Current Balance $10,958

After paying off my law school loans, I’m only months away from being student loan free. I have a little less than $11k on my undergrad student loan, and my plan is to shift my minimum law school payment of $1,141.48 to my undergrad loan. But…I’m finding the motivation to do so hard to find. It’s not that I don’t want to pay of my remaining balance as soon as possible, I just want to celebrate the victory of paying off my law school loans. I feel like a reached a mountain top only to find I still have just a little bit further to go. So how do I stay motivated?

Throughout my journey, although I’ve sacrificed a lot, I haven’t sacrificed everything. Some financial gurus will tell you that you have to sacrifice all fun. No vacations, no dining out, no movies, no nights out with friends….what? Isn’t that the same reasoning why most diets fail? They aren’t sustainable. You have to find the right balance. You have to make time for things you enjoy: your spouse, your family, your friends, traveling, concerts, sporting events, etc. The key is finding what motivates you to continue to stay on your student loan payoff journey.

For me, every time I’ve paid off a loan, I’ve bought myself something (like a new pair of shoes) or treated my family to a nice dinner out. My wife and I also plan a vacation each year, so each time I make a payment on my loan, I also put something away for that vacation. It may not be a lot of money, but it’s enough to remind me that not all of my funds are going to loans and that some of them are going towards something I (we) enjoy.

So what motivate you? Think about something you can save for while you pay down your student debt. It’s doesn’t have to be a lot, but just enough to keep you motivated!

While you think, I’m going to look for a new pair of shoes…