Tens of millions of Americans are gearing up to pay their federal student loans. The end of a more than three-year pause means a stressful time for some New Yorkers who are figuring out how to factor in their student loan repayment on top of their other bills.

Alexis Anzovino graduated from Marist College more than two years ago. She found a remote job in digital merchandising working with a retail brand. The 25-year-old lives at home with her parents.

“It’s really frustrating because I feel like I, you know, wanna be able to start my life, being able to move out and maybe buy my own place, or pay rent somewhere and stuff,” Anzovino said. “And now, having this extra payment kinda makes me feel really stuck and bogged down with debt.”

That extra payment is her student loans.

Anzovino took out private and federal loans to attend college. In total, she owes close to $60,000. New York student loan borrowers carry a median debt of $19,000. The end of her federal student loan relief is hard to stomach, including this recent bill.

“I was kinda dreading looking at it, didn’t really wanna open it up, kinda holding off on opening it because I knew it’s just gonna be another bill I have to pay every month,” she said.

Anzovino is one of about 41 million Americans paying down student loans. Her monthly payments now will be more than $500 per month factoring in both her federal and private loans, money she says could go toward a rent payment.

Anzovino recently considered a move to Florida, a life change that’s on hold because she’s saddled with debt.

“Financially, for me right now, the smarter decision would be to stay at home, try to pay off as much debt as I can,” she said. “Maybe save up some extra money. I even thought about getting a side job a little bit, maybe just to have some extra money coming in.”

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan, a plan that would have wiped $20,000 of student debt for each borrower. Now the Biden administration is forgiving the loan balance of more than 800,000 Americans who’ve been in the system for 20 years or more.

Anzovino isn’t a part of that group since she’s a recent grad. In the meantime, she said she’s cutting back on her spending and is going to be smarter about saving her money.

“I’m definitely gonna have to cut back on shopping,” she said. “I’m also going to be cutting back on food, going out for coffee maybe, definitely travel, kinda just going out with friends to eat and stuff. That’s not things I need to be doing anymore.”

As millions of Americans prepare for student loan repayments, Anzovino is grateful that she can still live at home, even though she says her looming student loan debt feels impossible to pay off. Mandatory payments are due again in October.