Conquer student loan debt

Obtaining a legitimate college degree is an expensive proposition. Many will be paying off student loans — month after month, year after year — for decades.

With smart financial management, graduates can liquidate their college debt in a reasonable time, freeing up cash for other priorities. Here are four tips for paying off loans quickly and efficiently:

• Build a budget. Get a handle on where money is going. A budget can help prioritize, enabling you or your child to whittle down student loans more quickly. Several online tools are available. You can even use a simple spreadsheet listing monthly income and expenses.
• Talk to your employer. Your company or your child’s company may offer one-time loan payoffs in exchange for a lower starting wage or other concessions. Negotiate when interviewing. After taking a job, check with the human resources department about options.
• Use auto-pay. Reducing payment steps makes it less likely to divert those funds to lesser priorities. As an added bonus, you or your child may develop the discipline to live on less while loans are being paid off.
• Reduce your other bills. Talk to your cell phone provider. Consider dropping cable. Postpone that expensive vacation. Hold off on expensive purchases that aren’t necessary at the moment.

It all goes back to prioritizing student loan payments. It’ll be worth it when you can enjoy the benefits of a rising salary, increased cash flow and a stellar credit score in a few years from now. And don’t forget to take advantage of possible education tax credits and deductions.

Give us a call for help determining what tax breaks are right for you.

Gilliland & Associates, P.C. is a full-service CPA firm specializing in tax planning for individuals and businesses in the Northern Virginia area. We are based in Falls Church, VA and also service clients in McLean and Tysons Corner, VA. Gilliland & Associates is known for our superior knowledge and aggressive interpretation and application of tax laws. We help you keep more of your earnings by finding you the lowest possible tax on your business or personal tax return. You can connect with us on Google+, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.