Would you date somebody in serious debt? (dating, marrying, girl)

[zz4guy]

I dated this girl for a while but have since broken up. One thing that scared me away from her was the amount of debt she had. She had $80,000 in private school loans to pay off.

Would you keep dating somebody knowing they had this kind of debt?

[Thursday007]

Is she employed and in what field - Dr. Lawyer? Depending on the occupation a lot of employers will pay off a person's student loan as a perk or they can make it up rather quickly. So, we to know that first.

[JeepGirl118]

I would not break it off if a man has "healthy" debt, meaning school loans and has upward mobility to clear it eventually.

Unhealthy debt is a whole 'nother ball game in itself.

[zz4guy]

Sorry, I forgot to mention that she's a social worker. Makes around $30k/yr if lucky. $80k to get a $30k job. Didn't sound like the most financially sound decision she could have made. It worried me that more bad money decisions may lie ahead.

[Thursday007]

Originally Posted by zz4guy

Sorry, I forgot to mention that she's a social worker. Makes around $30k/yr if lucky. $80k to get a $30k job. Didn't sound like the most financially sound decision she could have made. It worried me that more bad money decisions may lie ahead.

80 grand is a lot of money for a social worker job does she have her masters degree or is it just an undergrad degree? I too have reservations about the amount of the student load in relation to what field she is in, Something doesn't smell right there.

Hate to keep asking questions to a question, but does she own her own home or have any stable assets to take a consolidated loan against and draw it out over more years to lower her interest or payment. Has she ever discussed with you a long term plan to deal with it?

Bankruptsy is out of the question because student loans are excluded from it.

[zz4guy]

Undergrad degree. Private college that charges people thru the nose. No assets except for a 2001 Oldsmobile Alero . She's 23.

[Woof Woof Woof!]

Originally Posted by zz4guy

I dated this girl for a while but have since broken up. One thing that scared me away from her was the amount of debt she had. She had $80,000 in private school loans to pay off.

Would you keep dating somebody knowing they had this kind of debt?

No. Why would I date someone who was broke and fiscally irresponsible? I have my own problems.

[Thursday007]

I live in a good neighborhood in the suburbs and my house and car didn't cost that much combined. I'd be more inquisitive about how she racked up 80 grand and did her parents help her at all with this and if not? Why a private expensive school for a social work degree because she would never make enough to pay it back and should have considered a less expensive school for that field of employment.

If she had her masters degree she could also teach - but she doesn't

I've never been one to break off or up with someone over money, but something just ain't right with this picture.

[gman6974]

I see nothing wrong in just dating her. Marrying her right now wouldn't be a smart choice. Her debt would become yours then. Shes only 23 years old. Depending on where she lives $30,000 a year plus benefits could be pretty damn good right after college. Most employers want experience and won't hire without it. Give her a break.

[HansProof]

May I direct you to the worthless degree thread

Good god no I wouldn't get involved with her. Too many fish in the sea to wait for someone to dig themselves out of a hole they created. Too many actually have their lives on track to make exceptions.