Why UK Graduates Should Consider Paying Off Their Student Loans Sooner Rather Than Later

Sade Moussa
3 min readApr 18, 2024

Are you one of the millions of UK graduates carrying the weight of student loan debt? If so, you may want to consider paying off your student finance sooner rather than later. While the idea of paying off debt may seem daunting, especially when you have other financial priorities, there are compelling reasons why tackling your student loan could be a smart move. Let’s delve into the details and crunch the numbers to see why paying off your student finance could be a wise financial decision.

1. The Impact of Interest Rates:
One of the key factors to consider when deciding whether to pay off your student loan is the interest rate. Currently, UK student loans accrue interest at a rate of 6.3% for those earning over £47,835 per year (as of the 2021/22 tax year). With interest rates this high, your debt can quickly snowball if left unchecked.

2. Opportunity Cost of Debt:
When you’re carrying high-interest debt like a student loan, every pound you pay in interest is money that could have been put towards other financial goals, such as saving for a home or investing for retirement. By paying off your student loan early, you can free up cash flow and redirect those funds towards building wealth and securing your financial future.

3. Long-Term Financial Planning:
Consider this scenario: You’re making a decent salary of £50,000 per year, and you have £8,000 left on…

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Sade Moussa

Hello, I’m a 20 something year old professional who is passionate about financial freedom and data science. Please follow me to read more from me.