Mandi is back for a solo BA Q&A, answering a juicy listener question about balancing student loans, grad school, a possible home move, and a new car payment—all while chasing Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). She breaks down how PSLF *actually* works, why “qualifying payments” matter so much, and when it can make sense to pause extra payments and redirect cash toward savings and other priorities instead.

What we dive into: 

- How PSLF really works and what counts as a qualifying payment.
- Whether you should keep paying loans that are in in-school deferment.
- How to prioritize between:  
- Building a 3–6 month emergency fund.  
- Saving for moving and homebuying costs.  
- Paying down a high car note.
- Why three months of savings may no longer be enough in today’s economy.
- Practical next steps to confirm your PSLF status and get your paperwork right.

Listener Question Highlight  
Sydney, a 34‑year‑old nurse working toward PSLF, asks whether she should keep making a $500 monthly student loan payment while her loans are in deferment—or pause to focus on savings, a future move, and her car note.

Links:

Federal student aid and PSLF info: studentaid.gov

Stay Connected  
- Email your questions: brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com.
- Send a voice note or DM on IG: @brownambitionpodcast 

Mandi is back for a solo BA Q&amp;A, answering a juicy listener question about balancing student loans, grad school, a possible home move, and a new car payment&mdash;all while chasing Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). She breaks down how PSLF *actually* works, why &ldquo;qualifying payments&rdquo; matter so much, and when it can make sense to pause extra payments and redirect cash toward savings and other priorities instead.
What we dive into: - How PSLF really works and what counts as a qualifying payment. - Whether you should keep paying loans that are in in-school deferment. - How to prioritize between: &nbsp; - Building a 3&ndash;6 month emergency fund. &nbsp; - Saving for moving and homebuying costs. &nbsp; - Paying down a high car note. - Why three months of savings may no longer be enough in today&rsquo;s economy. - Practical next steps to confirm your PSLF status and get your paperwork right.
Listener Question Highlight &nbsp; Sydney, a 34‑year‑old nurse working toward PSLF, asks whether she should keep making a $500 monthly student loan payment while her loans are in deferment&mdash;or pause to focus on savings, a future move, and her car note.
Links:
Federal student aid and PSLF info: studentaid.gov
Stay Connected &nbsp; - Email your questions: brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com. - Send a voice note or DM on IG: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/brownambitionpodcast">@brownambitionpodcast&nbsp;</a>

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Money and career advice for women of color, by women of color

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BA Q&A: Should I Keep Paying My Student Loans While PSLF?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b74daaec-5eb4-4ba8-bb4a-b3e200d8e7fd/transcript