[steven2012]

I'm not sure what sort of choice she has, besides not working again. You can't clear student loan debt through bankruptcy, so unless she decides to not work again, I'm not sure what her options are to never pay off the debt. Maybe this is a negotiation tactic with the debtors to pay a fraction of the loan instead?

[elmuchoprez]

"I'm not sure what sort of choice she has..."

She could have stayed at the lucrative Manhattan law firm where she was making enough to cover her loan obligations. I get that it's rough on the kids, but that was a decision she made, and tons of other people make that situation work.

[chopsueyar]

It wasn't until 1991 that student loan debt was no longer dischargeable through bankruptcy.

So, although unlikely, she may have based her decision on the possibility that, worse case scenario, she could have declared bankruptcy.

Now the $20,000 personal loan for living expenses, I assume would still be dischargeable in bankruptcy.

[danielweber]

I read the article as her using student loans to cover living expenses.

Which made sense at the time, since it was being subsidized.

[chopsueyar]

I have a hard time believing she could obtain a student loan without any further classes to attend, that is why I assume it is a private loan.

[sliverstorm]

You can't clear student loan debt through bankruptcy

Not entirely true.

I'm not sure what her options are to never pay off the debt.

She can always just stop paying, and try to call the lender's bluff and force them to go through court to garnish her wages.

[grecy]

> Not entirely true.

Genuine request: Can you please elaborate.

[grecy]

I also would love to know the long term plan here.