<prompt> Human: Ive tried to write this out a few times, but I feel like each time it just ends up sounding defensive. So, in a nutshell, here it is: I work in a retail job for 12hr, full-time. I like my job and I want to stay working in my company. That being said, Im pursuing a career in the arts writingmusicphotography in the time that I have, and thats really important to me. - This is one of the points on which I end up sounding defensive. I have a lot of people in my life telling me NOT to pursue it because its not financially the greatest move, and I understand that, but money isnt really that important to me. The only important function money has in my life right now is paying for my basic expenses and paying off my loans, so I need to figure out how to make it function that way. I want to pay off my loans so that I can stop working my steady job and start focusing all of my professional energy on the career Im passionate about, basically. My expenses are low. Im embracing a minimalist lifestyle; Im going to pay off and close my credit card, Im cutting out all unnecessary expenses and selling or donating most of my things, including my car. Currently Im living with my family, but about midway through the year Ill be moving from Chicago to Seattle this wont affect my job. Thatll increase my expenses somewhat rent and utilities but Im not too worried about affording it. OK, the kicker: Im over 100k in student loan debt. I think I have about 1000 in medical debt as well, but in comparison thats really nothing. About 80k is private loans and therefore high interest rates. My degree is in history, and honestly - this is another point on which I get defensive - I dont want to use my degree. Im finishing it to get what I can out of the investment that Ive made. And even if I used it, I dont think Id be able to land a job that would pay me appreciably more than what I make right now in the job I already have, and I certainly wouldnt be as happy which is my first priority. My dad is willing to help me make the payments, but Id like to make the largest payments I can to pay off my loans as quickly as possible.That being said: What can I do to cut my expenses as much as possible? What can I do to lower my debt as much as possible? What am I looking at for a timeframe for paying it off since I dont think my general income level is going to change very much in the coming 10 years?I guess the most important thing to me is this: I dont live to make money and I dont want to. The advice Ive gotten so far is to work as hard as I can to make as much money as I can i.e. get a job Id hate but that pays well and work 60 hours a week, and that would just make me miserable. Id like to know, realistically, what my life and finances are going to have to look like while Im getting myself out of debt.Thanks in advance, yall, and sorry again if I sound defensive - I have to defend my life and career choices a lot and it gets really wearing. I know Ive made some mistakes as far as school and finances go, and I want to correct them, but I dont want to be completely unhappy in the process. Im much happier with the prospect of living like a pauper in order to pay off my debt than being forced into a job I hate to do the same.EDIT OK, I might as well include this up here. Its not entitled to want a career in the arts or to work for it. And its a shitty thing to tell someone to shove that aside and get back to real life, because were human beings, we have the right to pursue the things we love. That IS real life. For one thing.For another, thank you to everyone who has been encouraging about the job market. I feel better about finding work thatll pay me better than 12hr that wont make me feel like jumping off a ledge. Everyone else: Dude, FUCK YOU. Downvote me all you want, like I care! No one has to do work they absolutely hate. Its not entitlement to feel that way.Lastly, I have a few questions that havent been answered: Is there a way to negotiate with the banks about my minimum payments or total balances? Is consolidation worth it? Can you consolidate private loans, and if so how?Most of yall have gotten hung up on my attitude about my career and pay rate instead of addressing the practical questions Ive got about the loans themselves. I am trying to solve this problem, not get berated about my life choices. I am FULLY AWARE that I fucked up, thank you, now Im trying to fix it and I could use some advice. Since I am also now FULLY AWARE that I need to and can find work that pays me better, moving on to the questions about the loans would be boss.  <response>: Ok.. Ill do my best not to sound too what were you thinking here... A 100k mortgage at a high interest rate will run you roughly 1000 mo. 12hr is roughly 25kyr. Taking out fed taxes your looking at 22k. I would ask myself this... Are your parents financially secure. Because what youre doing is saying I want to live my own life of arts and music at the detriment of my parents retiring if you ask them for money. This is your debt. If they told you before college that they would help you pay off any student loans you accrued then that is one thing, but if they are only helping you because they realize you cant follow your dream without there help then that is unfair to them. It is time to put on the big boy pants. I recommend that you do not move to Seattle. Stay living with your parents. You also need either a raise or another job. With your income it will take you 10 years to pay off those loans. That is way to long to put your life on hold. Look for a teaching job. One that pays 40k. Youve just cut the payoff time to 5 years. The mentality of a lot of younger adults nowadays is that the world is your oyster. Follow your dreams. Be all you can be. We have grown up watching too many Disney movies where the pauper gets the princess. This is the real world. Its not fair to your parents to put off their dreams of retirement so you can pull in way too much debt for a degree you dont want to use.Sorry if that came of rant-ish.. It wasnt supposed to. I just couldnt imagine asking my parents to help pay off my loans. We all have our goals and are working towards them.Best of luck! 