<prompt> Human: I have an expensive and useless art degree that is costing me about 775month in student loans. Now it looks like my husband and I are separating and I dont know how Ill make it on my own. And I dont have any local family or friends to turn to. I need advice on what steps I should take so that I can feed myself and not be living with my debt forever. I dont want to be just barely making it until my debts are payed off 8 years from now. At the same time Im scared that Ill be working myself into depression. After taxes I currently take home about 2000I estimate my expenses will be as follows:750 studio apartment85 heatelectric775 student loans225 car payment100 car insurance100 gas for commuting150 Internet phone I may do part-time work from home that would need a good Internet connection200 food100 msc. Expenses toiletriesclothessuppliesAny advice would be greatly appreciated. I dont know if I should throw all my energy into finding a better job, working part time, going back to school, paying off my loans early ect. I just dont know what to do.  <response>: Youll definitely need to go on some kind of income-based repayment plan if any of your loans qualify. If they dont, youre going to need to cut costs elsewhere. Moving into an apartment with a roommateroommates, getting a cheaper internet andor phone plan, trading in your car for a cheaper model that you wont need to make payments on and may have cheaper insurance costs, etc. As it stands youre about 500 in the red from what youve provided above. 