Let me bring my hubby into this again. A few years ago, when we were dating and considering the next step down the aisle, we had a full-financial disclosure chat. Prompted by yours truly, of course. (And I advise this for anyone and everyone considering joining two 'houses' in matrimony, or even just living under the same roof.)

Having gone to a local college while working fulltime, Lawrence came to the table with no student loan debt and even no credit card debt. (Lord almighty, I thought, call the priest right now!) I, on the other hand, had five figures of student loan debt—a bit remaining from undergrad and a fat chunk from putting myself through grad school. 

He sniffed, “Ok, how much?” I told him the total. The poor guy’s head did that cartoon yadda-yadda-yadda thing as he squealed, “HOW MUCH??!!”

I had it comin’. However, in my defense, I doubled my salary after graduation, and I don’t regret that diploma (or the monthly bills) for an instant. At least I locked in a low fixed rate.

There’s the rub. A college degree is nearly a requirement to succeed in the American—and increasingly global—marketplace. A college degree costs money—a lot of money. Our parents can’t pay for it all, while we contribute a smidgen. But once we get that degree, we don’t make a lot of money. So, we work to afford to pay off the debt we took on to get that degree, to get these jobs. And round and round it goes.

I won’t make this a riff on how unproductive it is to trap hard-working young adults into mortgage-loads of debt before we’re able to order a gin and tonic. Debt taken on to pay for a college or graduate degree is what most financial-folk call “good” debt. You borrow to invest in yourself and your future. I just wish we didn’t have to borrow so much. But that’s for another column.

Here, I’m all about helping you manage the student loan debt you do have. So take ten and try these massive-money-saving moves out—I’ve already taken them for a test drive and it’s thumbs up all the way.

• Open your bills! No really, I mean that. Either open them as soon as they arrive, or set an alert in your calendar twice a month. Repeat while opening giant, scary bill: “I am in control.” Better yet, set up automated payments online as soon as you can. Sallie Mae will knock down your interest when you sign up to make payments automatically and electronically. Automating your payments, even through your own bank, no matter who you have a loan with, will spare you late fees and jumps in interest (‘punishment’ for your tardiness), not to mention any dings on your credit history.   
• Consolidate at least once, not often, and lock in a low interest rate for the full life of the loan, preferably with a subsidized, federal loan. If your credit history isn’t stellar and you’ve been rejected for consolidation, work hard on your bills for 6 months and try again. Remember, private (bank) loans are a last resort—ignore their cheesy, sneaky offers in the mail and annoying spam. Stick to less expensive, more flexible, subsidized loans and reach out to them yourself.
• The news can save you money. Keep up to date on student loan reforms—especially if you work in the public sector. For example, check out the reforms and benefits of HR 2669, a student loan reform bill passed by Congress last fall. It includes interest rate reductions, loan forgiveness for eligible public employees, additional grants, and new parameters for income-based payments. 

If you’re going to have to pay one debt for the next fifteen years, might as well make it the cheapest bill you’ve got.