This may not be a huge deal here on Pinside, but I had to share this.

Today, I made my final payment on my federal subsidized student loans. I am student loan debt FREE!!!!!

I started off with $17k; I paid $14k of it off this year. Got tired of paying half the year in interest alone. Earned my BSEE in August 2011, now it is said, done, and paid for!!!

Not a story I expect to get a lot of attention here, and that is 100% fine. With the struggle of paying off student loans being VERY real for millions of students, it is nice to know that this is over for me, and I never have to worry about school loans again.

Next up, going to USC (California, not Carolina) for my Masters in Systems and Architectural Engineering. Being active duty, the Post 9/11 Bill will pretty much take care of the bill, so when I'm done, I will have my Masters with zero student loan debt across the board.

BAM!

Asking me to have you pay them? There was such an option??? Man, wish I had known!

J/K - in all seriousness though, what do you mean by this? To me, paying them was the only option and certainly more honorable as this was MY responsibility to take care of.

Is there some situation where students are requesting others to pay their debts off for them? If so, man, that kinda sucks. No sense of accomplishment having someone else do it...!

Ahhhhh! I'm tracking, now. I can't imagine doing that. No way. This was my responsibility. I'll be damned if someone is giving me a handout. I was born in 81, so I feel in that awkward "am I or am I not a millenial?" quandary. If so, I'll gladly go against that stereotype.

Definitely didn't take it personally. I appreciate the explanation and the kudos.

No one is paying my debts but me. We need mend and women who are willing to take their responsibilities head on.

Next up, Masters!!! That journey begins 2nd week of January 2017.

I listened to this many times today !!!

Hey bud!

So, unfortunately no. My PCS to Eglin AFB has me reporting 28 February - the Tuesday before the Louisville show. Heartbreaker - I know.

I will be a distance learning student at Eglin AFB (Florida Panhandle), taking classes at USC, while serving my time with the USAF.

I am tentatively planning to attend the TPF in March, PAPA Show in April (if they allow spectators?), and Pinburgh in July. This is all tentative of course.

I appreciate such a kind response.

Problem with being in the military: 2 officers - 1 officer with BSEE and the other officer with a BSEE and a MS SE - guess who makes more?

Neither: they make EXACTLY the same amount (given they are the same rank with same time in service).

It sucks, but it is what it is. The free healthcare balances the difference in pay for me. Plus the pension is what I am going for. 1/2 my paycheck for the rest of my life to sit at home and watch Maury Povich tell someone: "You AAAAREEEE the father!!!" - yep - worth it.

On a conclusive note, checked my student loans. Payment went through - I AM FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

FREE - Student_Loans_Dec_2016 (resized).jpg

Agreed . Money is going into my TSP to be safe. Better to stay realistic than optimistic. I'm with you for sure!

That is such a horrible game. If I owned one, it would be my most expensive firewood ever.

I know, it won't be a popular opinion, but hey, it is what it is .

Check this out - compare student loan debt, credit card debt, and mortgage debt.

https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/credit-card-data/credit-card-student-loans-mortgage-debt-comparison/