this post was submitted on 26 Dec 2023
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[–] SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 123 points 10 months ago (3 children)

Student Loans have entered the chat.

[–] db2@lemmy.world 40 points 10 months ago (1 children)
[–] ours@lemmy.world 4 points 10 months ago

In my country that isn't a thing. Everybody has to have private insurance and if they can't afford it, the State subsidizes it.

And if somehow you get something done that isn't covered by the insurance, they can't pursue you for that debt and it doesn't show up when doing things like getting a lease.

It's not perfect (insurance costs a ton and keeps rising) but at least it's not some dystopian nightmare where people can't afford to get care in one of the World's top economies.

[–] Public_Tumbleweed@lemmy.world 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)
[–] Spacehooks@reddthat.com 22 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Money you have to take out for college and then pay back at 10% interest.

[–] Mr_Blott@lemmy.world 57 points 10 months ago (3 children)

I'm sorry is this an I-love-getting-fucked-in-the-ass thing that I'm too Scottish to understand?

[–] Che_Donkey@lemmy.ml 52 points 10 months ago (3 children)

Yes.

See, Americans dont have an England to fuck over its citizens, so we have to do it all by ourselves.

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[–] Vilian@lemmy.ca 31 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I'm sorry is this an I-love-getting-fucked-in-the-ass thing that I'm not USA enough to understand?

FiFY, now the entire world can use it

[–] IndiBrony@lemmy.world 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)
[–] cucumberbob@programming.dev 12 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Whilst it would be lovely if us Englishmen didn’t have student loans, they could be a whole lot worse. We only pay them once we earn over a certain threshold, and they’ll disappear after 30 years. Plus our unis are funded in large part by international students (which has its own issues), so Brits’ course fees are slightly subsidised.

Not good, but hey at least it’s not the US(!)

[–] Mr_Blott@lemmy.world 7 points 10 months ago

You missed the chance to say "At least it's not the US, eh?"

[–] jubilationtcornpone@sh.itjust.works 14 points 10 months ago

The United States is a free country and freedom to shape your own destiny is one of the hallmarks of being an American. So everyone whining about how hard it is should have thought long and hard about the consequences of their actions when they decided not to be born rich.

/s

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[–] tomi000@lemmy.world 95 points 10 months ago (3 children)

Imagine being inside a month😵‍💫

[–] drislands@lemmy.world 35 points 10 months ago
[–] andrew_bidlaw@sh.itjust.works 33 points 10 months ago

July is hot, what's your problem?

[–] BleatingZombie@lemmy.world 18 points 10 months ago

We're inside the month filling the bankruptcy

[–] fury@lemmy.world 93 points 10 months ago (3 children)

I got talked into bankruptcy (by a bankruptcy lawyer, surprise surprise). It cleared $12k of credit cards and bank fees but not the then-$50k of student loans and the spending habits that were the real problem. Now I learned my lesson. No credit cards. Save up and pay. Have an emergency fund that can cover your expenses for months and months in the event you lose your job, or your most expensive unplanned repair. That's the real life saver.

[–] GaMEChld@lemmy.world 66 points 10 months ago (3 children)

Credit cards are fine for people who can control their spending. I never pay interest, so I get my rewards for free and am building my credit. If you cannot control your spending habits, you might consider a card with a low limit.

[–] SeabassDan@lemmy.world 17 points 10 months ago (2 children)

You mean you never pay interest by paying off the debt before the next billing cycle, right? Or is it fine to get zero interest for whatever amount of months on certain purchases?

[–] Jimmyeatsausage@lemmy.world 27 points 10 months ago (1 children)

We do both... both are fine. As long as you aren't paying fees or interest, there is no disadvantage to using credit cards.

[–] SeabassDan@lemmy.world 8 points 10 months ago (5 children)

Ah, okay, I always figured the only way to really be responsible with credit was to use credit cards like debit, but if a big purchase came along that I definitely couldn't pay off within the month, I figured it wouldn't hurt to have zero interest but wasn't sure of the impact on my credit.

[–] JDubbleu@programming.dev 13 points 10 months ago

As long as you have the discipline to actually pay the thing off it's fine. Many people think, "oh I have 0% interest, I'll pay it off later" but never set aside the money to do so and end up accruing interest.

I never buy something on them I couldn't immediately pay off in full when I hit buy. I've bought things in excess of my checking balance, but that's because I had enough in savings (separate from my emergency fund), and my incoming paycheck would put my checking balance well above my credit card balance.

[–] jasondj@ttrpg.network 4 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

That’s more or less the right way.

Use credit cards for everything for an automatic minimum 2% discount on all purchases (in the form of cashback or rewards depending on how you value them, and more if you optimize category spending…I.e. you have a certain card you use for gas or groceries or eating out because that card has the best rewards for that category). Enjoy sign up bonuses if you can responsibly make the spend requirement. Always pay off statement balance and never close accounts (downgrade/product-change to free cards if the benefits aren’t more valuable than the annual fee).

And enjoy 0% offers but never slip on payment because that’s how they get you. If it’s not paid in full in time or a payment is late they will charge you backdated interest. 0% financing is free money if you can afford it (and can use it) at this inflation rate. I’d been on the fence about replacing my aging appliances but 0% for 24 mos made that a no-brainer. I could afford to have bought those appliances with cash (it’d sting but it’d be doable), but I’d much rather keep that few grand in a CD or bond or mutual fund and pay a 23rd of the balance every month, making me money instead of the bank.

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[–] Funkytom467@lemmy.world 27 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (3 children)

In France after high school you pay 170€ the first 3 years the 243€ the next two, 100€ more each year if you don't have aides from the government. Some engineering schools (~600€) or private schools are more expensive.

That's a total of 1496€ for a 5y curriculum at most, if you don't have any aides. (810€ for a shorter 3y one)

For reference the monthly minimum wage is 1398.69€ (without tax).

So if you work two months at McDonald's you can literally pay your entire education with enough room to spare if you didn't pass some years.

(Engineering schools is more but it isn't crazy either)

That's without any help, but we have some cheap apartment specifically for students, help to pay the rent. And in addition to this you can get a sizable amount depending on the income of the parents, sometimes enough to live on.

So why in the hell would you pay 50k. That's 33 times as much, guys just come to France, or the EU and your set lol

[–] pankkake@lemmy.world 15 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Everything you've said only stands for public university (which is better than private schools however). In the private world, you're looking at ~10000€ a year.

So why in the hell would you pay 50k. That's 33 times as much, guys just come to France

I believe it's more expensive for foreigners to study in France now. You're looking at ~3000€ per year IIRC.

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[–] JPAKx4@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Around 3-5% is spent on textbooks alone

[–] Funkytom467@lemmy.world 6 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Your textbook is enough to pay for all of our education.

Did no one thought about having a library for that lmao.

P.S. Or more seriously on putting the material online.

[–] Zink@programming.dev 13 points 10 months ago

I’m sure some people thought of it. But then everybody else thought “wait, but money!”

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[–] Evotech@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago (2 children)

The real cost is in living expenses though. A lot of kids still end up with 20-40k of loans after 3-5 years in school living on their own.

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[–] spaphy@lemmy.ml 9 points 10 months ago (3 children)

How has bankruptcy affected you when you've gone to apply for things? Has there been any real long term effects when you apply for like a house or car loan?

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[–] ForestOrca@kbin.social 67 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Nice Try Rudy. Pay your debts.

[–] Grayox@lemmy.ml 6 points 10 months ago

Nice try, but Rudy isn't filing for cc debt.

[–] Catsrules@lemmy.ml 41 points 10 months ago

"I declare BANKRUPTCY!!!!"

[–] glibg10b@lemmy.ml 39 points 10 months ago

filling for bankruptcy

inside a month

Go back to school

[–] AeonFelis@lemmy.world 25 points 10 months ago
[–] tygerprints@kbin.social 10 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

Most individuals still have to work out a debt repayment plan. I know some credit cards and loans still have to be repayed even in bankruptcy. Chapter 11 bankruptcy is only available if you're a corporation or a kajillionaire.

[–] stevehobbes@lemy.lol 24 points 10 months ago (10 children)
[–] SuckMyWang@lemmy.world 29 points 10 months ago (1 children)

But it’s on the internet?

[–] stevehobbes@lemy.lol 7 points 10 months ago

Fair point.

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[–] WetBeardHairs@lemmy.ml 12 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Bankruptcy debt settlement are usually for a fraction of the stated amount. I've heard of families who have discharged over 100k of cc debt and only had to pay about 10k. Usually you will lose bigger assets like vehicles, but keep your home.

[–] stevehobbes@lemy.lol 8 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

You can and will lose your home in many many states (non homestead states primarily). If the person you aren’t paying is your mortgage holder, you’re definitely going to lose your home You will also almost always lose non-primary residences provided they need to be liquidated to settle your debts. You will be given any excess money from the liquidations after your debts are settled.

If you’re settling debts you’re probably doing chapter 11 not 7.

Chapter 11 requires your lenders to play ball, but if they think they can make more money by extending terms of offering a discount than if they force you into chapter 7, they will.

If you make $5k/mo and your living expenses are $3k/mo and you have $3k/mo of debt for the next 30 months, reasonable lenders would look at that and say I’d rather have $1.5k for 60 months and I believe you can pay it rather than rolling the dice in chapter 7 on what assets you have or don’t have and what they’re worth when they finally get liquidated.

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