<prompt> Human: Im 32 with 30k in student loans. making 55k per year, credit in the low 600s. I have 2 kids and a girlfriend. Were currently living with my parents where weve lived long before I started making a decent salary. Im looking for advice on a few things. I have 30k that I keep in my checking account. This seems like too much to keep in a checking account. Should I move it to a savings account?My only really debt is student loans. Ive yet to pay a single payment. Im afraid if I attempt to do so now, the payments will be too much. We dont want to stay with my parents forever obviously, so while working on my credit, Im saving everything I can for a sizable down payment on a home.The company I work for has a really nice 401k match that Im not currently taking advantage of. Im not sure if I should be investing while Im still 30k in debt and saving for a home.So, my question is, what do I do? What should I be focused on at the moment?Thanks in advance for any advice.Edit: I should add that I have 5 loans total, federal, all of which Ive defaulted on. Is it a good idea to consolidate them and pay a chunk? Theyve already wrecked my credit. Im not sure how it works. If I start paying on the loans, will years of missed payments hit my credit instantly? Or, are missed payments not tracked once in default? If the latter, its been 7 years since I went into default so those missed payments shouldnt hit my CR?I did have a tax refund offset a few years ago of about 5k that I find no record of on any of the accounts. I need to check into that.  <response>: Ignoring your student loans to save money for a down payment will result in you being unable to get a mortgage when they are past due and you have a bunch of late payments on your credit. What type of loans do you have federal or private? Regardless, you need to contact your lender, see what payment options are available, and choose one that is affordable so that you can start and keep making payments. 