All i can say is well done on getting yourself sorted to pay it off - you are doing the right thing. $33K is a lot but at then end of the day it is only about £18K. I have a student loan of £15K i owe the government. It is different admittedly though as th way our students loans work is the interest is prtty much the rate of inflation so i have a little bit of it saved (about £2K) which is getting more interest than i am paying. The plan originally was to invest all my student load but having a good time and my G/F (now ex) drained my resources but i think - "hey what the hell - i can enjoy it when i am 80!".
I can only slightly know how it feels to have such large debts to credit card companies though. My total debt is just under £3k on cards but that is on 0% at the momnt, some is invested and i have not been paid properly yet so i have money coming to me - but i still hate being in debt as i have never owed anyone money before. I have learned this year jus thow easy ti is for debt to spiral out of control.
Good luck with paying it all off and don't let it worry you. keep cool and to your plan and it will be so nice when you have paid them all off.
