Falling behind on your payments is one thing, but defaulting on your student loans can have long-lasting repercussions.

While you don’t have to repay the loan, it’s a good idea to do so. If left unpaid, the loan accrues interest, and if the loan balance grows too large, it can reduce the death benefit or even cause the policy to lapse. So, while life insurance loans offer flexibility, they also come with risks if not properly managed.

Refinancing involves moving your existing student loans into one new loan, which can streamline how many different payments you are juggling each month.

How to use your student loans to pay for education-related living expenses like transportation and off-campus housing.

There are no easy routes for private student loan forgiveness. However, you can take steps to make your payments more manageable or to receive payment assistance from your state.