Hey! Newbie, have been rooting through the main MMM site and through the forums. I'm working on cutting spending and have found joy in saving. A few particular questions. Please find them summed at the bottom if need be.
I'm 23. I currently have about 9k saved up, with approximately 14.5k in student loan debt - not a single cent in any other sort of debt. I've thought about pushing some of my savings to pay off the loans: but I have a bit of anxiety cutting into the savings cushion - which would last me quite a while if my job ended tomorrow - I do have, especially by the thousands. For reference:
Direct Loan - Sub
1-01 $3,894.39 5.35%
Direct Loan - Sub
1-02 $4,792.50 4.25%
Direct Loan- Unsub
1-03 $3,865.68 6.55%
Direct Loan- Unsub
1-04 $2,133.09 6.55%
TOTAL $14,685.66
Another facet: I've got a 97 Nissan King Cab which has treated me as well as I've treated it. Ever since I got it back in 07' as my first car, the only major repairs it's ever needed so far were just a couple months ago. No car payments. However, the mileage isn't... terrible but nor is it fantastic. The real trouble comes from living outside of town, 14 miles away from work. I'd love to bike, but while I'm not terribly out of shape, I have some heavy work to do to get to that point. Plus I need a bike! (Nor can I shower at work...) I'd love to hear recommendations from people who have had to gear up to biking such a distance / bike recommendations for back and uneven roads.
Finally, the job. I graduated with a BS in history in 12 and found promptly nothing using it. (I really wish I'd gone for something different or did a lot more work to secure something more while studying, but I was blissfully asleep to reality and income and savings until basically my last semester.) Currently, I'm a receptionist at 40 hrs and $10.5 on the hour. This is sufficient at the moment, and continues to let me steadily pad away at the savings. But I want something more. I'm not afraid to work myself silly or get my hands dirty (my old Walmart overnight stocking job kept me in better shape than this desk job at least, hah!) but I have to figure out where and how to reinvent myself. Right now I'm studying for IT certifications (A+ at the moment) at home/work when I can to explore that avenue.
To sum my questions/advice seeking:
1.) 9k saved, most of a year's worth if job suddenly vanished. 14.5k student loans = entirety of debt. Push to pay them off?
2.) 97 Nissan, treated well, still running good. 14 miles from work = ugh, 28 miles worth of gas a day. Suggestions on bikes / building up to biking that far? (note: moving not really an option)
3.) Job advice. History degree, yay? Receptionist presently. Willing to roll up sleeves and/or reinvent self. Studying IT certs: asking for those with experience in such/reinventing selves, and how is the job market?
4.) Bonus round... I'd love to get the hell out of this town. Seattle is a place that keeps coming up to mind, generally places in the NW or NE. (Although, money...) The idea of moving to completely the other side of the country is both exciting and terrifying and I wouldn't have a clue of how to start.
I realize this might be a bit much, but questions and details, man! I'd appreciate any thoughts or advice.