When the COVID-19 pandemic began and federal student loan payments were first paused, Lilly Stuecklen decided to put as much money as she could toward her private loans.
The now-27-year-old graduated with around $110,000 in student debt, about $66,000 of which were private loans. Before the pandemic, Stuecklen was on an income-driven repayment plan for her federal loans, and put $500 to $600 per month toward her private ones.
