More than 4 in 10 – 42% – of federal student loan borrowers say their monthly payments for that debt make it harder to cover basic needs such as food and housing , according to a forthcoming survey.

Data for Progress and The Institute for College Access & Success gave CNBC an early look at the survey, set for release Tuesday, which gauges how federal student loan debt has affected borrowers' finances.

More than a third of borrowers surveyed, or 37%, said it's more challenging to meet health-care expenses because of their education debt, while 52% said it's been more of a struggle to save for retirement , the survey found. Nearly a third of the borrowers, or 30%, said that the debt has had a negative impact on their plans to get married and start a family, the survey found.

"In exc

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