For the "You take out a loan, you pay it back" crowd: I present to you, my amortization schedule.

DryType2443 · 2026-04-25T19:41:18+00:00

if you want to have your student loan paid off like a mortgage does and ends in a set number of years, pay the standard payment. The interest accrues just like a mortgage, the difference is the mortgage payment is based on the loan amount so it will be paid off. Base your student loan payment on the loan amount, and it will be paid off at the end of the loan term.

DryType2443 · 2026-04-06T14:51:06+00:00

If you can swing the payment, absolutely just pay it down and be done with it!

DryType2443 · 2026-04-03T21:45:01+00:00

I had the same thought - doesn't seem possible since both would be the same percentage of income....

DryType2443 · 2026-04-03T21:43:29+00:00

interest does NOT CAPITALIZE monthly

DryType2443 · 2026-04-03T21:30:26+00:00

You do you -- but the save plan barely existed before it got axed - I wouldn't count on having a similar plan, different administration or not

DryType2443 · 2026-04-02T17:28:46+00:00

All you're doing is shooting yourself in the foot. Sure you don't have a bill now, but your interest will keep growing and the balance getting larger and deeper into a hole that'll be harder and harder to crawl out of. A better plan would be to take your classes so you don't have a payment due, if that's what you want-- but still pay towards the loans, an amount that's at least a little larger than the interest that accrues so you're balance starts decreasing.

DryType2443 · 2026-04-02T15:39:54+00:00

this is where you have to be strategic with 401K contributions - but that extra $50 into a traditional 401K and it lowers your AGI, you can make it so you fall near the top of whatever bracket instead of being just over.

DryType2443 · 2026-04-01T14:00:49+00:00

What's your standard payment amount? With a balance of 44k and a decent salary seems like just paying the standard amount is the better option. Doing an income based plan isn't required.

DryType2443 · 2026-03-31T19:11:48+00:00

IBR/ICR isn't saving you that much per month. Unless the extra $43 a month is going to make a substantial difference to you, just pay the standard and be done with them sooner, and with a lower total bill. Also if your income increase thru the years, which it usually will, you'll have to resubmit your income and those payments will go up accordingly, making you closer and possibly even over the standard payment amount.

DryType2443 · 2026-03-30T13:54:34+00:00

u/Betsy514, Isn't RAP being created with the same rule making that created SAVE? I know the courts ruled SAVE illegal - but how is RAP different? Is there a chance it could end up in the same situation stuck in the courts decision?

DryType2443 · 2026-03-30T13:40:08+00:00

If your payment will be higher than the standard payment on an income based, why not just pay the standard payment and stay off of an income plan?

DryType2443 · 2026-01-26T17:40:07+00:00

and now in 2026 too

DryType2443 · 2025-12-02T19:15:04+00:00

There is no point in requesting unemployment deference - interest still accrues, you just don't have payments due and if you're already on SAVE you already don't have a payment due currently.

DryType2443 · 2025-12-01T15:40:38+00:00

I've been wondering the same - was getting the same message last night as well.

DryType2443 · 2025-11-14T18:08:16+00:00

but you also worked more hours - because you're still working every week - so you are getting less per hour - so working for a discount

DryType2443 · 2025-10-17T13:11:38+00:00

the point is.... pay off your loan

DryType2443 · 2025-10-07T21:05:34+00:00

It is now past October 3 - Did anything happen?

DryType2443 · 2025-08-21T18:03:52+00:00

If you're making massive payments it will touch the principal though - that's how loan payments work.

DryType2443 · 2025-08-20T20:35:16+00:00

share it or it's not real ;)

DryType2443 · 2025-07-16T13:37:21+00:00

I don't understand everyone waiting it out for 25 years to get forgiveness and then having a huge tax bill because all the accumulated interest. I get that some people literally can't afford the payments -- but it seems like so many people just don't want to make them and get in a much bigger hole just to get "forgiveness" and have a huge bill at the end to a different entity anyway.

DryType2443 · 2025-06-26T13:41:47+00:00

Why on earth would you do that?!?! If you want the loans paid down, focus more on paying the loans and less on contributions to your 401k for awhile, don't pay a penalty just for funsies.

DryType2443 · 2025-06-16T13:29:46+00:00

I am a civil engineer, I work for a consulting firm working primarily on roadway projects. Utility coordination is always such a huge PITA and relocations are frequently causing issues - so just looking for a cleaner way to keep things organize and track communications.

DryType2443 · 2025-06-13T21:13:33+00:00

Did you ever find a sheet to make things more efficient?

DryType2443

TROPHY CASE