<prompt> Human: Throwaway to save face as much as possible, as this is a very big source of embarrassment and shame. I am 33 and I am highly in debt and unable to obtain any credit due to my outstanding student loans. I am in Canada.I am looking for advice surrounding my outstanding student loans. I graduated university in 2005 and upon graduation I undertook the responsibility of paying off my colossal debt of approximately 39,000. I earned a degree and accomplished what I set out to do in school, and it wouldnt have happened had I not taken on student loans.Two years after graduation, my promising career came to a sudden halt and I was out of work. I asked for, and was granted, a few extensions on my debt responsibilities by the National Student Loan Centre. From 2008 2011 I worked government contract to government contract in my field, infrequently making enough money to meet the minimum required monthly payment on my loans, and eventually I defaulted because I didnt make enough to pay rent, food, gasoline, and car insurance in addition to the student loan obligations.In 2011 I decided to enroll in a government small-business program related to my field which was somewhat successful insofar as it got me by, but slowly fizzled. During this time, I must admit, I made no payments on my student debt because I did not have the extra 660 per month, and I buried my head in the sand, hoping for better days to come. It was at this point that I look back and wonder if I should have declared bankruptcy, however it did not sit right with me, and I dont think I could have afforded to go bankrupt, to be honest. I spoke to financial counselors, trustees, and planners. The cost of drafting a consumer proposal was 900, but that could be rejected by the National Student Loan Centre, so there was a large financial risk. In essence, I continued to bury my head in the sand and did nothing. The stress and anxiety of such a huge financial burden has overwhelmed me, but I realize there are no excuses.Last year I wished upon a lucky star and was offered a full-time permanent government job at an administrative level approximately 60,000 annually. 12 months ago I reconnected with a woman I want to spend my life with. She has children. She has been married, I have not. I am at a point right now that if I decide to declare bankruptcy, 1 I would not feel right about it, and 2 due to my income, I would pay 50 of my current income above 2100month on surplus income fees to the trustee. At this point, starting to repay my student loan at the 660 minimum payment would cover mostly interest, and only a small amount of that payment would be applied to the principle, and I will be paying that minimum payment for decades.My girlfriend and I have goals of getting married and growing our family, but my credit rating is in shambles, and I cannot see any way out of it that will not cost me an exorbitant amount in interest and decades of enormous payments that will prevent me from purchasing a home. I am willing to sacrifice and work towards being debt free. I am very disappointed in my past self for burying his head in the sand to make things more difficult for my future self, but I would like to end this trend so I can build a life and have a family. In most circumstances I would consider myself fairly intelligent. When it comes to personal finances I have not been, and I am willing to change.I am reaching out to the smart and savvy users of Reddit to see if there may be an effective strategy that I can utilize or implement to see myself through this obligation while also maintaining some sort of semblance of integrity to my debtor and the ability to plan a marriage and family in the not-too-far-away future.  <response>: You are making good money now. At least 3500 a month after taxes. What are your current monthly expenses? 