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If the 30-something self you imagined as a child was wildly famous, threw awesome parties, and had tons of cash to spare, your student loans might be putting a tiny cramp in your style. 

Of course, sporting both celebrity status and a hefty student loan balance isn't unheard of. In fact, some of the folks you'd probably like to mob for an autograph were (or still are!) in the same boat. 

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. birthrate has tanked. And who’s to blame? Millennials.

There’s been plenty of hand-wringing about this in the media, along with elaborate think-pieces about why this might be happening. But if you’re a Millennial, your response might be a solid eyeroll. To many of us, the reasons people our age aren’t having more—or any—kids are screamingly obvious. But strap in, because we’re going to get into those reasons anyway.

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. 

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.