<prompt> Human: So. I have 17,000 in credit card debt. Just one card. Over 8 years of pretty regular expenses. Food, gas, college tuitionbooks, utilities. The thing allowed me to have means to live within when I was a waitress making 10kyear during college. It was certainly a tradeoff, one kind of debt for another, but it also allowed me to supplement my Pell Grants so I didnt have to take student loans for undergrad. Anywho... since graduation Ive struggled to pay it down. Im employed full time at 29k at a nonprofit, and starting grad school in August. My salary is pretty average for a 3 years experience Bachelors graduate in Phoenix. Most of my college-educated friends are working in call centers or are Uber drivers. So. I have about 8,000 in savings. Its my inheritance from my Dad when he passed 8 years ago. Ive managed to hold on to it and going through life knowing its there if everything falls apart is nice. But, is this stupid? Shouldnt I just throw this money at the card and almost halve my balance? Trouble is, I dont see how I will realistically be able to save back another 8,000 to replace it until I get a much, much higher paying job, possibly after the Masters Degree. But, the 450 minimum payment is killing me! So... to blow the savings or to not blow the savings? Blow part of it maybe?  <response>: If you had 0 savings would you take out credit card debt to have a cushion? Its another way of looking at the same problem. If I was you I would keep maybe 2k as a buffer and put the other 6k toward the card. The interest is killing you. 