How Much You Can Afford to Borrow
Calculate a realistic borrowing limit based on your education expenses, expected salary, and projected debt-to-income ratio.
Pre-Debt Plan Session
Student Loan Planning Before You Borrow
How much student debt can you afford without putting your financial future at risk?
The amount you're approved to borrow isn't necessarily the amount you should take on. Your school costs, future salary, and monthly loan payments all affect how much debt you can realistically manage.
Student Loan Savvy's Pre-Debt Plan Session gives you a personalized borrowing strategy with Kathleen Boyd, CFP®, CSLP®, before you commit to student loans.
$395 | 60-Minute Consultation
Book Your Pre-Debt Plan SessionWho Is the Pre-Debt Plan Session For?
This session is designed for:
Undergraduate students
Comparing college costs and financial aid offers.
Graduate students
Weighing the cost of an advanced degree against future earnings.
Parents and families
Deciding how to finance education expenses.
Prospective borrowers
Choosing between federal and private student loans.
Already repaying student loans? Visit our student loan consulting services for help managing existing debt.
What Does Your Pre-Debt Plan Session Cover?
Kathleen reviews your education costs, borrowing options, and projected income to help you determine how much debt makes sense for your financial situation.
Federal vs. Private Student Loans
Compare interest rates, repayment terms, and borrower protections to identify the tradeoffs of each financing option.
Your Future Monthly Payments
Estimate your payments after graduation and assess whether they would remain manageable if your starting salary is lower than expected.
The Financial Return on Your Degree
Compare the cost of your education with potential earnings to assess whether taking on additional debt is financially worthwhile.
For more details on evaluating education costs and borrowing decisions, read our guide to what to consider before taking out student loans.
What's Included in Your Pre-Debt Plan Session?
Your $395 session includes:
- ✓A 60-minute consultation with Kathleen Boyd, CFP®, CSLP®.
- ✓Projected debt-to-income and program ROI analysis.
- ✓Federal and private student loan comparison.
- ✓Personalized borrowing threshold and repayment scenarios.
- ✓A personalized action plan.
- ✓30 days of follow-up email support.
Book Your Pre-Debt Plan Session
Before accepting a loan offer, get a borrowing strategy based on your education costs, expected earnings, and future repayment obligations.
Book Your Pre-Debt Plan Session - $395Frequently Asked Questions
The amount you can afford depends on your expected income, living expenses, and total debt at graduation. Your projected monthly payment should leave room for essential expenses, savings, and unexpected costs. During your Pre-Debt Plan Session, Kathleen evaluates these numbers with you and helps establish a borrowing limit based on your financial circumstances.
Not necessarily. Your financial aid package may include more loan funding than you need. Before accepting the full amount, subtract grants, scholarships, savings, and other available funding from your education expenses. Borrowing only what's necessary can reduce both your monthly payments and the interest you'll pay over the life of your loans.
Federal student loans generally offer more borrower protections and repayment flexibility, including access to certain income-driven repayment options. Private loans have lender-specific interest rates, credit requirements, and repayment terms. Kathleen can compare the available options with you, including their long-term costs and the consequences if your income changes after graduation.
Compare the total cost of your graduate program with realistic earnings in your intended career. Factor in existing student loans, additional borrowing, and the monthly payments you'll face after graduation. Kathleen evaluates your projected debt-to-income ratio and the potential financial return on your degree to help you assess whether the additional debt is reasonable.
Your options depend on the type of loans you borrowed. Eligible federal borrowers may qualify for income-driven repayment or other payment relief, depending on current program rules. Private lenders generally have their own hardship policies. Before borrowing, Kathleen can help you calculate repayment scenarios based on lower-than-expected earnings so you can account for that risk in your borrowing plan.