<prompt> Human: Im 25 and graduated in 2011. Im currently working full time as a graphic designer and have a part time job as at a restaurant. Monthly Income after taxes: 1,800.00RentBillsLiving Expenses: 750.00Total Student Loan Debt: 81,094.29 income based repayment for those that can beMonthly Student Loan Payment Total: 500So, I feel like Im in a little over my head with my student loan debt. Its really the only debt I have and even though I have the minimum payments under control each month, I noticed that I am really only covering interest on these loans. I dont know ANYTHING about finances or what options I may have, and thought I should ask here. Heres the back story if it matters or helps at all:While enrolled in my junior year of college, my father passed away, and he was the one who made most of the money in my family. Unfortunately, my mother was the co-signer and organizer of all of my loans, which I think is the main reason that Im hurting so badly from this she is of no financial help. Since my father was not the signer, I know that none of the loans could be deleted due to his passing. However, I seem to be one of the only people I know with this amount of debt, given my familys middle to lower middle class status dad was an iron worker and my mom painted nails for a living.Heres the all the info on my loans if that helps:NelNetTotal Balance: 34,720.58 Made up of 10 different loans with varying interest rates 1. Stafford Loan, 6.000 interest, balance: 4,627.51 2. Stafford Loan, 6.800 interest, balance: 8,322.13 3. Direct Subsidized, 5.6 interest, balance: 3,610.98 4. Direct Subsidized, 4.5 interest, balance: 2,808.31 5. Direct Unsubsidized, 6.8 interest, balance: 5,210.67 6. Direct Unsubsidized, 6.8 interest, balance: 1,246.47 7. Direct Subsidized, 4.5 interest, balance: 2,808.31 8. Direct Unsubsidized, 6.8 interest, balance: 455.69 9. Direct Consolidated, 6.55 interest, balance: 3186.90 10. Direct Consolidated, 6.55 interest, balance: 2,443.59ACS EducationMEFATotal Balance: 8,936.30 7.69 fixedChase Student LoansTotal Balance: 19,670.86 made up of four loans I think? transfers and consolidation 1. Domestic Undergraduate, 7.25 interest, principal balance: 9,806.19 2. Domestic Undergraduate, 10.5 interest, principal balance: 9,864.67 3. Stafford Loan, 6 interest, original amount: 4,500 listed as transferred 4. Stafford Loan, 6.8 interest, original amount: 6,000 listed as transferredSallie MaeLoan Balance, 17,819.50 5.25 variable unsubsidized interest rateI forgot to mention that I used to consolidate some of these loans - Im not sure if thats important or not. Im pretty sure that the NelNet loans are the only federal loans, all others are private. Any advice? HALP.Assistant: The beautiful thing here is, with so many separate loans, you are perfectly set up for a debt avalanche.Good that you put all your federal loans on IBR. Set aside a certain amount of money you can afford to put towards your loans every month. Pay the minimum for all the loans, and any extra you can afford towards your highest interest loan the 10.5.Id say aim to put 600 towards your loans every month, the minimum plus 100 extra. Youd be surprised, that extra money adds up faster than you would expect.Though one question... are the minimums for your federal loans at least enough to cover the interest for those loans? Or is the outstanding balance of those loans growing every month? If youre running a net deficit, then you have a bigger problem, and will really need to find a way to increase income.Human: Luckily, I got Nelnet federal loans to be reduced to 0 per month due to income based repayment. I will have to reapply for IBR in february.I have noticed that the minimum payments for my private loans are only being applied towards interest and not the principal, which is why I really feel Im not getting anywhere.  <response>: Payments increasingly go toward the principal over time for most loans, although youll have to look at the payoff schedule to know about your loan. 