Gig Worker Fears Crushing Student Debt Burden When Payments Resume
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Helena, 58, has $145,000 in student debt that she's struggled to pay off due to inconsistent income over the years.
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She took out loans to pay for bachelor's and master's degrees, but was unable to find steady employment after graduating during the Great Recession.
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She's relied on gig jobs like Instacart to try to make payments, and has even sold items on eBay when possible to afford loan payments.
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With payments set to resume in October after a pause, Helena is concerned about being able to afford the monthly bills on top of other expenses.
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She feels "tremendously hopeless" about the debt burden and wishes she'd never pursued higher education given her current situation.