Comments on: How Not to Handle Your Student Loans http://thebudgetingbabe.com/2012/04/19/student-loans-what-not-to-d/ A personal finance blog for career minded women with small budgets and big dreams. Tue, 01 May 2012 04:34:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: The Budgeting Babe http://thebudgetingbabe.com/2012/04/19/student-loans-what-not-to-d/#comment-20514 The Budgeting Babe Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:55:09 +0000 http://thebudgetingbabe.com/?p=1595#comment-20514 I stopped short of completely recommending against pets because some people struggling with feeling blue or feeling depressed benefit from having a pet around. Spend as little as possible might work for you, but isn't *always* my take; my philosophy is live below your means. Slight difference there. As long as you can pay your bills without going into any debt and also accommodate for retirement savings (or other savings goals), I don't care what small items you spend it on. I stopped short of completely recommending against pets because some people struggling with feeling blue or feeling depressed benefit from having a pet around. Spend as little as possible might work for you, but isn’t *always* my take; my philosophy is live below your means. Slight difference there. As long as you can pay your bills without going into any debt and also accommodate for retirement savings (or other savings goals), I don’t care what small items you spend it on.

]]> By: CalLuCIF http://thebudgetingbabe.com/2012/04/19/student-loans-what-not-to-d/#comment-20501 CalLuCIF Wed, 25 Apr 2012 08:53:59 +0000 http://thebudgetingbabe.com/?p=1595#comment-20501 I'd say that if you can't make your monthly payments don't even think of getting a pet, no matter how small or cheap. Budget mismanagement starts from justifying small expenses even though you can't afford them or don't really need them. "Oh, it's just a goldfish." That goldfish will graduate on to more fish, then a big aquarium to accommodate your growing fish collection, then a nice playground for the fish, then lights, until much much later you find that you've spent several thousand dollars on your aquatic display and fishes. One cup of Starbucks coffee can lead to a cup every Friday, then twice a week, then everyday. Get real - the money you spend won't come back, so try to spend as little as possible. I’d say that if you can’t make your monthly payments don’t even think of getting a pet, no matter how small or cheap. Budget mismanagement starts from justifying small expenses even though you can’t afford them or don’t really need them. “Oh, it’s just a goldfish.” That goldfish will graduate on to more fish, then a big aquarium to accommodate your growing fish collection, then a nice playground for the fish, then lights, until much much later you find that you’ve spent several thousand dollars on your aquatic display and fishes.

One cup of Starbucks coffee can lead to a cup every Friday, then twice a week, then everyday. Get real – the money you spend won’t come back, so try to spend as little as possible.

]]> By: The Budgeting Babe http://thebudgetingbabe.com/2012/04/19/student-loans-what-not-to-d/#comment-20489 The Budgeting Babe Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:18:18 +0000 http://thebudgetingbabe.com/?p=1595#comment-20489 Thanks! I would consider us to be one of those couples. My debt is fine, but man-friend has a big load of law school debt. Thanks! I would consider us to be one of those couples. My debt is fine, but man-friend has a big load of law school debt.

]]> By: Allison http://thebudgetingbabe.com/2012/04/19/student-loans-what-not-to-d/#comment-20488 Allison Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:12:37 +0000 http://thebudgetingbabe.com/?p=1595#comment-20488 Great tips! I just picked up an article from the wall street journal about couples putting off marriage and family due to the amt. of their loans. Great tips! I just picked up an article from the wall street journal about couples putting off marriage and family due to the amt. of their loans.

]]>