<prompt> Human: Ive managed to save about 30k cash. This is about how much I owe in student loans - all Fed. Should I pay it off in one shot? Yes it would wipe out my savings but Id be totally debt free. I am current on everything and have good credit. Student loans are my only debt. I earn about 70k. Any advantagedisadvantage? Pay in larger chunks, all at once? Please advise, thanks.  <response>: I would keep an emergency fund, but I would aggressively pay it down. Probably 20k tomorrow. He is paying almost 200 a month in interest and has the opportunity to not pay it. That is a pretty high amount. Remember - interest loans are the opposite of investing. He has a chance to earn 6.8 on his money, guaranteed. Foolish to keep a bunch of cash laying around. Also, contributing up to match at work needs to be done ASAP as well. Free money. Its a lot easier to do that when you arent paying interest too. 