Which state? If you live in Pennsylvania, Texas, North Carolina or South Carolina. They are the few states that do not permit wage garnishment on consumer debt (with private student loans being consumer debt). Also, depending on your state, you could attempt surpassing the statute of limitations. Doing so, means that you can't effectively be sued to collect on the debt anymore. That's basically what I did. Also had $100k in Sallie Mae loans. Living in Pennsylvania (where the loans also originated). PA statute of limitations on consumer debt is 4 years and the state doesn't permit wage garnishment on consumer debt. I didn't have any assets at the time. So I took the plunge and strategically defaulted. Got any more purchases out of the way that relied on credit and just stopped paying. Credit score took a massive hit and I got a lot of calls from Sallie Mae in the first 6 months, but after about 6 months they sold the debt to a collections agency who also proceeded to make calls and send letters. But it was pointless to sue me as there was nothing I had of value, so they couldn't do anything. After around the 2nd year, I rarely heard anything from the collections agency. I defaulted back in 2018. It's been 8 years since then. I made it past the statute of limitations so I can't be sued for it anymore and it's been 7 years, so the default has fallen off my credit report. When I defaulted, my credit score dropped down to around 580. Now it sits at 797.

Also don't beat yourself up. Debt slavery really is just that. If I hadn't defaulted, I'd still be in the same spot as where I was (living with my parents) because the costs of the loans relative to wages in my area would have made it impossible to otherwise move. Ever since defaulting, I've moved to a much better area with better wages. I've paid off other debts like my car and really the only thing I still owe are federal student loans, but those are much easier to work around. I've started putting my savings into investments and in general my quality of life has significantly approved.

I'd consider strategic default as an option. Also, Sallie Mae are unlikely to agree to any kind of settlement until after you default. Bankruptcy is an option too, but really should be the ultimate last resort. Like you said in a previous comment if Sallie Mae were somehow successful in getting a judgement to garnish your wages (keep in mind because it's a private student loan, they can't just automatically start garnishing your wages. They have to actually take you to court first, win in said court and then actually enforce the garnishment). You are one of hundreds of thousands of people in the same position. While the chances aren't 0%, it's also heavily unlikely that Sallie Mae will take this course of action. Much cheaper to just continuously call you or try and guilt/threaten you into paying. If you default, then you'll gain leverage. But also keep in mind that Sallie Mae are aware of statute of limitations on debt, so they will be happy to settle debt if it keeps you on the hook and away from the statute of limitations as any sort of agreement with the lender resets the time on the SOL. So for example, lets say you default and for 3 years you hear nothing from Sallie Mae or a collections agency, until one day you do hear back and they offer to settle your debt, bringing it down to $70000. If you agree to this, then the SOL time would reset back to 0...even if your state's SOL were 4 years or something. So you managed to settle, but you were so close to surpassing the SOL that you kind of screwed yourself over.

Just stuff to consider! This sub actually really helped me make the decision to strategically default and I don't regret it at all.