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My parents purchased their first home when my mom was 28—a small, brick ranch with a sunken den where I watched "Little House on the Prairie" and snuggled with my baby sister. By the time I was eight years old, we'd upgraded to a split level on a quiet cul-de-sac. My mom was 31. My dad was 36.

According to the American Dream—that ubiquitous mantra that says we should all be doing better than our parents—I should've bought a bigger and fancier home than my parents' first house when I was in my mid-twenties. Instead, I didn't buy my first home until I was 33. And that was only possible because I married someone without debt. 

Paying extra on your student loans every month can make a big dent over time—even if you only tack on as much as the price of a movie ticket. 

How can a few extra bucks a month make a difference? Let's talk about how this works. 

So, now that we’ve hit our 30s, we’re definitely in control of our lives, right? Um, Right.

As a 30-something who ate nine tater tots and the crust off a pizza for dinner last night, I’m gonna just go ahead and say that “adulting” is not exactly my strong suit. Especially when it comes to what I eat. (Whatever; wine is a vegetable).

Student loans can be a huge financial burden. If you’re struggling to handle your monthly payment, you have some options. 

AES is one of the lenders that services federal student loans. If you have federal loans serviced through them, here are four steps you can take to reduce your monthly payment.

The average millennial carries approximately $37,172 in student loans—higher than any other generation. That debt is holding up our lives by forcing us to delay buying homes, saving for retirement, getting married, and having kids.

Experian’s recent survey shows that in the last decade, student loan debt has grown from $833 billion to more than $1.4 trillion—the highest level in history. And those born between 1981 and 1996 carry a large proportion of that burden.

Despite rising tuition costs, getting a college education is the best possible way to make a better living. On average, college graduates earn 56% more than those who only get a high school education, according to data compiled by the Economic Policy Institute.

But post-college graduation, there tends to a rude awakening: Graduates today are saddled with an average of $37,172 of student loan debt, and it takes the average borrower 19.7 years to pay off their loans.