<prompt> Human: I am not only asking for advice, but I am curious what my fellow redditors would do in my situation. I have a little over 15k in my checking account. Its there because I earn 0.75 interest, which is more than I can get in a savings account or CD. I have 8500 in student loans which will not start accruing interest until April 2013, and I have a car loan with about 2000 left accruing interest at 5.1. I make 150 payment on my car each month. My conundrum is that my student loans will come due right around the time my unemployment will run out. I am hoping to have a job by then, but you never know. Id like to pay off my debt, but I might need that money to live off of in the not so distant future.  <response>: I would hold the money while I was unemployed. Once i had secured an income I would take out the loans as quickly as possible with still leaving a 6-8 months worth of expenses as a cash cushion. 