<prompt> Human: Let me say, right here and now, that I was not raised by people who were open about financial workings. My dad kept us afloat, was the major breadwinner, and to my knowledge handled most to all of the family finances. He is, however, a largely noncommunicative guy. I assume my mom knows as much about money as she does about cars-- she has never been without a personal vehicle, but if her ride ever breaks down, she has no idea how to repair it. I dont blame my folks for my having no idea what Im doing with my money, which at the moment involves a lot of strenuous paycheck-to-paycheck stuff. As sort of an adult, I have had plenty of opportunity to research it myself, but instead have been skillfully avoiding the shit out of my situation til literally just now. When I went off to college, I unwisely let my mom handle the setup of a necessary student loan, as well as a credit card that she told me I could use for books and necessities, and that she would pay it off. Which she did not- but that is a less dramatic situation that I handled in a much more timely fashion. No current credit cards. Which is a discussion for another day.What would wind up truly screwing me was that, when I chose to drop out in the middle of my third college semester, the situation that led up to my doing so overshadowed the financial responsibility I still had to repay, and for about a year I had just completely forgotten about it. When I was finally contacted by the original lender, I panicked, and in a series of misguided words accidentally issued a verbal cease and desist to the collections agent. Instantly, the calls went away, the letters did not come, and all was well. I was unemployed at the time, so they had no employer to seek provisions from. I didnt hear anything about it for probably another year, and did exactly the same thing when the next agency that had purchased my debt reached out to me about it. Ive stopped them from calling my work more than once, and my cell phone half a dozen times. Its pretty easy to do if you figure out how.My current employer was contacted, and confirmed that I worked there. And had been working for some time. And have them my address. She was nice enough to tell me all that, and since then I have been expecting them. This time though, the letter was a notice of proposed garnishment. Ive never gotten one of those. It came in the mail yesterday, and after a night of abject panic about it, I sacked up and called them this morning. Told them my financial situation, and they offered me assistance.I have to pay five bucks a month. For the next ten months. And then my loan will be out of default. I can do my research, get back on top of it, and be able to go back to school, which is something I desperately want to do. Guys, I have put this off for so long, and I had no idea how incredibly wracked with anxiety I had become about it. Im not out of the reeds yet, but for the first time in six years, I am making progress. Dont put this shit off a moment longer.  <response>: Pro tips: Once you finish rehabilitating that loan, youll get a new lender and a new billing company. KEEP UP WITH THE PAPERWORK and dont miss that new payment.The first bill they send you will probably be for a lot more than 5. Do not panic. Call them RIGHT AWAY and sign up for a payment plan based on your income. Then set up a calendar reminder for 11 months in the future to renew that paperwork. Dont forget to send it next year.See also rstudentloans 