OK, take this for what a random comment from someone you only know online is worth (i.e., next to nothing), but the way I'd decide on paying off loans vs investing is to look at the interest rate on the loan vs. the likely return on the investment. In most cases, paying of the loan actually "makes" you more money. The exception is retirement accounts, which are tax-protected and which often have some sort of company match on them. I guess student loans are also complicated by tax considerations. Do you get to deduct the interest? Is it a big enough deduction to matter?
I think the general advice is to build up your emergency buffer (whatever you decide that needs to be), start retirement savings and pay off debt, then invest in other things, with a decision about how much to put in retirement vs. pay off debt driven by whether you have some sort of match. You're usually advised to put in enough to get the maximum match, at least, since that is basically an instant 100% return.
The dental stuff I can't help with. I postponed my dental appointment because I couldn't stand the thought of someone digging around my mouth with the all day morning sickness I've been having.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2009-04-01 04:12 am (UTC)I think the general advice is to build up your emergency buffer (whatever you decide that needs to be), start retirement savings and pay off debt, then invest in other things, with a decision about how much to put in retirement vs. pay off debt driven by whether you have some sort of match. You're usually advised to put in enough to get the maximum match, at least, since that is basically an instant 100% return.
The dental stuff I can't help with. I postponed my dental appointment because I couldn't stand the thought of someone digging around my mouth with the all day morning sickness I've been having.