How I Paid Off $38,000 of Student Loans on a Legal Aid Salary in 2 Years

Summary

Jennifer Tchan shares her journey of paying off $38,000 of student loans on a legal aid salary in two years through strategic financial management, emphasizing the importance of debt repayment, budgeting, emergency funds, retirement planning, and financial literacy.

Abstract

The article details Jennifer Tchan's personal experience with managing and paying off a significant amount of student debt shortly after graduating with a law degree. Despite initial procrastination and a false sense of security due to her income, Tchan educated herself on personal finance and implemented a series of practical steps to achieve her financial goals. These steps include aggressive debt repayment, creating a realistic budget, building an emergency fund, starting retirement savings early, adopting a frugal lifestyle, avoiding the pitfalls of social comparison, learning to say no to peer pressure, reading personal finance literature, and maximizing employer retirement contributions. Tchan's approach underscores the value of financial discipline, prioritizing long-term financial health, and the psychological benefits of being debt-free.

Opinions

Debt repayment should be a priority unless one is earning close to minimum wage, as it not only affects financial stability but also mental health.
A budget should be balanced, neither too restrictive nor too lenient, and should account for both fixed and variable expenses to support financial goals.
An emergency fund is essential, and should cover 3-6 months of expenses, ideally in a high-interest savings account separate from daily banking to prevent unnecessary spending.
Early retirement saving is crucial, with the emphasis on starting immediately to leverage the power of compound interest over time.
Short-term savings should be placed in high-interest savings accounts to outpace inflation and earn interest.
Frugality is not equivalent to being cheap; it's about maximizing value and focusing spending on what truly brings joy, thus reducing wasteful expenditures.
Avoiding the "Keeping up with the Joneses" mindset is important for maintaining financial well-being and understanding that material possessions do not equate to lasting happiness.
Learning to say no to social pressures is challenging but necessary for adhering to one's financial plan and goals.
Reading personal finance books is seen as a valuable investment with a guaranteed return, enhancing financial literacy and decision-making.
Employer-sponsored retirement plans should be fully utilized, especially when they include matching contributions, to capitalize on "free money."

How I Paid Off $38,000 of Student Loans on a Legal Aid Salary in 2 Years

In May 2015, I graduated with a degree in law and $50,000 of student loans (a combination of government and a private line of credit).

While I knew, in theory, how to represent people in court, I had zero idea on basic concepts of money management: how to make a budget, what index funds were, the difference between defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans, etc. After procrastinating for six months, with the help of a false sense of security that I had a high enough income that I didn’t need to learn how to save money, I kicked my butt into gear and taught myself the ins and outs of personal finance; now, I have a whole blog centred on building a healthy relationship with your money. These 10 practical tips helped me pay off $38,000 of student loans on a legal aid salary, while still enabling me to eat out, go on several vacations and indulge in some ephemeral pleasures.

[1] Pay off your debt. Now. Unless you are making minimum wage, or close to minimum wage, you have no excuse. The faster you eliminate your debt, the less amount of interest you’ll pay and the sooner you can start seriously saving for retirement. For me, about 40% of each paycheque gets thrown at my student loans. I don’t care that my minimum payment is only $65. I’ll be debt free by the end of this year. Debt delays your future. It also impacts your mental health.You owe it to yourself to be free.

[2] Create a realistic budget. Whether it’s an annual, monthly or weekly budget, just make one. The trick is to not make a budget that’s overly restrictive or overly lenient — you need to find that sweet middle ground that enables you to still treat yourself. A good budget is both flexible and practical. I also want to dispel the misconception that it has to be complicated. A budget is really just the calculation of your fixed expenses and variable expenses. Once you subtract those numbers from your net paycheque, the remainder should be thrown to your various short-term and long-term financial goals.

[3] Build an emergency fund. It’s not a question of whether your car will break down, whether you’ll need to foot the bill for an expensive vet bill or whether your main source of income will change. It’s all a matter of when. Although it ‘ll take some time, ensure you have a high-interest savings account that’ll hold 3–6 months of expenses. Do not touch this money. This is strictly for emergencies. If it’s possible to have an account in a separate bank from where you do your daily banking, that’ll greatly reduce the risk of you spending that money on… clothes.

[4] Start saving for retirement. The best time to start was yesterday. The second best time to start is now. Ultimately, the type of investment vehicle you choose is much less important than when you start investing and how much you contribute. Start allocating a portion of each paycheque (ideally 15–20%) to your retirement and let compound interest work its magic. When you’re in your 20s, time is your best friend.

[5] Park short-term savings in a high-interest savings account. Do not leave your savings in your chequing account. There are multiple reasons for this, but the main one is that your money won’t grow (or even outpace inflation). If you’re saving for a new car, a down-payment, or even your Emergency Fund, transfer that money into an account that will actually earn you a little bit of money through the interest. Online banks tend to offer the highest interest rates, mostly because they have less overhead expenses.

[6] Adopt a frugal lifestyle. Being frugal does not mean you have to be cheap. It just means getting the most value out of the products that you decide to purchase. Figure out the things that bring you the most joy, and eliminate spending on everything else. When you narrow down your ‘wants’ to a few things, you will waste a lot less money.

[7] Get off the ‘Keeping up with the Joneses’ treadmill. Avoid the comparison game. Be mindful of hedonic adaptation. Refuse to succumb to the notion that expensive cars, clothes, gadgets and houses will bring you meaningful happiness. Yes, you may experience a temporary peak in happiness, but your mood will level out within a matter of months. The sooner you realize that the treadmill never stops, the quicker you can make the decision to get off.

[8] Learn to say no. This is the hardest of them all. Peer pressure is unavoidable, so I recommend strategically choosing which events you are willing to spend money on and which ones you feel okay declining. You can also recommend cheaper alternatives, such as picnics, coffee dates or a night-in with a movie and some wine.

[9] Read a personal finance book. Raising your financial literacy has a 100% return on investment (ROI). Spend $20 and learn how to budget, invest and save for the future. I recommend starting with The Millionaire Next Door — it taught me that most financially successful people do not live in expensive homes, drive expensive cars or wear expensive clothes.

[10] Learn about your company’s retirement plan. There’s a chance that your company offers some type of a retirement plan, most commonly in the form of a matching contribution plan. Take advantage of this. Never turn down free money.

There is no one-size fits all solution when it comes to money management, but it does, universally, require patience, discipline and consistency. If you don’t follow the above tips, I ask that you leave with knowing one thing: You can have it all, just not all at the same time.