In this week’s BA Q&A, Mandi answers a listener question about student loan deferment, Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), emergency savings, and navigating major life transitions without blowing up your financial stability.

Sydney, a 34-year-old nurse, is three years away from qualifying for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). While pursuing her master’s degree, her loans are currently in in-school deferment. She’s also planning to sell her home, purchase a new one closer to work, and manage a $600 monthly car payment.

Her big question:
Should she continue making $500 student loan payments during deferment — or pause and focus on building savings?

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

How Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) actually works
Whether payments made during in-school deferment count toward PSLF
How to prioritize between student loans, emergency savings, and a car loan
Why a 3-month emergency fund may not be enough in today’s economy
How to prepare financially for buying and selling a home
What to do if you’re worried about changes to federal student loan forgiveness

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BA Q&A: Should I Pause Student Loan Payments During Grad School?