http://www2.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/DirectLoan/calc.html

Already looked into consolidation/refi, can't do it, or at least not in a way that I'd get any benefit from it. I'd gladly triple the monthly payments for a couple percentage points off but nope, government says you can't refinance for a term shorter than 10 years. Thank you, noble government for saving me from the evil banks. I could probably take out a loan from a local bank for this but as I understand it, I'll probably take a hit to my credit score. I absolutely love that in order to have a great credit rating, you need to regularly borrow money... But not too much, or too often.

I'm not really sure if I'd qualify as frugal, but I try not to eat out more than about twice a week, maybe three times. I used to limit it to about once a week. I don't have a data plan for my phone and don't text, I have cable internet but no TV, and otherwise try to avoid those things that tend to nickle and dime you to death. Lord knows I could save probably $1500 a year by not eating out at all, but at some point you've got to decide to not be TOO frugal... In my mind, if you don't treat yourself at least a little bit once in a while, that's as bad as working 60 hours a week when you're young because you want to get all sorts of stuff you'll never have time to enjoy. Balance in all things. :)

Originally Posted by: Porforis 

You realize Porforis, that you're a lot like me. God help you! I think eating out is a horrific waste of money, when I can spend $1500 a year on beef and pork and fill both my freezers. I don't eat crappy sirloin soaking in marinade from whatever restaurant you choose - I eat t-bones, porterhouses, and ribeyes and prepare them perfectly on my own grill. I enjoy the good things in life just like Zombie - I just don't require somebody serving me like I'm some kind of royalty.

As for your school debt - you have to kind of look at that as bad luggage. You're going to keep it around for a while. You have a choice to get that paid off ASAP and forego getting a house, or you can be like most Americans and just dive into to debt and have everyting now and just pay the interest. What I've done with mortgages is this: both houses I've purchased were on 30 year notes. In each case - I refinanced to a 15 year mortgage when interest was low. Along with the refinancing I absorbed as much other debt as possible into the loan while still being above the 20%
minimum for the down payment.

As far as savings goes - there are good rules of thumb to follow, but the people that get to follow them don't usually have the freaking unusual happen to them like your child developing a brain tumor. I agree with Zombie though, that you should enjoy your life and not pinch the head of the penny through the ass. You'll make all the right moves - I've got no doubt. Wait until the kids come around - then you're going to know what real costs are. 😂

Originally Posted by: Dakotat 

Dakota - From experience, Wade's cooking is better than mine. And I'm pretty ****** good.

Originally Posted by: zombieslayer 

Dakota - From experience, Wade's cooking is better than mine. And I'm pretty ****** good.

Originally Posted by: zombieslayer 

I'm not knocking Wade's cooking - in fact I'm sure it is excellent. But don't try and sell me on a marinade hunk of shitty sirloin being better than a porterhouse. In my opinion sirloin should just be ground up into hamburger, not sold for $20 a serving at whatever steakhouse you want to list.

Originally Posted by: Dakotat 

Oh, i'd never buy sirloin in a steakhouse. Filet, occasionally. Ribeye, you darn betcha.

I never said a marinated sirloin is better than a high-end cut. I only said that you can make a sirloin (or anything else) pretty good with the right marinade.

And you can ensure you don't ruin that good cut, that's all. (I've ruined a lot of food in my day.) And you can ruin a good cut of beef damn fast if you aren't careful. And even more so for other meats like pork, lamb, and chicken.

Originally Posted by: Wade