We all make mistakes.
I know I’ve made my share of money mistakes, from running up credit card debt to forgetting about quarterly taxes.
One of the biggest mistakes I made as a college student was choosing to use student loans. Even though my student loan interest rate is low, I shouldn’t even have student loans in the first place. I had a full-tuition scholarship and a part-time job on campus. I had no college funding gap.
Choosing to take out unnecessary debt as an undergraduate tied up a portion of my cash flow, and it still occasionally impacts decisions related to my finances. Although I can afford my student loan payments today and I’m comfortable, that wasn’t always the case.
Choosing student loan debt for college funding
Back in the day, it was easy to get federal student loans. I was able to get enough in student loans to cover my tuition and living expenses (I lived on campus), but that didn’t matter so much because I already had the money. My full-tuition scholarship and on-campus job offered more than enough to take care of my needs.
So, how did I use that student loan money? It would be nice to say that I took the money and invested it in a way that would help me reach my future financial goals.
Unfortunately, at the age of 18, I didn’t think about retirement or my future. I rarely looked into the future beyond whether or not I would have the time off and the gas money for next week’s Vegas trip.
Like the two in five students who fund non-education bills with student loans, I used my money for things that I shouldn’t have. I went out to eat. I took weekend trips to Las Vegas. I bought an entirely new wardrobe — and did that with credit cards to boot. I paid bills and bought groceries.
Rather than taking advantage of my scholarship and job to keep me out of debt as an undergraduate, I borrowed to fund my lifestyle. Not only did I choose student loans, but I also used my debt-padded bank account as an excuse to take time off from work frequently. I could have made more money if I didn’t look for reasons to avoid work.
Not one penny went toward my retirement, an emergency fund, or anything remotely useful for my financial future.
How student loan debt set me back
Even though I’m not planning to repay my student loans early, I can still see how my debt set me back financially early on. Just because I’m comfortable with my payments now doesn’t mean I didn’t mess up big time before.
Having that unnecessary student loan debt put pressure on my cash flow. While I was in school, it didn’t matter. I didn’t have to make payments, so I didn’t. I just spent the money. Once I was done with school, though, it was time to pay up.
My new husband and I were poor at the end of my undergraduate experience. As a result, trying to pay my student loans created a cash flow crunch. First, we tried to make it work by using credit cards to cover the gap. That only made things worse.
Eventually, I turned to deferment. While that offered cash flow relief, it extended the time for my student loans and interest kept accruing.
Another consequence of my undergraduate student loans was my debt-to-income ratio. Once I started making a little money and tackling some of my credit card debt, I wanted to be able to do things like get a car loan. Sadly, my debt-to-income ratio made that expensive.
When I applied for a car loan, I barely qualified — and I had to pay a higher interest rate. My debt-to-income ratio looked sketchy. Plus, my credit was in rough shape due to a couple missed student loan payments before I applied for the deferral.
It was disappointing to know that I was paying extra each month in interest because of my student loan debt. Eventually, I refinanced that car loan, but the results of poor credit have haunted me ever since.
All of these issues related to my student loans and my credit also had the effect of delaying my retirement contributions. I felt unable to set money aside for the future while I still struggled with student loans. As a result, I missed out on about four years’ worth compound interest. That’s time my money could have been working on my behalf.
Bottom line
Before you take out student loans for college funding, consider how they could set you back. Surveys indicate that some millennials are putting off big purchases and life milestones because of student loan debt. I know that student loans set me back.
While student loans are increasingly needed to close the college funding gap, carefully consider before you take them out. Take out as little as possible so you don’t derail your future.
It’s hard to think about that when you’re young and someone’s telling you that you can have thousands of dollars. Remember that you have to pay it back.
Need a student loan?
Here are our top student loan lenders of 2021!| Lender | Variable APR | Eligibility | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1.04% – 11.98%1 | Undergraduate, Graduate, and Parents | |
 | 1.13% – 11.23%*,2 | Undergraduate, Graduate, and Parents | |
 | 3.84% – 9.40%3 | Undergraduate and Graduate | |
 | 1.05% – 11.44%4 | Undergraduate and Graduate | |
 | 1.22% – 11.66%5 | Undergraduate and Graduate | |
 | 2.76% – 7.14%6 | Undergraduate and Graduate | |
 | 1.24% – 11.99%7 | Undergraduate and Graduate | |
| * The Sallie Mae partner referenced is not the creditor for these loans and is compensated by Sallie Mae for the referral of Smart Option Student Loan customers. 1 Important Disclosures for College Ave. CollegeAve DisclosuresCollege Ave Student Loans products are made available through either Firstrust Bank, member FDIC or M.Y. Safra Bank, FSB, member FDIC. All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply. Rates shown are for the College Ave Undergraduate Loan product and include autopay discount. The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. Variable rates may increase after consummation. Information advertised valid as of 4/22/2021. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation. Lowest advertised rates require selection of full principal and interest payments with the shortest available loan term. 2 Sallie Mae Disclaimer: Click here for important information. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. 3 Important Disclosures for CommonBond. CommonBond DisclosuresOffered terms are subject to change and state law restriction. Loans are offered by CommonBond Lending, LLC (NMLS # 1175900), NMLS Consumer Access. If you are approved for a loan, the interest rate offered will depend on your credit profile, your application, the loan term selected and will be within the ranges of rates shown. If you choose to complete an application, we will conduct a hard credit pull, which may affect your credit score. All Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) displayed assume borrowers enroll in auto pay and account for the 0.25% reduction in interest rate. All variable rates are based on a 1-month LIBOR assumption of 0.15% effective Jan 1, 2021 and may increase after consummation. 4 Important Disclosures for Earnest. Earnest Disclosures
5 Important Disclosures for SoFi. sofiDisclosuresUNDERGRADUATE LOANS: Fixed rates from 4.23% to 11.26% annual percentage rate (“APR”) (with autopay), variable rates from 1.22% to 11.66% APR (with autopay). GRADUATE LOANS: Fixed rates from 4.13% to 11.37% APR (with autopay), variable rates from 1.12% to 11.73% APR (with autopay). MBA AND LAW SCHOOL LOANS: Fixed rates from 4.30% to 11.52% APR (with autopay), variable rates from 1.29% to 11.89% APR (with autopay). PARENT LOANS: Fixed rates from 4.60% to 10.76% APR (with autopay), variable rates from 1.22% to 11.16% APR (with autopay). For variable rate loans, the variable interest rate is derived from the one-month LIBOR rate plus a margin and your APR may increase after origination if the LIBOR increases. Changes in the one-month LIBOR rate may cause your monthly payment to increase or decrease. Interest rates for variable rate loans are capped at 13.95%, unless required to be lower to comply with applicable law. Lowest rates are reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. If approved for a loan, the interest rate offered will depend on your creditworthiness, the repayment option you select, the term and amount of the loan and other factors, and will be within the ranges of rates listed above. The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Information current as of 4/1/2021. Enrolling in autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi. SoFi Lending Corp., licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Financing Law License No. 6054612. NMLS #1121636 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).. 6 Important Disclosures for Citizens Bank. Citizens Bank DisclosuresUndergraduate Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates range from 2.76% – 7.14% (2.76% – 7.14% APR). Fixed interest rates range from 3.01% – 7.50% (3.01% – 7.50% APR). Graduate Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates range from 2.19% – 6.73% (2.19% – 6.73% APR). Fixed interest rates range from 2.89% – 7.09% (2.89%-7.09% APR). Business/Law Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates range from 1.36% – 9.54% (1.36% – 8.82% APR). Fixed interest rates range from 4.13% – 9.84% (4.13% – 9.12% APR). Medical/Dental Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates range from 1.36% – 8.34% (1.36% – 8.04% APR). Fixed interest rates range from 4.03% – 8.64% (4.03% – 8.34% APR). Parent Loan Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates range from 2.10% – 7.41% (2.10%-7.41% APR). Fixed interest rates range from 4.69% – 7.83% (4.69% – 7.83% APR). Bar Study Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates range from 4.45% – 9.60% (4.45% – 9.53% APR). Fixed interest rates range from 7.39% – 12.94% (7.38% – 12.81% APR). Medical Residency Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates range from 3.55% – 7.05% (3.55% – 6.77% APR). Fixed interest rates range from 6.99% – 10.49% (6.97% – 10.07% APR). Variable Rate Disclosure: Variable Rates are based on the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) published in The Wall Street Journal on the twenty-fifth day, or the next business day, of the preceding calendar month. As of March 1, 2021, the one-month LIBOR rate is 0.11%. Variable interest rates will fluctuate over the term of the loan with changes in the LIBOR rate, and will vary based on applicable terms, level of degree and presence of a co-signer. The maximum variable rate is the greater of 21.00% or Prime Rate plus 9.00%. Fixed Rate Disclosure: Fixed rate ranges are based on applicable terms, level of degree, and presence of a co-signer. Lowest Rate Disclosure: Lowest rates require a 5-year repayment term, immediate repayment, a graduate degree (where applicable), and include our Loyalty and Automatic Payment discounts of 0.25 percentage points each, as outlined in the Loyalty Discount and Automatic Payment Discount disclosures. Rates are subject to additional terms and conditions, and are subject to change at any time without notice. Such changes will only apply to applications taken after the effective date of change. Federal Loan vs. Private Loan Benefits: Some federal student loans include unique benefits that the borrower may not receive with a private student loan, some of which we do not offer. Borrowers should carefully review federal benefits, especially if they work in public service, are in the military, are considering possible loan forgiveness options, are currently on or considering income based repayment options or are concerned about a steady source of future income and would want to lower their payments at some time in the future. When the borrower refinances, they waive any current and potential future benefits of their federal loans. For more information about federal student loan benefits and federal loan consolidation, visit http://studentaid.ed.gov/. We also have several resources available to help the borrower make a decision on our website including Should I Refinance My Student Loans? and our FAQs. Should I Refinance My Student Loans? includes a comparison of federal and private student loan benefits that we encourage the borrower to review. Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or eligible non-citizen with a creditworthy U.S. citizen or permanent resident co-signer. For applicants who have not attained the age of majority in their state of residence, a co-signer is required. Citizens Bank reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. Citizens Bank private student loans are subject to credit qualification, completion of a loan application/Promissory Note, verification of application information, and if applicable, self-certification form, school certification of the loan amount, and student’s enrollment at a Citizens Bank participating school. Loyalty Discount Disclosure: The borrower will be eligible for a 0.25 percentage point interest rate reduction on their loan if the borrower or their co-signer (if applicable) has a qualifying account in existence with us at the time the borrower and their co-signer (if applicable) have submitted a completed application authorizing us to review their credit request for the loan. The following are qualifying accounts: any checking account, savings account, money market account, certificate of deposit, automobile loan, home equity loan, home equity line of credit, mortgage, credit card account, or other student loans owned by Citizens Bank, N.A. Please note, our checking and savings account options are only available in the following states: CT, DE, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, and VT and some products may have an associated cost. This discount will be reflected in the interest rate disclosed in the Loan Approval Disclosure that will be provided to the borrower once the loan is approved. Limit of one Loyalty Discount per loan and discount will not be applied to prior loans. The Loyalty Discount will remain in effect for the life of the loan. Automatic Payment Discount Disclosure: Borrowers will be eligible to receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate reduction on their student loans owned by Citizens Bank, N.A. during such time as payments are required to be made and our loan servicer is authorized to automatically deduct payments each month from any bank account the borrower designates. Discount is not available when payments are not due, such as during forbearance. If our loan servicer is unable to successfully withdraw the automatic deductions from the designated account three or more times within any 12-month period, the borrower will no longer be eligible for this discount. 7 Important Disclosures for Discover. Discover Disclosures
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