<prompt> Human: tldr im in a lot of debt from a degree that forces me to live in a hcol area. forgive me if this post is messy, writing it at 6am after not being able to sleep.big block of stats: graduated from film school 2 years ago with about 100k in debt 25k in my name and 75k in my parents, all of which are under 4.6 interest. pay 1100mo on the loans, with no other debt. have a salaried job in manhattan at a music video distribution company for 62k before taxes, rent in brooklyn is 725mo, but the commute is occasionally unbearable. 2kmo in expenses because i work too much, eat out often, and am only ever home to sleep. would lower significantly if i worked from home or part time. 11k in savings keeping in case i need a car, new computer, bulk loan payoff, quit my job, whatever. 6k in 401k through work, 2k in a roth ira that i started maybe 4 months ago.i really dont want to be at this job anymore, dont want to be at any full time job anymore, and frankly would like to take a break from the film industry rat race for a year more or less but a few things im worried about:1 if im not working in film, theres no reason to be in nyc2 i feel like my degree would be a waste if i dont continue working in film i think i still want to stay in the industry, i just hate that you have to be in NY or LA to make a real living maybe 2-3 other cities, if you dont mind working in niche markets. 3 if i were to move out of nyc, i dont know where i would go. no desire to live with or near my parents, and i only have friends in NY and relatively expensive parts or CA.4 im afraid of falling out of touch with my freelance network if I take too long of a break.5 if i do find a low or mcol area and a more chill job, im worried 1100mo and the large sum of debt as a whole will still weigh on me too much, and ill just be poor, depressed and anxious in a town where i have no friends. i guess im just looking for options or other people who are have been in a similar situation large debt in very niche industries that are only relatively profitable. realistically, i think i need to go to therapy, but in the meantime, reddit is the poor mans therapy.edit: worth mentioning that i can only do income-based payment on the 25k in my name, and not on the bulk in my parents name. i could consolidate the full amount to be in my name and put it on a 20 year plan to be around 500mo, but being in debt for 20 years also doesnt sound like the best alternative. but maybe it is ?edit edit: well it seems like everyone agrees taking a break would be a bad idea. i wont do that unless i just really have to. i think maybe my best option is to look for a job that pays similar but is just a tad more creatively satisfying, or at least worthy of putting on my website nothing i do at my current job can go on my website, so its a job for money and nothing more. dont know how possible that is but i guess its my only option. Assistant: No shit you cant take risks, nobody can with that debt load. Count your blessings your apr is somehow this low and you found a job that pays this well as a film major. Life could hardly turn out any better than this for you considering the choices made so far.Hold on to that job for dear life and never let go. It might eventually make you someone in demand and thats when you begin to have options.Human: worth noting that this current job has no upward mobility. im an editor already got promoted from assistant editor, no option to get promoted again unless the senior editor leaves, which they have no reason to married, kids on the way, etc. if anything id make more if i hopped over to assistant editing for reality tv, but i have no intentions of working 60hrsweek, nor do i have the mental fortitude for it.Assistant: Youre 100K in debt. You know that working 60 hrswk is the way out right?Human: unfortunately, i do. id been working that much on freelance gigs before i got this salaried job a little over a year ago, because i couldnt do 60hrsweek. just cant. body wont do it. im obviously willing to work my way out of debt, but can guarantee you that working that much at a job where i sit in a dark room will end up costing more in medical bills down the line that could easily be avoided by not working myself to death.  <response>: im obviously willing to work my way out of debt,That is not obvious from this post or your attitude. 