<prompt> Human: Im a recent graduate that just started working full-time. I only have around 22k in student loans 5.5 interest which is around 240 a month for 10 years to pay off. According to the unbury.me website, i can pay off the student loans in 4 years if i pay 530 a month so thats what im doing right now. I currently live in a 3br3ba student apartment and have a somewhat long commute 30-60 mins one way depending on the traffic. The commute makes me want to live in a 1BR apartment 5 minutes away from work but that would mean i would pay close to double to what im paying in rent right now after utilities and everything. While i technically could still afford to do that, it significantly reduces the money ill have for savings or fun money and ill probably have to reduce my student loan payments back to 240month to compensate for it. What would you guys do in my situation?  <response>: a 30-50 minute commute is a lot. A 3 Bd student apartment can be hectic.Why dont you split the difference instead of going to your ideal 1 BR. 5 min away answer.What about like a 2 BR with another actual adult not student and like 15-20 min commute.Pay extra on your loans, but have a quality of life you can live with.Obviously the ideal is that you tough it out til theyre paid off and then you save money in the long run. But 4 years is a long time to be hating life while you pay that down.In my personal opinion, adding a year or 2 to the time it would take to pay off those loans would be well worth it.You dont need your dream life right now if the sacrifice is spending an extra 6 years paying off student loans with a lot more money spent on interest.But you also dont have to fully sacrifice your happiness in the name of being debt free as soon as possible.Figure out the maximum amount of sacrifice you can live with maybe the commute is fine but you do really need less people to live with OR vice versa youre totally fine having roommates but want a shorter commute whatever it is. I would say sacrifice the most you can now, while still being comfortable and happy, and be content if it takes just a little longer to pay off loans. 