<prompt> Human: O.k. So I need help. Made a throwaway account for this due to embarrassment. Apologies in advance for the verbose summary.Ive reached a point where I cant keep running. Ive avoided my big time fed loans and I cant do it anymore. I have to face my demons. My gf lives w me and is unaware of how bad my situation is. Backstory I graduated in 2011. Basically I borrowed my way through school. I worked summers but was unable to support myself while in college. My degree was very demanding timewise, was a 5 yr bachelor program, required traveling studios, and I was unable to work enough to pay all my bills. I operated under the false idea that I would be able to pay my loans back after graduation with a decent paying job. The recession had other things to say about me getting a decent job out of college. Worked jobs to survive, but when the loans came out of their grace period I chose to eat and not be homeless. Current Situation Ive now been working with a degree oriented job for 5 years now, but apparently my profession doesnt pay worth a damn until your 50. I work odd jobs on the side where I can but my job requires some odd hours and commitment. I look for other jobs but my degree is fairly specialized making me fairly unappealing for other careers. Im making 40k w good health ins. a year now and cant afford to take a step back by jumping ships as I live in an expensive town and rent is high. Im also currently unable to progress in my career as I am unable to get licensed as my college will not release my transcripts due to being in default. My loan summary is as follows: Loans in good standing: Discover - 8k 6, Wells Fargo - 6.8k 9.8, Iowa Student Loan - 14k 0 went into default. Loans in default: College direct - 6.2k, Federal - somewhere between 50k 65k. So Im anywhere from 85k - 100k in debt making 1.6k a month salary after taxes rent. No other debts as Ive paid off all my high interest cc debt. I do have a 3 month emergency fund. My father who is approaching the end recently offered to help me for the first time in my life. I do not know how much he is offering but it sounds like somewhere around 10-15k but again, just a guess. My questions are: 1. How do I approach getting a lower buyout option for my private loans that are in good standing? How do I approach getting my fed loans out of default? Should I consult a financial advisor or a student loan lawyer? Consider consolidation? Are there any devils I can sell my soul to? Any other advice would be appreciated. There are regrets. Older me would have done things a lot different. Needless to say this affects me mentally all day everyday and is holding me back in life at every turn. Trying to stay positive that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks for your time.  <response>: You cant negotiate your loan amounts. You signed a contract to borrow X amount and pay back X amount with interest. As far as your defaulted loans you need to call the servicer. If you addressed this originally you couldve done IBR and had your federal loan payments made very small or almost 0 but now you dont have that option. 