<p>I have about $19,000 in debt in student loans... really, $10,250 is mine- the rest is my moms. However, I just got an on-campus job via work study, which gives me $1,000 a semester (at least for this summer- not sure about Fall/Spring yet). Is it wise to go ahead and put some of that towards my student loans? Or not?</p>
<p>I am also saving for a car... which would be best- saving for a car or beginning to pay off student debt?</p>
<p>Pay off your loan as early as possible. The more you have outstanding, you’ll owe principle PLUS interest. It’s the interest that’s a killer.</p>
<p>Yes, you should pay off as much as possible with one huge caveat:</p>
<p>You are in college now and should make sure you have an enjoyable (while reasonable) lifestyle now because you’ll only be an undergrad once.</p>
<p>$100 would pay for several nice meals out with friends. $50 might pay for a 1 day leadership conference. $200 might pay for an airplane ticket to a friends home for spring break. </p>
<p>While pay off as much as you can now is good, don’t sacrifice too much while in college.</p>
<p>You don’t mention whether your student loans are subsidized or not, whether you actually need (as opposed to want) a car, or how close you are to graduation, so it’s difficult to say. If your loans are subsidized and if you will need a car (to commute for internships/fieldwork), I would save for the car first. If your loans are unsub and you’ll need a car, try to pay the unsub interest and save for the car. If the car is a want, not a need, pay the loans down!</p>