The advise on teaching in a foreign country sounds really good. Some of the other posts in here are stupid and should be ignored.

You need to watch the fuck out about dodging student loans, something like $85k of debt could balloon in to $500k in debt in 30 years with interest and penalties if you don't make any payments. Even guys with manageable amounts like $25k can easily go into to the six figures when ignored. If you think your just going to hide for the rest of your life, your wrong. This ain't 1911.

If you do plan on being piss poor broke your entire life, then getting that debt wiped as early as possible is important. They will garnish government income payouts over that shit.

DTA,
Do you have a BA or higher (MBA, PHD)? That will make a big difference in terms of action plan. At this time, your # 1 goal is to pay that debt as soon as possible. As long as you have that huge debt, you'll be unable to do the things you really want, to really live your life the weay you want. To achieve that, here are 2 ways I can suggest you:

Going teaching English overseas:

If you have an MBA or higher specializing in education, then going overseas could be a very viable option, specially in the middle east (Kuwait, Saudi Arabi, UAE) as that's where the highest paying job in the ESL world are. Not only the salaries are higher than anywhere else but the benefits are good: free accommodation, tax free or very little income tax to pay. In 1 year, you can easily save $30-40k if you have some discipline. Sure the lifestyle maynot be the best there in terms of partying or girls, but for 1-2 years, your # 1 objective should be to get out of that hole ASAP. As long as you have that huge debt in your life, it'll be like having a huge burden in your life that will prevent you to do the things you want and to live life. So for that 1 or 2 years, spend as little as you can on "fun things", sure it's not going to be fun, but think of this as the price to pay for total freedom. Each morning, remind yourself that you're going through this not so fun times to get back your total freedom.

So with a good job in the middle east, you can easily save 30-40k per year. If you don't have an MBA but only a BA, then South Korea would be a good option as the pay is generally good, with attractive benefits such asreturn air fare paid, free or highly subsisded apartment and low taxes and the cost of living is low so saving 30k/year is feasible in Korea. Dash Global may be able to provide you real life tips on Korea as he is teaching there now, but also check davescafe.com for anything you want to know about teaching English overseas.

You could do this either in the middle east or S.Korea for a year or 2 and be done with your debt or 70-80% of it. If you really like teaching english, after a year or 2 in Korea, then you can try your luck in the middle east as that's the big bucks are. Don't even think about South America as the pay there is crap where you'd barely make enough to just survive.

Stay in the US.

Get a job that pays you enough to pay at least $2k each month towards your debt, keep your living expenses as low as possible. In the meantime, not only should you focus on paying down that sucker of debt, but also seriously building, slowly but surely, an online business that will over time, within 6-12 months, generate you 1-3k month. Start low with at least $250/month on building your biz and any profit you make from that, specially in the early stages of it, to reinvest it back into the bizz. And over time, increase your investment into the biz to 500/month and so forth. For suggestions for the type of reliable businesses you could start, PM me.

With either of these 2 options, within a year, you would have 30-40k to pay towards your debt, an online biz that makes $1-4K month, experience and contacts in the ESL world. Your 2nd year will be easier, and that's when you will start to start have a lot more options in life, specially as your biz grows and your debt dwindles. So keep at it man, keep your head high, and get started as soon as possible, as the earliest you start, the earliest you'll be done with it. I know it's not fun to postpone the fun things you want and dream about every day, and consider this period a major learning period and the price to pay for total and absolute freedom. Ask yourself again, every morning or everytime you feel down and depressed, that is it worth to sacrifice 1 year, 1.5 years for a lifetime of freedom and fun? Hell yeah!

Quote: (09-18-2011 02:23 PM)babelfish669 Wrote:  

The advise on teaching in a foreign country sounds really good. Some of the other posts in here are stupid and should be ignored.

You need to watch the fuck out about dodging student loans, something like $85k of debt could balloon in to $500k in debt in 30 years with interest and penalties if you don't make any payments. Even guys with manageable amounts like $25k can easily go into to the six figures when ignored. If you think your just going to hide for the rest of your life, your wrong. This ain't 1911.

If you do plan on being piss poor broke your entire life, then getting that debt wiped as early as possible is important. They will garnish government income payouts over that shit.

I've been paying roughly $1,000 a month and it doesn't even seem like the debt is going down. My dad is a cosigner so I can't delinquent on it or else I completely fuck him over. Otherwise, I'd probably not pay it.

I don't think private loan companies can do much except sell your debt to a collection agency where I would then order a cease-comm to avoid being hassled. Sure my credit would suck, but that wouldn't matter much if I lived overseas or at my parent's house when I felt like coming home for a bit.

Quote: (09-18-2011 04:36 PM)Vacancier Permanent Wrote:  

DTA,
Do you have a BA or higher (MBA, PHD)? That will make a big difference in terms of action plan. At this time, your # 1 goal is to pay that debt as soon as possible. As long as you have that huge debt, you'll be unable to do the things you really want, to really live your life the weay you want. To achieve that, here are 2 ways I can suggest you:

Going teaching English overseas:

If you have an MBA or higher specializing in education, then going overseas could be a very viable option, specially in the middle east (Kuwait, Saudi Arabi, UAE) as that's where the highest paying job in the ESL world are. Not only the salaries are higher than anywhere else but the benefits are good: free accommodation, tax free or very little income tax to pay. In 1 year, you can easily save $30-40k if you have some discipline. Sure the lifestyle maynot be the best there in terms of partying or girls, but for 1-2 years, your # 1 objective should be to get out of that hole ASAP. As long as you have that huge debt in your life, it'll be like having a huge burden in your life that will prevent you to do the things you want and to live life. So for that 1 or 2 years, spend as little as you can on "fun things", sure it's not going to be fun, but think of this as the price to pay for total freedom. Each morning, remind yourself that you're going through this not so fun times to get back your total freedom.

So with a good job in the middle east, you can easily save 30-40k per year. If you don't have an MBA but only a BA, then South Korea would be a good option as the pay is generally good, with attractive benefits such asreturn air fare paid, free or highly subsisded apartment and low taxes and the cost of living is low so saving 30k/year is feasible in Korea. Dash Global may be able to provide you real life tips on Korea as he is teaching there now, but also check davescafe.com for anything you want to know about teaching English overseas.

You could do this either in the middle east or S.Korea for a year or 2 and be done with your debt or 70-80% of it. If you really like teaching english, after a year or 2 in Korea, then you can try your luck in the middle east as that's the big bucks are. Don't even think about South America as the pay there is crap where you'd barely make enough to just survive.

Stay in the US.

Get a job that pays you enough to pay at least $2k each month towards your debt, keep your living expenses as low as possible. In the meantime, not only should you focus on paying down that sucker of debt, but also seriously building, slowly but surely, an online business that will over time, within 6-12 months, generate you 1-3k month. Start low with at least $250/month on building your biz and any profit you make from that, specially in the early stages of it, to reinvest it back into the bizz. And over time, increase your investment into the biz to 500/month and so forth. For suggestions for the type of reliable businesses you could start, PM me.

With either of these 2 options, within a year, you would have 30-40k to pay towards your debt, an online biz that makes $1-4K month, experience and contacts in the ESL world. Your 2nd year will be easier, and that's when you will start to start have a lot more options in life, specially as your biz grows and your debt dwindles. So keep at it man, keep your head high, and get started as soon as possible, as the earliest you start, the earliest you'll be done with it. I know it's not fun to postpone the fun things you want and dream about every day, and consider this period a major learning period and the price to pay for total and absolute freedom. Ask yourself again, every morning or everytime you feel down and depressed, that is it worth to sacrifice 1 year, 1.5 years for a lifetime of freedom and fun? Hell yeah!

I have a BA in Communications. I actually don't have my teaching certification, I'm on a temporary certification to teach at a Special Ed./Residential treatment facility.

I'd teach anywhere (even though I'm not even sure I WANT to teach, but at least it'd be in a different place). Will check out davescafe for more info. Understand that the thought of teaching forever is severely depressing me. I've considered joining the military, and other things that might just launch me into an entirely new existence. My brain just gets so restless and agitated that I constantly need new experiences. The fact that I'm tied down to this life and debt is driving me into a massive mental depression.

I'd gladly start an online business but I have less than a clue on how to even get started. PM will be sent momentarily!

And thanks a lot, this thread is filled with great ideas

You can't walk away from student loans.

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/wp-content/...scheme.jpg

This might sound juvenile, but what about bankruptcy? I remember reading something that not all student loans are wiped out by this though, is that true?

Quote: (09-18-2011 06:33 PM)Chad Daring Wrote:  

This might sound juvenile, but what about bankruptcy? I remember reading something that not all student loans are wiped out by this though, is that true?

thats correct, student debt is not dischargeable in bankruptcy. this is a scam since kids are coming out w/huge loans they will be stuck with for 20 years

This thread makes me glad I only went to a two year school....

Quote: (09-18-2011 07:45 AM)DTA Wrote:  

Quote: (09-17-2011 09:50 PM)The_CEO Wrote:  

http://www.worldteach.org

Quote: (09-17-2011 10:13 PM)Dash Global Wrote:  

@DTA

Bro you have the fucking golden ticket for travel (teaching license)

You can go teach almost ANYWHERE in the world and make solid income based on cost of living working at private International / Bilingual Schools. Not some shitty pay for a common English Second Language teacher.

Peep the link im about to give you. You can thank me over some beers next year when your in Latin America or some shit!

http://www.uni.edu/placement/overseas/

These look like pretty good sites. I'll check them out.

My dream would be to chill in a village in South America and just party all day/night! You're invited.

CHeck out the micronesia world teach program. i'd like to go there and not come back. as far as paid assignments overseas, maybe there are opportunities in China where you could make some bucks and get your living expenses covered and that way make a dent in your loans?

Quote: (09-18-2011 02:23 PM)babelfish669 Wrote:  

The advise on teaching in a foreign country sounds really good. Some of the other posts in here are stupid and should be ignored.

I've got a doctorate, dealt with student loan agencies for over twenty years.

I've also read the actual federal regulations on the federal website.

Don't listen to me, other posters, or anyone but the people that make the rules.

Here it is again.

http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/s...BRPlan.jsp

If you know anything about the internet, the ".gov" in the web page means it's a US Government web page.

I don't know any reasonably realistic way to fake this unless they've taken over all 13 of the the root name servers in the f'ing world, which would not be too easy.

Speaking of teaching overseas, I was talking to a friend in Mexico and she told me about a white 35 year old English teacher from the USA that she described as not that handsome and how he was dating 17 to 18 year old attractive girls in her town. That doesn't sound too bad now does it?

Quote: (09-18-2011 10:24 PM)iknowexactly Wrote:  

Quote: (09-18-2011 02:23 PM)babelfish669 Wrote:  

The advise on teaching in a foreign country sounds really good. Some of the other posts in here are stupid and should be ignored.

I've got a doctorate, dealt with student loan agencies for over twenty years.

I've also read the actual federal regulations on the federal website.

Don't listen to me, other posters, or anyone but the people that make the rules.

Here it is again.

http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/s...BRPlan.jsp

If you know anything about the internet, the ".gov" in the web page means it's a US Government web page.

I don't know any reasonably realistic way to fake this unless they've taken over all 13 of the the root name servers in the f'ing world, which would not be too easy.

I would never default on my loans. First of all, I would completely destroy my dad's life since he co-signed, and second, I just cannot bring myself to weasel out of an obligation.

Quote: (09-19-2011 12:26 AM)username Wrote:  

Speaking of teaching overseas, I was talking to a friend in Mexico and she told me about a white 35 year old English teacher from the USA that she described as not that handsome and how he was dating 17 to 18 year old attractive girls in her town. That doesn't sound too bad now does it?

I swear I saw a newscast about teachers in Mexico who were forced to give over 50% of their paycheck to local gangs or else they'd be killed, along with their families. Mexico is some crazy shit!

Quote: (09-19-2011 12:26 AM)username Wrote:  

Speaking of teaching overseas, I was talking to a friend in Mexico and she told me about a white 35 year old English teacher from the USA that she described as not that handsome and how he was dating 17 to 18 year old attractive girls in her town. That doesn't sound too bad now does it?

I was thinking about Mexico this winter

Op I suggest you research a move to Moscow to teach English. I know a guy who was working there making serious coin by doing private lessons. He said in three years he saved enough money to buy a decent house, probably had a bit of fun along the way too.

Quote: (09-18-2011 07:37 AM)DTA Wrote:  

I wound up switching majors midway and lost a whole bunch of credits, and went to a school out of state. Trust me, it's my biggest regret. College is totally messed up. You're expected to make lifelong decisions about your life when you're only 17 years old

You did. You chose to stay in school and get an education. Whatever you might be doing now, would you be better off flipping burgers at Wendy's?

That's shitty that your Dad cosigned it. Otherwise I would say seriously consider going ghost.

That said, student loan debt is a huge bubble right now. I think some sort of bailout is coming. Also, there's a large and growing chance that your the actual value of your debt will be hyperinflated away in the near future. Even if you don't want to walk away from that debt, don't be in too big a hurry to bust your ass and repay it. Look into the links above and figure out how to pay as little as possible, while spending your money on improving yourself, traveling, and saving in ways that the IRS can't track (ie, gold).

Maybe your debt goes poof one day. maybe not. Either way, instead of focusing on grinding away and living in abject poverty to pay down your debt, improve yourself and your mind so that in five years, you can afford 85k in a months work.

Quote: (10-16-2011 04:52 PM)germanico Wrote:  

Quote: (09-18-2011 07:37 AM)DTA Wrote:  

I wound up switching majors midway and lost a whole bunch of credits, and went to a school out of state. Trust me, it's my biggest regret. College is totally messed up. You're expected to make lifelong decisions about your life when you're only 17 years old

You did. You chose to stay in school and get an education. Whatever you might be doing now, would you be better off flipping burgers at Wendy's?

This concept that you cant get a good job without a degree is such horseshit and it really needs to stop being perpetuated.

I know college grads that work at fast food places because the degree they got didn't help for dick in the modern world.

My roommates brother is three years younger then me, he cant legally buy booze, and he makes twice as much as I do with a degree. He got in with a plumbing company when he was 18, got hands on experience, makes fucking bank now.

Quote:Quote:

I wound up switching majors midway and lost a whole bunch of credits, and went to a school out of state. Trust me, it's my biggest regret. College is totally messed up. You're expected to make lifelong decisions about your life when you're only 17 years old

Don't be so hard on yourself. We all make mistakes and have regrets. The thing is to learn from those mistakes and never repeat them.

I agree that when we're young we have to make big life decisions that will affect us for years. Decisions have consequences. When we're young, we're devoid of wisdom, common sense, and a grasp of reality. For all our lives, we've lived in safe air-conditioned buildings. For the most part, we've never had to get up from bed and forced to work or end up starving. We've never known the meaning of a day of hard work or how money works. Our helicopter parents have built bubbles around our lives. We're wholly ignorant of the hunger, deception, misery, and deprivation around us.

I'm not sure if this pertains to American culture, but idealistic bulls*** is fed to us at a young age. So-called "conventional wisdom" isn't really all that wise.

The only person that you can trust in the world is yourself.

The most important person in this world is yourself. This may be tough to swallow, but most of the people you know don't really care about you. They don't want you to win.

Envy and jealousy always follow success.

If you get thrown out on the street, how many people will give you some money to buy food? How many people would buy you a cup of coffee if you're homeless or offer you to stay over? Human relationships in America are pretty shallow. It is in adversity, hardships, fights, battles, troubled times, and war that you see the true side of people. There are very few truly good people in the world When the s*** hits the fan, you'll see few, if any, people standing by you. You have to learn how to be strong, so strong that you can stand by yourself.

Don't take advice from people who have nothing to lose from the decisions you make.

Decisions have consequences. More often than not, people will try to turn you into a saint. An altruistic being who self-sacrifices for the good of society. They want you to be a good person. I'm not saying that that's bad or isn't something noble to try to achieve, but you have to look out for yourself. Most times, it really won't help your situation out that much and might make it worse. (e.g. going into $200,000 debt to get an art degree from a private liberal arts college.) Everybody is an expert on everything these days. People give out opinions like they're giving advice. They read an article off the NYT or USA Today, and, suddenly, they're qualified to give advice.

Here's a rule of thumb I use whenever I want to achieve something: look at people who've actually achieved those goals; read biographies of great men who've achieved great things.

For instance, let's say you want to become a millionaire. You have no idea about business or money, so you wonder where to begin. Would you take advice from your stockbroker? Hell no! That guy makes pity hourly wages. Is he a millionaire? No. Well, why would you listen to him? How about reading up on how Rockefeller learned the power of interest as a teenager? Ever heard of MJ DeMarco? He wanted to get rich while still relatively young, so guess what? He read up on people who made their fortunes when they were still young!

Taking advice from your high school counselor is like taking weight-lose advice from the world's fattest man; obviously, whatever he's been doing hasn't been working for him, or otherwise he'd be jet-sailing in his million-dollar jet airplane around the world.

Know what the f**k you're getting yourself into before you get started.

People live robotic lives, never questioning themselves. They go through the motions of everyday life. The worst life to live is a normal life. One day, you will die and be forgotten forever. You will either go out with a whimper, or a bang. You choose.

Blurb, you killed it.

Maybe 1 percent of high school teachers or counselors actually know what they are talking about.

Think about it, most high school teachers don't even like their job. If they were successful would they actually be still teaching at their shitty job?

Many college professors are different though, especially in Engineering departments. Quite a few of them have create a start up and then go back to teach as a cushy job after they make millions. Teaching at an university is a very good job and there is quite a bit of freedom in terms of research. My parents are professors and they have a helluva lot of freedom compared to people with normal job.

Obviously use common sense and make sure the professor has actually done what you're aiming for(like become a millionaire or be involved in creating a startup tech company).

Quote: (09-19-2011 05:49 PM)DTA Wrote:  

Quote: (09-18-2011 10:24 PM)iknowexactly Wrote:  

Quote: (09-18-2011 02:23 PM)babelfish669 Wrote:  

The advise on teaching in a foreign country sounds really good. Some of the other posts in here are stupid and should be ignored.

I've got a doctorate, dealt with student loan agencies for over twenty years.

I've also read the actual federal regulations on the federal website.

Don't listen to me, other posters, or anyone but the people that make the rules.

Here it is again.

http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/s...BRPlan.jsp

If you know anything about the internet, the ".gov" in the web page means it's a US Government web page.

I don't know any reasonably realistic way to fake this unless they've taken over all 13 of the the root name servers in the f'ing world, which would not be too easy.

I would never default on my loans. First of all, I would completely destroy my dad's life since he co-signed, and second, I just cannot bring myself to weasel out of an obligation.

This response is a non sequitur. The government pages pointed to explain how to lower your payments WHILE STILL BEING IN COMPLIANCE.

Awesome post blurb. Your post should be made mandatory reading for all, regardless of age. Thanks for the post.
"The worst life is to live is a normal life". Couldn't have said it better.

Cheers.

Sorry about your debts. It's a pity how a basic right like education is been denied to those who are not well-off in many countries. I wish everybody follow the example of Chilean students.

If you are interested in teaching abroad, I have in my computer a paper about the differences in salaries and conditions of state school teachers in every OECD country. The best paid at purchasing power parity were, in this order, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Germany. If you or other guy want me to send it to him, just tell me.

Quote: (10-17-2011 02:59 AM)iknowexactly Wrote:  

This response is a non sequitur. The government pages pointed to explain how to lower your payments WHILE STILL BEING IN COMPLIANCE.

I wonder if folks have noticed the valuable information iknowexactly has posted about restructuring student loan debt. Thankfully, I don't have any student loan debt, but I will be forwarding your links to friends of mine that do.

Thanks.

To the OP,

Start developing a side business online for supplementary income. The extra income, and the location independence of it will give you more options if and when you decide to leave teaching for other endeavors.

The one thing I would say that is most important is DEVELOP A PLAN NOW and begin executing it. Even if it will be another 4 years before you can ditch your job and/or pay off your loans, just knowing that you have a plan that leads somewhere other than teaching for the next 30-40 years until retirement or death will make you feel 1000% better. It will give you a sense of control over your life.

Quote: (10-16-2011 09:10 PM)Chad Daring Wrote:  

This concept that you cant get a good job without a degree is such horseshit and it really needs to stop being perpetuated.

I know college grads that work at fast food places because the degree they got didn't help for dick in the modern world.

My roommates brother is three years younger then me, he cant legally buy booze, and he makes twice as much as I do with a degree. He got in with a plumbing company when he was 18, got hands on experience, makes fucking bank now.

I agree with you, but on the other hand, there are a lot more non college degree holders out there flippping burgers. The likelihood that you will be flipping burgers is A LOT higher if you don't have a degree. Having a degree is not a guarantee of success in life, however it does put you a few steps ahead of those that don't have one.

I would say get a college degree unless you are naturally gifted or talented and have a passion for something which prevents you from going to college. Besides the education itself, a college education opens your mind up to new experiences and different view points.

You mention a plumber who didn't go to college but is now making "bank". Well, my cousin did go to college and got an MBA from the top rated school in the country, started working as a Venture Capitalist in Silicon Valley and is now worth over $100 Million. How many plumbers make that kind of "bank"? None.