If you’re new to Money Manifesto, in December 2012 we decided it was time to open up to you, my readers, and shared our very first debt update.
I originally wrote Our Debt Pay Down Strategy to explain where my fiancee and I are in terms of debt. Currently we only owe for her student loans, the townhouse mortgage and our single family home mortgage. We just recently got engaged, but we aren’t married yet so we keep our finances separate.
We aren’t going to go into crazy insane debt payoff mode where we only eat rice and beans, never go out to eat and cancel our cable. We’ll be taking a more balanced approach. We also do not plan to pay our mortgages off prior to their due dates, but that may change later down the road.
Student Loan Debt Update – April 2013
A lot has changed since our last debt update in March. I feel like I say that every month but life has its way of throwing curveballs. Since our last update we have closed on and moved into our new house! We even signed our death pledge!
After closing on the house we ran into another speed bump which I can’t talk about yet. Nothing major, but I’ll be sure to update you as soon as I can.
We’re still working to aggressively pay down the student loan debt, but we won’t be able to have it disappear before the end of 2013… unless we get INCREDIBLY lucky. We’re now shooting for the end of 2016 as a realistic goal. Now I think it is about time we got on to the update… don’t you?
Currently there are six groups of student loans that have balances on them.
Private Student Loan 1 – 8.0% Variable
The current balance on this student loan is $4,827.30. This is a decrease of $783.45 since the last debt update. We are paying this loan off first because it has the highest interest rate and is also a variable rate. It originally was well over $20,000 when my girlfriend began paying this down after college in 2011.
Federal Student Loan 1 – 6.55% Fixed
The current balance on this student loan is $7,723.11. This is a decrease of $58.11 since the last debt update. This will likely be the 4th student loan we pay off.
Federal Student Loan 2 – 6.55% Fixed
The current balance on this student loan is $7,257.30. This is a decrease of $54.86 since the last debt update. This will probably be the 3rd student loan we pay off.
Federal Student Loan 3 – 6.8% Fixed
The current balance on this student loan is $3,956.55. This is a decrease of $44.66 since the last debt update. This will be the second student loan we pay off because it has the second highest interest rate AND the lowest balance. On top of that, we hate the bank this loan is through so it gives us even more reason to pay it off.
Private Student Loan 2 – 5.75% Variable
The current balance on this student loan is $22,572.29… ouch! This is a decrease of $94.83 since the last debt update. This is the highest balance loan but it has a lower interest rate for now. Unless interest rates start rising we’ll wait to pay this loan off until the federal loans are paid off.
Private Student Loan 3 – 4.75% Variable
The current balance on this student loan is $8,263.96. This is a decrease of $25.53 since the last debt update. This is the lowest interest rate loan and, unless interest rates rise, this will likely be the last loan to be paid off.
Total Balance – $54,600.51 (-$1,061.44)
As I had mentioned in the past, I had saved a large chunk of money help my fiancee pay her student loans when we combine our finances after we get married! Then plans changed and we decided to use it for a down payment on a house.
We had hoped to have the student loans all paid of by the end of this year but with the changes of plans this has changed to the end of 2016. Hopefully we can beat this goal, but for now 2016 seems most realistic.
Do you have any debt you’re trying to pay off? Do you have a goal for when you want it paid off by?
Lance Cothern, CPA holds a CPA license in Indiana. He’s a personal finance, debt and credit expert that writes professionally for top-tier publications including U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, Investopedia, Credit Karma, Business Insider and more.
Additionally, his expertise has been featured on Yahoo, MSN, USA Today, Reader’s Digest, The Huffington Post, Fast Company, Kiplinger, Reuters, CNBC and more.
Lance is the founder of Money Manifesto. He started writing about money and helping people solve their financial problems in 2012. You can read more about him and find links to his other work and media mentions here.
My Money Design
Monday 15th of April 2013
Progress, progress! I'm intrigued to learn what the "situation" was.
My goal is more of a pay-up then a pay down. I'm just really determined to build up my pile of assets and start passively making money as soon as possible.
Lance Mlandm
Monday 15th of April 2013
I'll be excited when we get to that pay up phase!
Jacob @ iHeartBudgets
Monday 15th of April 2013
Nice work. We put off aggressive student loan payoff to buy a house as well. Now I'm hoping to kill ours in the next 2 years. I like the updates, might do something similar myself. Thanks Lance!
Lance Mlandm
Monday 15th of April 2013
I'm glad to have inspired you :) Would be fun to follow along.
Jenny @ Frugal Guru Guide
Monday 15th of April 2013
Good work! That's a lot of debt to work through!
Lance Mlandm
Monday 15th of April 2013
It is but it will all be gone soon enough hopefully.
Grayson @ Debt Roundup
Monday 15th of April 2013
In in a good position to pay over over $1k especially since you just signed the death pledge. Keep it up Lance!
Lance Mlandm
Monday 15th of April 2013
Thanks for the motivating words Grayson!
Alan@escapingmydebt
Monday 15th of April 2013
Keep up the good work. I know the smaller deductions are discouraging but you are doing the right thing by hammering away at the higher interest loan. The one thing you may consider is looking at the interest $ amount you are paying for your highest loan. Yes it may be a lower rate but with a balance over $20k, it may be costing you the most interest. Just a thought.
Lance Mlandm
Monday 15th of April 2013
Interest is a factor of the interest rate. I'd rather pay off the highest rate loan first.