How can i access the number of questions asked on stackoverflow?

I have a few questions for the right people who can help me?

• Long story short since 2007 all my mail has been destroyed/hidden/kept from me. Everything. Why this is important is because I am now finding out that i am close to $70k in debt with student loans. See at first it just didnt add up i went to a private college for 1 year. I failed out, the college at that time was $33k a year, now when I brought this to the attention of the account holder/loan distributor/bill payer of my college that year, she told me that all those scholarships -- because i failed out turned into a giant loan equaling $26,737, that i now have to pay back to government. How I found out about all this?? Around Christmas Chase Bank sent 2 letters that I just happened to find in the garbage (i was looking for a ring i thought i lost while throwing something away) The letters unopened with my name on them, SO I opened them and Chase Bank said that i have 2 accounts and that by calling this number provided i could seek help on making payments, so I did, I called that number and they transferred me and the woman i spoke to was pure evil, she demanded $45,123 that day. I freaked out and said I thought this number was supposed to help me? She said no, you have to pay this outstanding accounts theres no way around it. So she started calling the person who co-signed on the loans and demanding the money, see i thought you had to receive some sort of notice some sort of chance to repay loans? i dont know being as my mail has been kept from me since 2007, and i was told by my schools that they wouldnt start sending payment options until i had been out of school for a year, beginning 2011 would have been my full year out of school so i was waiting for the letters to come so i could start making payments, i never got them, i asked and no one knew what i was talking about i tried to figure out from the bank but the person who is joint with me blocked all access from me. i cant even put a $1 into that account without her being present. And yes I am really this clueless because of the person who did all of this kept me in the dark on purpose hiding destroying letters, any opportunity i had to make payments is now gone, I know nothing about financial, nothing at all. all i know how to do is pay the bills i have now on time, i know that if i dont pay for gas my car wont run, thats the extent of my knowledge with money, because this said person kept me from a lot growing up, cant do anything but listen to them. i am financially stupid and you are supposed to be able to trust said person because that person owns you. I guess what i want to know is how do i go about getting information and how do i start making payments because this is in my name and i want to take care of it, said person took away any chance i had to make it right the first time and now im almost positive its too late for a lot of it. So the Chase Loans are "Charged Off/Written Off" -- what does that mean and is there anyway to reopen them and make payments? They didnt negotiate any form of payment with me Christmas '11, so im not sure what else i can do?? The Government loan, that is supposedly "my scholarships" I still have time to start making payments but I only make $600 a month, so I was wondering if anyone knows how I can get in touch with IBR to start making payments based on my income. Also is it even possible for your scholarships that you earned turn into a giant loan if you failed 2 classes? (The college I went to is completely paid off, there are no bills to them whatsoever). I just need help to get me started on what has been taken away from me. I know it cant be too late. Please dont be hateful, if you want i can explain my situation further in an email, but i seriously had no knowledge of any of these loans except one chase loan that i never received letters for. I know it is my fault and i know its my responsibility i will be making calls on monday to get everything started so i can get my life back i have too much to live for, a man that loves me and i wont be able to be with him without this taken car of, i want a life, i need this taken care of and i thought this could give me a headstart into monday considering i have no idea what to do or look for. Thank you for your time, feel free to send private messages, thank you.

• Answer:

  I know that there are situations that can be eerily like this. Usually gay people feel that if they buy something big, like a house, that that cements their relationship since a legal marriage isn't usually an option. Well, now you know what your situation really is. And that's exactly your problem. Since you are so totally unaware of financial matters, the basic principle is that you must live UNDER your income. That holds true forever, no matter your circumstances. Mainly, now, you need to seek the advice of a solid person. A CPA, probably, or a FEE--only financial planner. I think that you are headed for a bankruptcy. You may be able to afford this route only if you are young and have the years needed to recover. But, really, this is never ideal. It may help you to sleep at night, so maybe it's appropriate. Those student loans are typically never discharged in a bankruptcy, meaning that you still have to pay even though there is a really hard hit on your credit. The other really solid advice is that you must live a mostly cash life. So get some money out of the bank each time you're paid. Live on that cash for the payroll period. Not much, or no, dipping into your checking account. So when you run out of money, you are done spending. Your income of $600 a month is very poor. You must take another job and get your cash flow way up and keep it up. Even if you always have to have 2 jobs for years. (You have a main job and temporary part time job.) Further, you must watch your checking account like a hawk. That means every time you remove money or pay a bill, you look to see that it was paid. Mine is mostly online now, only a few things are paid with a check, but there are still some. I think that you will have to think long and hard about what you really want to do about your significant other, male or female. Is this how you want the rest of your life to be? Do you want this potential for insolvency to happen over and over? What is it worth to you to totally jettison this relationship? Anytime you do actually have a lot of student loans, you must watch this very carefully. It can bite you in the butt, and it did.