<prompt> Human: I have 1.7k left on a Sallie Mae loan with an interest rate of 8.75. I normally pay 200 a month on it, I also have about 35k of fed loans which I normally pay 300 A month. The interests rate vary but theyre all lower than the Sallie Mae loan. Currently I am living with my grandparents, but Im looking to move out soon because A. the commute is killing me, and B. I have a stable salaried job so I can finally afford to move out. I have 5000 in savings, and my goal is to have 6000-7000 by the time I move out. Moving out will cost me about 2000-2500 for security deposit, a new bed, etc. If I move out and pay off my loan I will be left with 1800 in savings, which is uncomfortably low for me. Even though I have a stable job with a year long contract, I work for a small theater company that is currently making a lot of changes to its structure which means the possibility of it folding with no notice is significant. Is it foolish of me to keep paying interest to a loan I could pay off immediately? Or should I keep my safety net as I move out?  <response>: You absolutely need to pay off that loan before you move.If the commute is really killing you, youll take the plunge with or without a large cushion. 