<prompt> Human: Married with two kids. Im 32 wife is 30. I just graduated and wife is working and still in school. This year we will make 185k before taxes about 130 after. We have 340 k in student loans, all federal about 5.2 average interest currently wifes loans deferred and I have gotten a payment plan that for the time being keeps my payment low, will go up to about 1200 a month next year. No other debt. After wifey graduates we should be clearing about 170k on 250k gross. Our rent is 2300, a mortgage would be cheaper but we need to save for a while for a down payment. We have decent credit. So, where the hell do we start? Should we tackle the student debt or pay the income based payments until some of the balance is forgiven. Granted we plan on making more money each year so maybe this is a dumb idea. Any and all tips and wisdom will be appreciated.  <response>: Tackle the student debt. Even with two kids in a high COL area, you should be able to live on less than 80k a year in total expenses comfortably. That frees up enough cash to pay off the debt in 3 years, right? Thats what I would do. The weight lifted off your shoulders of being debt ASAP is more than worth the small savings by doing IBR and waiting for the debt to expire. 