Defines federal vs. private loans, outlines their key types and trade-offs, and offers initial borrowing advice (borrow only what you need, hunt free aid).
Explains grace periods, loan servicers, and core federal plans (standard, graduated, IDR, extended) plus private-loan tactics (refinance, negotiation), with tips for extra payments and motivation.
Shows how to budget using 50/30/20, choose snowball vs. avalanche methods, build emergency savings, invest early, and juggle loans alongside goals like home buying or retirement.