime this summer) I have to go out and find a job that will cover my expenses, or hopefully (at least) cover my loan payments.

I have lived within my means, but at the same time, I will graduate college with a large amount of debt.

I guess I’m just tired of every time I go to Yahoo it tells me that I should live within my means when I know I have such a large debt facing me.

Related posts:
You Should Not Walk Away From Your Student Loans
Student debt is on the rise
Students continue to face huge amounts of debt; and it’s increasing.

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