<prompt> Human: Hi rPersonalFinance,I am a 32 year old grad student. Income: 20kyear. Student Loans: 85k, almost all at 6.8 no other debt401k and IRA savings: 40k StocksInvestments: 35kI have a sad and small emergency fund.Ive accepted a job that will pay me over 150k next year. Im stoked!- Id like to buy a house at some point next year since the rental options in the location Im moving to are more expensive than owning.- Id also like to pay off my student loans as quickly as possible.Im not sure what to do with the stocks I own. Should I:1. Sell them this year ! while I have a lower tax rate. If I remember my taxes right, my long-term cap gains rate right now is 0. Next year Ill be at 15. Not much to worry about, but I estimate it will make a couple thousand dollars difference. I can then use the sale proceeds to pay down my student loans.2. Sit tight, sell next year and using it as a down payment on a home.3. Sit tight and dont touch those investments. Ill have enough of an income to pay down my loans quickly and save for a down payment over the course of the year.What do you think?  <response>: Renting is buying time. Time to find out what neighborhood you like, time to figure out if youre going to be at this job for 3 years or 30.Rent for at least a year, make normal payments on the loan and just pile up cash. Live like you still make 20k. From that position youll be able to do what you want to do and youll be sure you want to do it. 