Getting out of Life Debt

I was reading this thread today about the Most Complicated Life Debt Theory Ever, and I realized I never really put down my thoughts of how the Life Debt works or how it can be paid down anywhere. I blushingly confess that as usual I manage to bring this back to Draco, though it's really about Snape. ( Hey, I can't help it! The kid’s his biggest fan! )

None of which helps me pay my student loans.