<prompt> Human: I have 36k in student loans separated into 9 different loans that range from 778-7500 with interest rates ranging from 3.4-6.8.I am hesitant to consolidate because my wife consolidated hers and it hurt her credit score quite a bit from 690-654 due to having a young new loan 3 months old.I am earning 40Kyear before taxes and about to be bumped to 50kyear. I am lucky enough to be able to put back several hundred dollars 500-700 per check for savingpaying on loans. My credit score isnt too bad right and dont want to screw it up its 699 right now.Is it a matter of having to deal with multiple loans vs. just one loan? I would really not want to hurt my credit score because I plan to get a new car soon and with to get a interest rate for that. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!edit: Thank you all so much for the advice, and Im very much looking forward to getting rid of this debt.Here are the list of student loans I have Take home income not including my wifes since shes working on her own loansdebt: 2570month after taxes. It will jump to 3190month after taxes next month. My Monthly Expenses: Auto Insurance: 143month Cable bill: 146month Loan 1 remodeling: 94month minimum payment. balance is currently 7350 gymgas: 90month Discover card w balance of 1470: 44month minimum payment Phone: 50month Foodgroceries: 300month  <response>: Id only consolidate if I could get a better rate overall. Which you probably wont. Keep them separate, pay the minimum on all the loans except for the one with the highest interest. Knock out the high interest loans one by one. 