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Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: lavagirl on November 01, 2016, 08:39:29 AM

Title: Which is better?
Post by: lavagirl on November 01, 2016, 08:39:29 AM
I was going to pay off my student loan next month~ $5k.   But we usually owe on taxes and I was wondering if it would make more sense to put that money towards our 401k. We are not maxing out our 401ks and our income is about 180k.  We've been focused on debt payoff and it would make me feel really good to pay the loan off, but would it make more sense financially to put that money in our retirement accounts to owe less taxes?  The student loan rate is 3.9%   I appreciate your advice! Thanks!
Title: Re: Which is better?
Post by: therethere on November 01, 2016, 08:50:44 AM
Throw it all into your 2016 401k. Pay off the student loan with excess money in January and February. Then use the rest of 2017 to max out your 401k.  25% vs 3.9% is no brainer!
Title: Re: Which is better?
Post by: nereo on November 01, 2016, 09:02:27 AM
I agree with therethere.  Also, I'm curious why you aren't maxing out your 401(k)s with your income of $180k. While short of details, that seems like a giant red flag.
Title: Re: Which is better?
Post by: boarder42 on November 01, 2016, 09:14:39 AM
you should do a full case study if you are pulling in 180k and not maxing 401k's
Title: Re: Which is better?
Post by: JAYSLOL on November 01, 2016, 03:11:01 PM
you should do a full case study if you are pulling in 180k and not maxing 401k's

+1
Title: Re: Which is better?
Post by: arebelspy on November 05, 2016, 11:05:15 PM
We are not maxing out our 401ks and our income is about 180k.

Change this now.  :)

Quote
We've been focused on debt payoff

That's fine, but in the meantime, you gave a lot of free money to the government.

Congrats on getting those essentially paid off, now ramp up your savings immediately!  :)
Title: Re: Which is better?
Post by: Metric Mouse on November 06, 2016, 01:42:07 AM
you should do a full case study if you are pulling in 180k and not maxing 401k's

+1

I'd love to see the spending in this bracket!