'It's going to hurt': How a surging student-loan payment is reshaping a family's future
From a second job to reconsidering a career path, a family of four details how they're navigating a student-loan payment increase.
The Sprague family, Jodi and Paul, faced a significant upheaval in their budget when their student-loan payments doubled from $404 to $1,014 per month in September. This change occurred due to President Donald Trump's student-loan repayment overhaul, which ended the Biden-era SAVE repayment plan that provided affordable monthly payments to millions of borrowers.
The Spragues had been budgeting for these payments since 2015, but the sudden increase caught them off guard. The drastic rise in payments has forced them to reevaluate their financial plans, with Jodi and her college-aged daughters, Evelyn and Olivia, bracing for the impact. Jodi, a middle school teacher, and Olivia, a recent Georgia Southern University graduate, are both grappling with the burden of student debt, with Jodi owing $144,000.
The family's decision to accept high levels of debt over the years, from Jodi's minimal loan for a Bible college to her master's degree, has shaped their approach to money. Despite the challenges, the Spragues remain committed to paying off their loans, despite the financial strain.
Written by urgent.news from Business Insider's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
