Graduating from college can be an exciting new chapter. In a perfect world, you’ll land a well-paid job to start building up your savings. But six months later, it’s time to start repaying any student loans you took out. That shift can be jarring. Especially when you’re staring at tens of thousands of dollars in debt.
Daniella Flores, personal finance expert and CNET Money expert review board member.
I made a lot of mistakes when I started paying off my student loans. From avoiding monthly payments to getting scammed, my plan to payoff my loans wasn’t ideal.
Eventually, I was able to clear my $15,000 student loan balance, but it costs me an extra $4,500 from interest and fees from a scam. Here’s how I paid it all back — despite the costly mistakes — and how you can avoid them, too.
Read more: Student Loan Payment Pause Extended for 6 More Months for SAVE…
