<prompt> Human: Currently working making around 25k per year after taxes. I have been juggling retirement savings, 401k, and emergency funds. I am in a very lucky position of being able to rent my parents home. They live in another state, so this allows me to save money. I currently have a student loan of 18.3k, my savings are looking around 17k, and my emergency funds, are at 5k. My bills are looking at around 1.2k per month. I am very lucky my parents are still helping me out, but I need to get out of under their wing.I am currently in the slow season of the company I work for, and my hours will be near non for the months of JuneJuly. I have decided to work on my CCNA certificate during these two months. If I dedicate myself these 2 months I believe I can take the CCNA and start my networking career. My plan is to start a family with my wife in the next 2 years, and possible have a home before our baby is born.My question is, should I bite the bullet now, and use our savings and pay my student loan, which has an Interest rate of 6.8, or keep paying the minimum plus some over payment towards the principal each month? The bills are not the issue, I live pretty comfortably at the moment, but that can change any day as my current job is very back breaking at times, and the hours fluctuate with each month. The looming debt discourages me quite a bit every time I think of planning towards the future. I want a small home, a kid, and a relatively better paying job with regular hours. Thanks for giving me a bit of your time fellas.  <response>: You could always refinance the student loan if you want to feel more comfortable with the interest. Say you paid it down to 10K with some of your savings, then refinanced at 4 on a five year term. You are looking at about a 185 monthly payment and will only pay about 1000 in additional interest over the next 5 years.Alternatively, if you left it at 6.8, didnt use any savings and only paid the minimum, you would pay 6,800 in additional interest assuming a 10-year term. 5-year term would be an additional 3,200 in interest. 