There are some things that you should consider in order to ease the burden of a student loan.

1. Firstly, the best thing for students who have graduated and are in the six-month period, consolidating their loans is a good solution as they can take advantage of the lower interest rates. Another advantage is the consolidation discounts offered by the lenders.
2. By consolidating the loan you will lengthen the life of the loan. A good example is the case in which you increase the loan payment from 10 years to 20 years. Even if the monthly payments will be reduced with 34%, the interest paid over the duration of the loan will be more than double.
3. When you are late on the payments, just pick up the phone and negotiate with your lender. If you are more than 270 days late things are starting to worsen. Your risk of being sued and your information might reach a collection agency where you will be charged more.
4. If you make your repayment, there are some repayment options that you can take advantage of such as the economic hardship deferment. This allows you to pay just the interest for maximum three years.