<prompt> Human: In May of 2013 I will graduate from college with a secondary math education teaching license and will then have to begin paying off the almost 38,000 in loans that I will have through the government. Some questions I have: Consolidate or not? How much should I pay a month? How do I make sure my money goes to the principal? probably using myedaccount Better to pay a lot per month and just get it over? A little about my situation: Im getting married in May of 2013, her family is well off and are paying for the wedding. My area pays around 40,000yr for high school teachers and my fiancee will make around 10,000yr for a 1-2 years as a GRA and then 60,000yr as a school psychologist. I think its safe to say we will have enough money to afford more than just the minimum payments in a few years. She has at most 4000 in loans because her parents have taken on the burden. Also, I am somewhat banking on the government forgiving 17,500 of my loans because of my job as a mathematics educator. I just need some guidance in paying this shit off and I want to start early so my fiancee can be less worried. Thanks rfrugalAssistant: Can you layout the amountsinterest ratesservicer of each loan?Human: The amounts vary, but the interest rate is 6.8 I believe and the servicer is Direct Loans. Ill get back to you later with a more specific layout.  <response>: just a heads up if somehow you dont even pay minimum payments and let your 38k debt grow at 6.8 interest in 50 years you will owe a million dollars.6.8 is a lot. Throw all your extra money at it. 