u/evil_steve666

Hello all, I've been following others progress and commenting here and there. Here's the update on my circumstances. I was put on SAVE like basically everyone and was at 120 months of service but 117/120 payments due to the forbearance after October 2024. I submitted forms to certify employment and request buyback. My buyback case was then started on 11/6/24 with a 236 number.

I waited and waited, sitting in the save forbearance. I finally switched to IDR after the recent updates about SAVE amounts not used for calculations of payments etc. and just wanting it to be over. I had a 60 day processing forbearance and made my first IDR payment on 8/12/26 which should qualify as my last 3 payments anyway. Side note: It was an unreasonable amount of time on the phone to get put on the processing forbearance considering the pre-recorded message says its automatic; when I moved onto IDR they tried to bill me immediately for the incorrect payment amount.

While waiting on my payment counts to update, on 8/14 I received my buyback agreement, which included an amount similar to what my 3 payments would have been on SAVE. I know the months they included but there's no indication how they calculated what I owed. I was not asked to re-cert my income until I switched to IDR, all I can say is that the amount is less than my IDR. I opted to go with the buyback because if successful I should get my 8/12 payment back as a refund.

I made the required payment the same day. Mohela shows that the payment was received, and is reflected in a reduced 'amount owed' on my next due date. I was on live chat earlier with SA and they cannot confirm a processing date but that it should be soon. I should be able to request forbearance from Mohela if it doesn't process before next due date. In theory I could call today but damn does it take forever to talk to someone there.

When this processes I will provide a confirmed forgiveness update. If something happens and buyback doesn't process, I will also update.

Stay strong, there's some hope.

Hello all, I'm in southwest Virginia, in a ~1200 sq ft ranch with a full unfinished basement. We have an electric heat pump as our primary HVAC which is great until we hit those super cold stretches that have occurred more and more often here in the last 10 years and when the power is out, also more common recently.

The house has an existing chimney and what looks like a 'welding shop custom' wood stove in the basement that we have never used. It's centrally located and is near the basement door. I'm on the schedule to have the chimney liner checked to see if I need to run a liner and cleaned if necessary; either way it's a simple straight shot that definitely drafts.

I'm looking to upgrade to an EPA wood stove as backup and to keep the aux heat from running full blast for a week straight. I don't need to heat the whole basement but since its it will be installed in the basement do I need to look at 2000 sq foot plus models? I was leaning towards one of the Drolet models for cost/quality balance but I'm open to suggestions. It's not like we're going to be sitting around it admiring the flames through the door so I'm definitely function over form on this. The local showroom had options from several other makers. Any thoughts?