<prompt> Human: This is my first time posting in here, and Ive got a sickening student loan story...x200B;I graduated in 2007 with a bachelors degree that took 9 years to complete. I could blame a lot of things from changing majors three times and taking a semester off to ADD, but it all boils down to me being indecisive, ignorant, and immature.x200B;Though I worked all through college, I always pulled out the max amount of loans to pay for tuition, books, and to help pay all my living expenses since I didnt make much. When I graduated, I had amassed over 60k in student loan debt. I had no idea that I was putting myself in such a bad spot, thinking it was normal and what everyone did.x200B;But this is where it gets stupid...x200B;I had a hard time finding work after college the crash of 2008 was upon us and I had a vague and fairly useless degree, so I resorted to grooming dogs like I had in college just to get by. I was in a consistent paycheck-to-paycheck loop, so I had my loans deferred for a bit because I was struggling to make ends meet.x200B;After I didnt qualify for deference, I switched to forebearance. And kept living paycheck to paycheck.x200B;Im ashamed to say that Ive lived this way for the past 10 years now, and my loans have slowly grown. Theyre now over 80k and Im feeling overwhelmed and desperate. I even defaulted on a smaller one after I didnt qualify for forebearance anymore.x200B;I have no excuse for myself and take full responsibility. I adopted an avoidance attitude where I stuck my head in the sand and hoped for better times that never came.x200B;Unfortunately, Im still living paycheck to paycheck though I finally got into a good field and Im climbing my way up, so though money isnt great, I have a brighter future, but Im ready to pull my head out of the sand and do something about my abysmal situation.x200B;The thing is, I have no idea where to start. I dont know who to trust, whats a scam and whats legit, or who to go to for help.x200B;I contacted a couple credit counseling agencies, and they said they only help with unsecured debt ? like credit cards and whatnot.x200B;Does anyone have advice on where I can start so I can finally dig myself out of this miserable hole?x200B;P.S. I know Ive been an idiot and made bad choices, but please try to be kind and not rake me through the coals too much.x200B;Edited to add: I have a variable income and make anywhere from 2,000 to 4,500 per month gross. Right now Im averaging about 3k right now.x200B;I have a budget that Im not good at following, and my variable income makes it ever harder to stick to. My expenses are about 2,800mo, give or take, not including self-employment taxes or health insurance which I dont have.x200B;Thankfully I do have a small savings account to keep Murphys Law at bay, and my only other debt is a credit card with a 700 balance Im doing fine making monthly payments on.x200B;Im so in the dark with my loans that Id need to dig to find the exact loan balance, now, as well as the rates and terms.x200B;  <response>: This is just a math problem. Spend less of your paycheck. Work side hustles to make more money. Make bigger payments to your loans. Keep doing that. 