How can I manage $300k in student loans, 5 kids, and a spouse with poor budgeting habits?

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  • #114322 Reply
    Crystal

      Are you saying you have 37 years left on your mortgage? I don’t understand how this is possible.

      #114323 Reply
      Audrey

        What is the issue … you are making 150k as a law student now and will likely make more az a lawyer.

        Graduate, pass the bar exam, and tackle the student loans.

        Not sure what the question is regarding the husband.

        #114324 Reply
        Christine

          I say this with the most kindest intentions, first your husband needs to be put on a tight budget.

          No more projects for him until he finishes what he has to do at home.

          Pay down the loans and don’t take on any other debts.

          The kids should all go to free community colleges or buyer schools until you pay off that debt.

          #114325 Reply
          Scott

            About what? You need Dave Ramsey. You and your husband need to live on about 70k a year tops.

            Other wise the train wreck will continue.

            #114326 Reply
            Brianna

              You’re not earning plenty of money for 7 people. Tell him no until things get finished around the house.

              Are you in danger if you refuse?

              #114327 Reply
              Chrissy

                Since your partner has been the stay-at-home parent and the default parent to 5 kids while you worked to support them, you would be paying way more in childcare, spousal support, child support, and convenience costs such as laundry, housekeeper, daycare, etc.

                if you did not have a stay at home parent to support your 5 children and yourself while you increased your earning potential.

                All the people who are saying to get a divorce as not considering the very real financial consequences that would be involved.

                No way the OP will reach FIRE when divorced, paying for two households, etc.

                Get on a budget and worry about the loans after you graduate and figure out your full income.

                Right now, you need a set budget that includes a personal amount for your disabled partner.

                If this was a disabled woman who is a stay-at-home parent and the husband was complaining about their frivolous spending on household goods, the response would be much different.

                Work as a team, but also acknowledge that you hold the power and try to avoid creating a situation where financial abuse is occurring in the relationship because you have that power.

                I like the suggestion of Dave Ramsey plan. I got out of 55k in debt and significantly improved my family budget following his baby steps.

                #114328 Reply
                Michele

                  You have a lot going on and I think you’re too fractured in your goals.

                  The kid goals for them to not struggle is going to have to go on hold. They have time on their side.

                  Finishing school as and paying the debt off is a priority. $300k student loans and how much is left on the house?

                  What other debt is there? You said you have real estate holdings. Is there debt there? Credit cards?

                  Check out Dave Ramsey to start getting this under control.

                  You and hubs need to have a heart to heart and do some goal setting, too. That includes debt, spending and house projects.

                  After the debt, then you need to get your own retirement and investments set up, then focus on the kids.

                  Part of helping them is letting them live at home and providing basic expenses but they need to work.

                  If it’s not in their field they need to figure it out.

                  You can help them after you get your own financials in order.

                  #114329 Reply
                  Dinene

                    This is a marriage issue not 100% a finance issue. And divorce sounds great, but you’ll be on the hook for alimony and child support and splitting of assets which isn’t appealing either.

                    You guys need to have an honest discussion about the projects that are currently undone.

                    No more projects at all until the current ones are finished. And if he can’t do it then hire someone who can.

                    And no further projects for the time being. Create a budget for him/with him.

                    And if he ends up broke and can’t manage whatever is in his own account then that is on him.

                    Having separate accounts is the only thing that did not completely devastate me.

                    #114330 Reply
                    Sara

                      Sell your real estate investments. If you’re already negative cash flow you don’t have resources for a bigger repair or expense.

                      It could devestate you if that happens. Put family on tight budget and pay off your loans.

                      #114331 Reply
                      Russell

                        I know the budget is tight, but step one is some marriage counseling.
                        You say in a comment that he takes care of everything at home.

                        Cooking, cleaning, kids…sounds like a solidly contributing SAHP.

                        You talk about getting educated to make more and finally earn some respect…sounds like you tie respect to earnings and don’t respect his contributions.

                        Add in the severe disability, and I’m sure he’s working with some insecurities to add on top of it.

                        So, then he wants to show his value by doing projects…projects he can’t actually do.

                        For financial advice, plenty of families make it work with one earner and one SAHP. Use a common card for expenses like groceries.

                        Have “pocket money” for each of you that’s no questions asked on spending it. Ideally in separate accounts.

                        Sell the houses. They are revenue negative, and the extra debt isn’t helping your credit score.

                        You seem fixated on real estate. You have a dozen irons in the fire (5 kids, 2 jobs, 1 disabled spouse…); you don’t need the complexity of real estate on top of that. Put it into debt and index funds.

                        Stop saving to buy your kids income generating real estate…your own real estate is cash flow negative!

                        You can’t help them with finances if yours are a mess. Get your house in order, then help them out in a few years.

                        #114332 Reply
                        Shawn

                          Why don’t you take a higher distribution from your company? Some as W2 some as distribution?

                          #114333 Reply
                          Paul

                            You’re living a life that very few people in the world even feel qualified to dream about. Just thank God and be grateful.

                            Pay off your mortgage slowly at an extremely low rate and pay off your student loans and live your happy life.

                            Making a quarter of $1 million a year before you even have your degree with an extremely low interest rate loan and also disability payments.

                            #114334 Reply
                            Tracy

                              I feel horrible for you. I feel like you’re overachieving but you got an anchor dragging you down.

                              You’re the bread winner so u need to tell him no. He can’t just undo all the hard work you do.

                              It’s not fair to you.

                              #114335 Reply
                              Curtis

                                What’s the interest rate on the student loans, can you handle the monthly payment?

                                Just make your monthly payments on student loans and aggressively invest so it has more time to compound?

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