The numbers are staggering: 43 million Americans carried student loan debt totaling $1.2 trillion in 2014. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article , the class of 2015 is the most indebted ever, with the average graduate saddled with $35,000 in loans. The student loan crisis is a hot-button topic, with many of the 2016 presidential candidates weighing in on the issue. But it's also a very personal problem that leaves many young Americans stuck with bills they can't afford to pay. Starting off your working life with a significant amount of debt and a low-paying job can make it seem impossible to get ahead. Results from a new survey by Student Loan Hero , a start-up dedicated to helping consumers organize and manage their student loans, found college grads are putting off major life decisions because of their debts. One in seven is delaying marriage, more than one in three are not able to buy homes, and one in five is putting off plans to start a business. How will delaying these milestones affect our society and economy in the future? And what's the solution to our student-loan woes? Andy Josuweit, CEO of Student Loan Hero , argues that the easiest way to pay off these loans is to make more money. This is definitely easier said than done, especially when you consider the wage gap women face. He also points out that this is a marathon, not a sprint. Student loan debt is more than just a political issue to be debated — and for the people who are weighed down by huge monthly payments, it can be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We spoke with nine people — men and women of many ages who are struggling to pay down their debts — about the personal decisions they're delaying because of those loans.