College is done, you’ve got your degree and are working at an established office. You might even be planning to marry or start a family or buy a house of your own. You have a lot of dreams, but first you need to face a huge reality. The reality of paying back student loans that helped you through college but are now weighing down on you. There are things to take care of before you take off on that honeymoon, splurge on that new bike or go apartment hunting. Don’t worry, you can take the pain out of student loan repayment by following some simple steps, outlined in this article. First, choose your repayment plan with great caution. Then, make sure you pay on time, which is not as simple as it sounds. Another important factor is to stay in touch with your lender and that your lender has your current residence address, so that you don’t miss out on your student loan repayment bills. If you’re going to miss a payment, it is safest to alert your lender beforehand. You can also take a break from student loan repayment by forbearance or deferment. It’s always better to take a break than default. You might also think about combining your student loans – consolidating them to reduce payments. However, the problem with consolidation is that borrowers have to start all over again with their payments due to loan refinancing. So, get expert advice before you consolidate. Thinking ahead helps a lot. Think about how you’re going to repay even before you apply for your first student loan. Budget all your academic costs thoroughly before you apply, and make realistic plans. It is never to early to plan ahead when it comes to student loans, and before you go to that dream college evaluate all your expenses and possible ways to