--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Believe it or not, when we were first…" description: "\"Believe it or not, when we were first married, our combined monthly student loan bills were actually higher than our mortgage.\" — Michelle Obama" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a1/michelle-obama-518_badass_believe-it-or-not-when-we-were-first-mar_2498348.jpg" --- # Believe it or not, when we were first married, our… ![“Believe it or not, when we were first married, our combined monthly student loan bills were actually higher than our mortgage.” quote by Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a1/michelle-obama-518_badass_believe-it-or-not-when-we-were-first-mar_2498348.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a1/michelle-obama-518_badass_believe-it-or-not-when-we-were-first-mar_2498348.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a1/michelle-obama-518_badass_believe-it-or-not-when-we-were-first-mar_2498348.jpg) > “Believe it or not, when we were first married, our combined monthly student loan bills were actually higher than our mortgage.” [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even early in marriage, student debt can exceed mortgage costs, highlighting financial challenges for young couples. **In simple terms:** Student loans can be larger than a mortgage. Key Takeaway Plan finances early and manage debt. Themes finance marriage debt planning Mood practical empathetic Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - college budgeting - first‑time home buying - loan repayment strategies - financial counseling Key Concepts economic reality budgeting young adults Questions to Reflect On - How can couples prioritize debt repayment? - What strategies reduce student loan burdens? A Different Perspective Debt isn’t always avoidable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Badass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/badass/) [Student loan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/student-loan/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) ## Related quotes > [Believe it or not, when we were first married, our combined monthly student loan bills were actually higher than our mortgage. We were so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/believe-it-or-not-when-we-were-first-married-our-combined-monthly/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [You know what higher interest rates mean. To you it means a higher mortgage payment, a higher car payment, a higher credit card payment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/you-know-what-higher-interest-rates-mean-to-you-it-means-a-higher/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [I don't really believe you are married unless you have children. And people who only have one kid don't really have kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-gurland/i-don-t-really-believe-you-are-married-unless-you-have-children-and/) [Andrew Gurland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-gurland/) > [I believe me being married, having a life outside of fighting, gives me a mental break.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetrious-johnson/i-believe-me-being-married-having-a-life-outside-of-fighting-gives-me/) [Demetrious Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrious-johnson/) > [In the Mormon Church, we believe we can be married for all eternity, not till death do you part. As Mom was getting older,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-m-christensen/in-the-mormon-church-we-believe-we-can-be-married-for-all-eternity/) [Clayton M. Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-m-christensen/) > [“Mormons believe that when they get married in this life, they stay married in the next. I was thinking that we should convert to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarryn-fisher/mormons-believe-that-when-they-get-married-in-this-life-they-stay/) [Tarryn Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarryn-fisher/) > [“At eleven, Kate woke Jake up when she went searching in the cooler for juice. "You know, you used to be peaceful," he grumbled.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-crusie/at-eleven-kate-woke-jake-up-when-she-went-searching-in-the-cooler-for/) [Jennifer Crusie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-crusie/) > [The burden of student loan debt weighs heavily on both students and families across New Jersey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikie-sherrill/the-burden-of-student-loan-debt-weighs-heavily-on-both-students-and/) [Mikie Sherrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikie-sherrill/) > [“You don’t mention what you’d like to study, but I assure you there are many ways to fund a graduate education. 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That doesn't have to be your everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/let-s-say-you-re-all-worried-about-student-loan-debt-and-you-need-to/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [ What I think is bugging this guy \[Steven Lerner\] is the belief that debt - forced debt upon middle-class people, students (i.e., student loans… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/what-i-think-is-bugging-this-guy-steven-lerner-is-the-belief-that/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I hope that basketball gains momentum and kids understand that you can actually make a living from it. Not just the N.B.A. You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adams/i-hope-that-basketball-gains-momentum-and-kids-understand-that-you/) [Steven Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adams/) > [Student loans have been helpful to many. But they offer neither incentive nor assistance to those students who, by reason of family or other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/student-loans-have-been-helpful-to-many-but-they-offer-neither/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Pay off your student loan. Even if you don't have a job...Because when you finally get a job you're going to be one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/pay-off-your-student-loan-even-if-you-don-t-have-a-job-because-when/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) ## More by Michelle Obama > [It's hard to change adults, and it's hard to change it from a political position or a perceived political position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/it-s-hard-to-change-adults-and-it-s-hard-to-change-it-from-a/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [ The president \[Barack Obama\] asked for a commitment of, I think, 100,000 jobs for veterans and military spouses over the next couple of years.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/the-president-barack-obama-asked-for-a-commitment-of-i-think-100-000/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [You work hard for what you want in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/you-work-hard-for-what-you-want-in-life/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [We must once again come together and stand together for the man we can trust to keep moving this great country forward my husband,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/we-must-once-again-come-together-and-stand-together-for-the-man-we/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [We're starting to see, as the economy improves, that the unemployment rate among veterans and military spouses - we're seeing some improvement in those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/we-re-starting-to-see-as-the-economy-improves-that-the-unemployment/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [There's so much going on in the healthcare system that makes it difficult for women to really have a strong economic hold if insurance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/there-s-so-much-going-on-in-the-healthcare-system-that-makes-it/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [In the 10 cities with the nation's highest obesity rates, the direct costs connected with obesity and obesity-related diseases are roughly $50 million per…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/in-the-10-cities-with-the-nation-s-highest-obesity-rates-the-direct/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [What I admire most about Hillary is that she never buckles under pressure. 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