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03-10-2006, 01:48 PM
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#1
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Dryer sheet wannabe
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 15
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What would you do?
My wife just started working in January 06 and before that we were used to living on my income alone and I still want to keep living on one income, so I ask, what she be done with her paycheck? I paid off all my credit cards and small loans already. I do however, have a big school loan (owe $38K), car payment (owe $28K) and she has a school loan as well (owe $12K). Our next plans are to purchase or build a house by summer of 07. I have made myself a financial plan that will allow me to payoff my car in 8 months, but should I? That extra $600 a month would help us with our mortage payment. Should I save the money instead? Or should I pay off her school loan or my school loan? What would be your next step?
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
__________________
~~~Mathematics is the cheapest science. Unlike physics or chemistry, it does not require any expensive equipment. All one needs for Mathematics is a pencil and paper (Polyá, George)~~~
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03-10-2006, 01:57 PM
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#2
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 7,107
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Re: What would you do?
You need to do an analysis of the relative interest rates, tax deductability, and opportunity cost.
I don't know the size of your future morgage, but having more equity could save you from mortgage insurance. For me that would be goal one.
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Duck bjorn.
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03-10-2006, 02:05 PM
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#3
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Dryer sheet wannabe
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 15
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Re: What would you do?
Thanks for the input, the interest on the car loan is 3% while the school loan is 8% (and not fixed) : / I was thinking of getting rid of my car payment 1st to free up the $600 a month and then attack my school loan. My school loan repayment won't start till the end of this year.
__________________
~~~Mathematics is the cheapest science. Unlike physics or chemistry, it does not require any expensive equipment. All one needs for Mathematics is a pencil and paper (Polyá, George)~~~
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03-10-2006, 02:13 PM
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#4
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 156
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Re: What would you do?
By all means, if you can defer the school loan payment until year-end, then attack the car payment by paying additional toward principal (make sure you work this out with the finance co. , and are not just "doubling up on payments". You want to relieve the payment of interest and target your dollars to reducing the loan principal). Then, as you say, with the auto loan paid off you will have additional monthly funds to apply toward thos college loans and mortgage qualifying.
You didn't mention any credit card debt. WAY TO GO!
And remember, for your mortgage loan qualifying, a good history of loan repayment is a key factor, often moreso than the debt-to-income ratio, so make sure you are not delinquent on payments, etc.
__________________
The best things in life aren't THINGS!
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03-10-2006, 02:25 PM
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#5
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,463
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Re: What would you do?
Personally I'd be paying off the 8% loan as fast as possible. That's costing you $2,200+ per year.
Then worry about the 3% loan, which is only costing about $840 a year.
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03-10-2006, 02:33 PM
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#6
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,610
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Re: What would you do?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sheryl
Personally I'd be paying off the 8% loan as fast as possible.* That's costing you $2,200+ per year.*
Then worry about the 3% loan, which is only costing about $840 a year.
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I think Sheryl has it right as far as the two loans go.
Hopefully you are working on your home down payment as you want to avoid that pesky PMI for sure.* Way off topic, but in another thread I think you said something about a 4 month old kiddo.* Regarding that, I'd recommend a nice chunk of cheap term so you can sleep even better at night.* I know, you didn't ask.
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03-10-2006, 02:55 PM
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#7
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 156
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Re: What would you do?
I agree, if the school loan is accruing interest. But if it is deferred until year-end, take advantage of that window of opportunity to reduce other debt.
__________________
The best things in life aren't THINGS!
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03-10-2006, 03:03 PM
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#8
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Houston
Posts: 2,155
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Re: What would you do?
Quote:
Originally Posted by SyntheticDivision
Thanks for the input, the interest on the car loan is 3% while the school loan is 8% (and not fixed) : /* I was thinking of getting rid of my car payment 1st to free up the $600 a month and then attack my school loan. My school loan repayment won't start till the end of this year.
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I'd delay the car loan as long as possible.* That is, I would just pay what's required and no more.* 3% is basically inflation.* I would attack the student loan first.* Anyway, that's the easy decision.
The harder decision is to decide whether to save up for the future house or to get rid of the student loan.* I would base my decision on how the local housing market is doing.* If I believe that the local housing market is appreciating by 5% or more, I would save to money for the down payment first.* On the other hand, if it's only 3%, then I would go ahead with the student loan.
Good luck,
Sam
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03-10-2006, 04:08 PM
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#9
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,811
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Re: What would you do?
I am going a slightly different direction here from the others.
- Delay buying the house until you can afford at least 20% down.
- If you cash flow allows you to save your house payment including closing costs and pay off a loan then work on the one with the highest interest rate while paying off the car per your loan schedule.
Cash flow may be a bigger issue for you now than debt. What can you cut to get more cash flow to fund the two items above? If you are already bare bones then maybe you need to wait on the house. A house can eat you alive in additional costs like drapes, shades, landscaping, appliance repair/replacement, painting, furniture, and the day to day stuff like insurance and higher utility bills, taxes etc. etc. Be sure you have the cash flow for all this stuff or you may get in over your head.
__________________
Work? I don't have time to work....I'm retired.
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03-10-2006, 07:06 PM
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#10
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 7,107
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Re: What would you do?
I agree with SteveR.
__________________
Duck bjorn.
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03-12-2006, 11:43 AM
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#11
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Dryer sheet wannabe
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 15
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Re: What would you do?
Thanks for all the input. My student loan is accruing interest as we speak, so i'm leaning more into paying the school loan off first. The only reason I was thinking of paying off my car first was to free up the $600, but it only makes sense to pay the school loan off 1st to save $$ in the long run. Besides, my school loan will probably be around $400 or so.
Steve, what I originally planned was to pay off 1 loan and then save for putting down on the house. But there is nothing keeping me from doing both at the same time. The only thing is my school loan would take a bit longer to pay off, but its no big deal. The house in Summer 07 was a preference, not a must, so delaying it would be no problem.
John
__________________
~~~Mathematics is the cheapest science. Unlike physics or chemistry, it does not require any expensive equipment. All one needs for Mathematics is a pencil and paper (Polyá, George)~~~
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03-13-2006, 12:08 PM
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#12
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,203
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Re: What would you do?
yep.
Student loan 1st
Save for down payment, to eliminate PMI
Pay down car
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03-13-2006, 02:27 PM
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#13
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: W Wash
Posts: 1,643
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Re: What would you do?
Quote:
Originally Posted by SyntheticDivision
I was thinking of getting rid of my car payment 1st to free up the $600 a month and then attack my school loan.
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SD
Before you payoff your car loan, be sure to check the terms of the loan.* Many car loans are "rule of 72"amortization, and once you are past mid-point, they have already collected most of the interest.* Make sure you have a simple amortization schedule
nwsteve
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03-13-2006, 03:34 PM
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#14
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 17,194
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Re: What would you do?
Can you consolidate the two school loans into one at a much lower rate I seem to remember reading that the rates were lower than 8%... but since I have not seen any kind of student loan in decades....
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03-13-2006, 03:45 PM
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#15
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 346
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Re: What would you do?
Umm, just a question but why did you purchase a $30K+ car?
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03-13-2006, 08:35 PM
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#16
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 250
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Re: What would you do?
Quote:
Originally Posted by accountingsucks
Umm, just a question but why did you purchase a $30K+ car?
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I was kind of wondering the same thing. Selling the car and buying something cheaper would cut the debt substantially. Plus a smaller payment (or no payment if you can swing it) would free up money to knock out the student loan.
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03-15-2006, 11:58 AM
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#17
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Dryer sheet wannabe
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 15
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Re: What would you do?
steve, thanks, i'll look into that
Texasproud, not sure if I can seeing that the other loan is under my wifes name, i'll have to ask
The car was a personal choice on my part, really no reason. I wanted it and I bought it. Can't sell the car right now since I did buy the car brand new and the car depreciates so much driving it off the lot. I plan on keeping the car for some time, its my family car.
__________________
~~~Mathematics is the cheapest science. Unlike physics or chemistry, it does not require any expensive equipment. All one needs for Mathematics is a pencil and paper (Polyá, George)~~~
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03-15-2006, 02:03 PM
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#18
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,505
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Re: What would you do?
Quote:
My wife just started working in January 06 and before that we were used to living on my income alone and I still want to keep living on one income, so I ask, what she be done with her paycheck?
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Did you actually pull this off? Usually when a second spouse goes to work, it incurs extra expenses, starting with taxes for one, and going from there. (I could list several possible things that could get more expensive from a second wage earner working, but for now i'll assume this is given). So, how is this working?
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03-15-2006, 04:53 PM
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#19
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Dryer sheet wannabe
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 15
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Re: What would you do?
Quote:
Originally Posted by azanon
Did you actually pull this off?* Usually when a second spouse goes to work, it incurs extra expenses, starting with taxes for one, and going from there.* (I could list several possible things that could get more expensive from a second wage earner working, but for now i'll assume this is given).* *So, how is this working?
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It's working so far. Obviously, it's easier to spend more if the money is there, but were very disciplined on our spending. I guess it's because all the extra expenses are not that significant. Who knows, things may change in the future, but its very feasable in my current situation to live off of one income.
__________________
~~~Mathematics is the cheapest science. Unlike physics or chemistry, it does not require any expensive equipment. All one needs for Mathematics is a pencil and paper (Polyá, George)~~~
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03-15-2006, 10:16 PM
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#20
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Losing my whump
Posts: 22,708
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Re: What would you do?
Quote:
Originally Posted by azanon
Did you actually pull this off? Usually when a second spouse goes to work
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Pull what off? Having a second spouse or having two of them and getting both to work?
Christ on a crutch...Johnny G would be all over this plan...
__________________
Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful. Just another form of "buy low, sell high" for those who have trouble with things. This rule is not universal. Do not buy a 1973 Pinto because everyone else is afraid of it.
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