Today it’s not uncommon for college graduates to owe $50,000, $100,000 or even $150,000 in student loans upon graduating. Unfortunately, it’s commonplace given the escalating costs of tuition and students taking more than four years to complete their education.
Students loans are the necessary price to pay for opportunities and the possibility of career advancement. But be warned, once you assume these loans it becomes your responsibility to manage them effectively and “do your homework."
If you’re like most of us, you didn’t hesitate to take out loans your first year of college because you were filled with the optimism that a college degree would provide you with more than enough income to meet your living expenses, save for retirement, and quickly pay off your loans. But reality isn’t always so kind. Now you realize that between taxes and inflating living expenses there’s not as much money to spread between paying bills and saving for retirement as you had thought. You’re faced with a decision. With your limited income, should you pay off your students loans or save for retirement?
If this isn’t a question you’re asking yourself, it should be. You know that your loans won’t repay themselves, but at the same time you need to maintain a lifestyle and try to put some money away for retirement. There’s just not enough money to go around and the question becomes one of balance, and finding out where every dollar of your income will be put to its best use.
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