One of the biggest challenges that younger adults face today is the increasing amount of debt that they have even before they enter the workforce. As the cost of higher education continues to increase faster than the rate of inflation, the amount of student loans that the average person has to take out continues to increase.
Today, many graduates are facing the requirement to pay off more than $50,000 of debt, which can be nearly impossible to pay considering how low some entry-level positions pay. While it can be challenging to do so, there are several things that a person can do to pay off their student loans faster.
Â
Budgeting
The most important thing that recent graduates can do to pay off their loans and other obligations is by budgeting their finances. Once a student has graduated and started working, a personal budget needs to be established. This should allow the student to pay off all of their personal obligations, including rent payments, insurance, etc., and allow the person to start paying down the balance of the loan. It would be a good idea to pay down the loans more aggressively than the minimum payments require as this will lead to faster repayment and lower overall interest expense over time.
Reduce Expenses
Another way that recent graduate can pay down their loan balances is by finding as many ways as possible to reduce their monthly expenses. Many people get into trouble by overspending each month in areas where they could save money. One of the best ways to save money would be to live at home for a few years after graduation. This could likely eliminate the need to pay rent and utilities. If that is not an option, then finding a roommate or two to split the rent on an apartment could also greatly reduce the amount of money you need to spend each month. Any savings you can find can then be used to pay down the loan balance.
Consolidation
The third way that a recent graduate can pay down their loan balances is by consolidating the loans. If you have a bunch of different loans outstanding, there is a good chance that the interest rates on one or more of the loans could be high. You will be able to save money on interest each month by consolidating the loans into one low-interest loan
Chris Wyatt
Chris is an ex Financial Consultant and avid discover in ways to save and spend money. Chris has been involved in finance since 2012 and has continues to provide information in traditional financial markets and cryptocurrency.