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The holiday shopping season seems to start earlier and earlier every year. Come October, and the most eager of stores are already popping up Christmas trees, twinkling lights, and holiday decorations for sale. Before long, the shopping craze will set in fully, Christmas carols ringing in the ears of shoppers filling malls across America.

Between Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and last minute holiday deals in late December—it’s no wonder Americans are spending a decent chunk of change buying gifts for the holiday season. Holiday spending is expected to increase by 4.1% in 2018.

According to the National Retail Federation , consumers plan to spend approximately $1,007.24 this year, up from $967.13 in 2017.

With the barrage of seasonal sales and holiday advertisements, impulse spending on decorations and gifts are almost guaranteed. And with the spike in sales around the holiday, it’s no surprise that fraud and identity theft are also at their peak during the holidays. During the 2017 holiday season, fraud attempts increased by 22% from Thanksgiving to December 31st.

So how are you supposed to get the perfect gift for everyone on your list, while also holiday shopping on a budget? With some careful planning, you can maximize your holiday spending, avoid holiday shopping scams, and keep your budget on track. Use these holiday shopping tips to conquer your gift list, with time to spare so you can enjoy the festive season with family and friends.

Set a Budget and Start Saving Early

If you’re trying to limit your holiday spending, set a budget. Make a list of who you plan to shop for, some gift ideas, and a spending limit for each person. Having a plan of action when it comes to holiday shopping on a budget will go a long way in ensuring you stay on track.

A great way to supplement your budget? Start saving for holiday shopping early. Try saving even just $30 a week toward your holiday shopping expenses. Having a nest egg of cash to spend on gifts can help you stick to your budget and avoid additional holiday-related credit card debt.

One option is to have a dedicated savings account for your holiday savings. SoFi Checking and Savings® account offers easy access to your money. You can spend, save, and earn, all in one product, so it’s easy to track your budget and keep your holiday spending on track.

Be a Savvy Sale Shopper

The holidays are full of cheer, cozy gatherings, family, friends, and some pretty deep discounts and holiday sales. One of the best holiday spending tips is to have an idea of how much each item you plan to purchase should cost.

That way you know when you’re getting a great deal, or if the so-called super sale really isn’t that super. If you see what you think is a great sale but want to double check before you buy—take a look online at a price comparison site to get an idea of the going rate for an item.

If you find a cheaper price on the item consider ordering from that retailer or ask the store you are shopping at if they offer price matching. A lot of retailers will offer a price match if you can provide documentation of a lower price at one of their competitors.

Become a Couponer

Another holiday spending tip that can help you stick to your budget—become a couponer. If something is already on sale, use a coupon or online coupon code to amplify the savings even further.

Some coupons and certain stores will have policies in place to prevent aggressive couponing, but for the majority of stores, you could stand to score some serious savings by taking the time to find a coupon that applies to your purchases.

While you’re on the hunt for coupons for your purchases be aware of any suspicious coupons . There are quite a few sites that deal solely in providing users coupon codes to use while online shopping and thieves have caught on.

As you’re browsing for online coupons, be sure to never enter any personal information. Legitimate coupon sites won’t require you to buy something or enter personal information to gain access to the coupon code.

Consider signing up for the email list of your favorite stores or the stores where you plan to do the majority of your holiday shopping. Often stores will send sale alerts and coupon details via email to their loyal customers, so it can pay to subscribe.

When you do, be sure that you’re subscribing to the official store list. Phishing is an extremely popular online scam around the holidays, so be aware of any emails that seem suspicious or offer deals that seem unrealistic.

Shop Online

When you shop online you can avoid the crowds, long lines, and busy parking lots of the mall. You don’t even need to leave your house, let alone the comfort of your couch. Online shopping is expected to grow in popularity again this year, and it’s expected to account for 57% of all purchases .

Online shopping offers fast, easy, convenient, and nearly hassle-free shopping for customers who would prefer to spend time by cozying up by the fire. Around the holidays there are often online only discounts that can help you keep your holiday budget on track.

As you’re shopping online be sure to avoid popular holiday scams. When shopping online, it’s best to stick with reliable and trusted retailers. If you see an incredible deal from an unknown site there’s a very good chance it is just too good to be true.

Before you make a purchase with an online retailer you’ve never heard of take the time to do a little research. You can protect yourself by looking up the retailer at the Better Business Bureau. You can also do a quick web search to read other customer reviews or complaints about the company.

Be suspicious of retailers that offer extremely low prices and don’t offer an address or phone number. The goal here is to avoid giving your credit card information to a scammer, who could then use your credit card or sell your information to another scammer.

As your shopping this holiday season, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your credit card and bank statements to make sure there is no suspicious activity. If you see any purchases you didn’t make, contact your credit card company immediately.

Take Advantage of Free Shipping

One of the great perks of online shopping these days is a large number of retailers that offer free shipping. Some retailers even offer free 2-day shipping around the holidays to encourage you to order last minute gifts online and compete with large online retailers like Amazon.

Sometimes though, there can be issues when gifts arrive late, or even worse—not at all. Dishonest vendors will sometimes promise an item is in stock and able to arrive by your desired date when in reality it’s not. To avoid this, pay attention to where the item is shipping from, and order from reliable and trusted retailers .

Another reason packages never seem to arrive? Theft. If you’re concerned about package theft in your area there are a few options. Consider having the package delivered to work, if allowed by your employer. This way there will be someone there when the package arrives.

Another option is to have packages delivered to a pickup location offered by the retailer or carrier. For example, Amazon gives you the option to have packages delivered to an Amazon locker, where you can then pick up the package using a code. This could decrease the chances of package theft and comes at no extra cost.

Simplify Your Holiday Budget with SoFi Checking and Savings

You’ve made your shopping list and checked it twice. You’re ready to hunt down all the best deals. If you’re looking for a way to make your holiday shopping even easier, consider opening a SoFi Checking and Savings account.

Plus, when your money arrives at our partner banks it is FDIC insured.

There are no account fees (subject to change) and you can open a SoFi Checking and Savings account in less than a minute. With SoFi Checking and Savings, you can track your spending and savings to ensure you are staying within your holiday shopping budget.

Ready to elevate your savings? Open a checking and savings account with SoFi today.

Ready to elevate your savings? Open an account with SoFi Checking and Savings today.

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External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
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SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2022 SoFi Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
SoFi Money® is a cash management account, which is a brokerage product, offered by SoFi Securities LLC, member
FINRA / SIPC . SoFi Securities LLC is an affiliate of SoFi Bank, N.A. SoFi Money Debit Card issued by The Bancorp Bank.
SoFi has partnered with Allpoint to provide consumers with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. Consumers will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third party fees incurred when using out-of-network ATMs are not subject to reimbursement. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.
SoFi members with direct deposit can earn up to 4.00% annual percentage yield (APY) interest on Savings account balances (including Vaults) and up to 1.20% APY on Checking account balances. There is no minimum direct deposit amount required to qualify for these rates. Members without direct deposit will earn 1.20% APY on all account balances in Checking and Savings (including Vaults). Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 3/17/2023. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet

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There’s nothing quite like the joy of planning for your first child. But don’t let visions of cute little onesies, bibs with clever sayings, and the perfectly decorated nursery distract you from planning for the cost of actually having a baby.

Hospital costs and basic needs such as diapers, formula, and even checkups can add up quickly. Factor in the cost of childcare, too, and you’re looking at potentially spending several thousand dollars in just the first few months.

Keep in mind that hospital and day care costs vary from state to state, and that a complicated birth can quickly add thousands of dollars to your hospital bill. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Most shopping lists for newborns have more than 50 items and even if you plan to skip extraneous items such as a changing table, diaper pail, and fancy diaper bag, there are still plenty of basics you need to buy to keep your baby safe and healthy, including food, diapers, and a car seat.

Having a baby can be the most joyous time (but also an expensive time) in your life. Here’s a breakdown of the average cost of having a baby.

What is the Cost of Having a Baby?

Hospital Costs

The birth of a newborn is ranked third among the most expensive hospital inpatient stays in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project .

And this doesn’t even take into account Cesarean section costs. Nearly 32% of all babies are delivered by c-section, according to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics .

Prenatal care and delivery costs, including C-section costs, can span a huge range: from about $9,000 to over $250,000 . The average cost of having a baby is $5,000 to $14,500, but can easily rise depending on your insurance coverage and any complications for the mother or baby at birth. And even though many insurance companies offer maternity benefits, many policies demand at least some form of deductible for each family member.

For example, your newborn family member will probably be sent a separate hospital bill from mom’s bill, and baby will be expected to pay a deductible. If you (and baby) each have a $2,000 deductible , you’d be expected to pay the initial $4,000 for baby’s and mother’s hospital care, as well as anything else not covered by your insurance plan.

Car Seat

The hospital won’t let you take your baby home by car without a proper car seat , which can cost from $80 to $400. Most states also require you to have the car seat installed and checked for safety before baby’s first ride home. Fortunately, many hospitals, police stations, and fire stations offer car seat installations and inspections for free.

Diapers

Disposable diapers can set you back $30 to $60 per month. Cloth diapers might save you around $2,000 for the two years most babies are in diapers, but only if you plan to wash them yourself.

If you send your cloth diapers out to be laundered, then cloth diapers end up costing about the same as disposables. Baby wipes can easily add another $25 a month to your tally.

Formula

Even if mom breastfeeds for the first six months or even a year, many families find themselves eventually purchasing baby formula. Powdered formula can easily cost between $70 to $150 per month . Add to that the cost of bottles, and you’re looking at spending an additional $50 for bottles and up to $400 for entire bottle feeding systems (pumps, bottles, then later spoons, bowls, etc.).

Stroller

Once mom and baby are home, the family will want to go out for a walk and show baby the neighborhood (and get out of the house, too). That means you’ll need a stroller. Depending on how fancy you want to get, a stroller can cost anywhere between $50 to $1600 ; if you’re very active, all-terrain strollers can set you back around $300 to $1,200 . A high-end travel system that includes an infant car seat, car seat base, and stroller can cost more than $700.

Crib

Come bedtime, baby will need somewhere safe and comfortable to sleep. A crib can cost from $100 to $2,000, but you’ll also need a mattress and sheets, adding another $50 to $400 to your total (again, depending on how fancy you want to get).

High Chair

At around four to six months, you’ll probably start feeding your baby solid foods . That means you may need a high chair (between $60 to $300 ), baby-proof spoons and bowls, and baby food ($.50/jar at three jars/day = at least $45 per month).

Doctor’s Bills

It’s a fact of life that babies need frequent checkups. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies get checkups at birth, three to five days after they are born, and then at one, two, four, six, nine, 12, 15, 18, 24, and 30 months.

Even with a copay, you will likely be paying for at least a dozen doctor visits during your baby’s first years. It’s also not unusual for babies to get sick in between doctors visits. Many new parents may even take their child to the emergency room during their baby’s first two years, even though it might not be medically necessary , and potentially leave with a staggering bill .

All these items, essentially to protect the baby and help the baby to grow, can easily add up, making the average cost of having a baby more than $10,000 for your child’s first year.

About SoFi

SoFi offers useful financial products, from investing solutions to student loan refinancing. SoFi Checking and Savings account that has no account fees (variable and subject to change).

SoFi Checking and Savings don’t charge you a penny to transfer money, or pay bills. And your SoFi Checking and Savings checking and savings account provides overdraft protection and access to any ATM within the Allpoint® Network.

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External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2022 SoFi Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
SoFi Money® is a cash management account, which is a brokerage product, offered by SoFi Securities LLC, member
FINRA / SIPC . SoFi Securities LLC is an affiliate of SoFi Bank, N.A. SoFi Money Debit Card issued by The Bancorp Bank.
SoFi has partnered with Allpoint to provide consumers with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. Consumers will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third party fees incurred when using out-of-network ATMs are not subject to reimbursement. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.
SoFi members with direct deposit can earn up to 4.00% annual percentage yield (APY) interest on Savings account balances (including Vaults) and up to 1.20% APY on Checking account balances. There is no minimum direct deposit amount required to qualify for these rates. Members without direct deposit will earn 1.20% APY on all account balances in Checking and Savings (including Vaults). Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 3/17/2023. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet
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Starting your own business is one of the most challenging—and rewarding—leaps you can take with your career. Turning your idea into a successful, thriving firm takes ingenuity, determination, and grit. It also takes a decent chunk of capital. You have to spend money to make money, right?

According to the U.S. Small Business Association, 57% of start-up businesses rely on personal savings to get their firms going. But if you’re just starting out or are planning an expansion to take your business to the next level, you might need more than you feel comfortable taking out of your savings.

Luckily, there are other sources of financing available that can help offset your costs. In fact, a recent National Small Business Association report found that available financing for small firms is on the rise, with 73% of businesses being able to access the financing they need.

Whether you need to get your business off the ground, expand your reach, or have cash on hand, it can take some creativity to find the right financing to help you thrive. Here are the basics of debt financing to help you find the right solution for your business.

What is Debt Financing?

Debt financing is the technical term for borrowing money from a lender to help run your business (as opposed to raising equity to cover your costs). Examples of debt financing include small business loans and lines of credit. Small businesses use debt financing to cover a range of expenses including start-up costs, operations, equipment, and repairs.

How Does Debt Financing Work?

Essentially, debt financing means borrowing money from a lender that you agree to pay back, typically with interest. If you’ve ever taken out a loan, you’ve financed a debt. The terms of the financing are agreed upon in advance, and you are mostly free to use the money however you wish.

Getting debt financing with favorable terms can be dependent on your credit score and financial profile. However, it is a relatively quick way to secure funds.

What’s the Difference Between Debt Financing and Equity Financing?

Equity financing refers to selling shares of a business in exchange for capital. Basically, this means finding investors who, in exchange for a portion of the business, help fund it. Equity financing can include everything from raising funds from friends and family to securing multiple rounds of financing from angel investors and venture capital firms.

A benefit of equity financing is that it’s money that is given rather than lent, meaning that you won’t have to pay interest. Another benefit is the investors themselves: Having good relationships with them can lead to important connections, mentorship, and resources to help your business grow.

Of course, a potential downside to equity financing is losing some control over the business and its operations (for example, many investors may want a seat on your board in exchange for funding . It can also take a long time—and a lot of effort—to attract and secure investors.

What’s the Difference Between Short and Long-Term Debt Financing?

Debt financing can be divided up into categories of short-term and long-term. Short-term debt financing refers to loans that are repaid over a period of a year or less. This includes everything from using a credit card, to opening a line of credit that you repay as you use it. Short-term financing can be useful for everyday expenses, small emergency repairs, and to cover cash flow.

Businesses use long-term debt financing to cover larger purchases such as expensive equipment, renovations, or real estate purchases. This can include mortgages or business loans which have multiple-year repayment plans. Often lenders require these types of loans to be secured by the assets that they are helping you purchase. For instance, a property mortgage would be secured by the property itself.

What Debt Financing Options are Available?

If you’re looking for an immediate solution, short-term debt financing may be a good place to start. For covering smaller day-to-day expenses that you plan to pay back quickly, a credit card might be the easiest and most familiar option.

Opening a line of credit can also be a handy way to manage cash flow or finance an expansion over a period of time. A line of credit works a bit like a credit card, but with more flexibility.

Lines of credit tend to be larger than credit card limits, and they usually have more competitive interest rates. Just like a credit card, you can borrow what you need as you need it, and then make monthly repayments.

About SoFi

SoFi is a new kind of finance company that offers personal loans, student loan refinancing, mortgage refinancing, and more. Learn more today to see how SoFi can help you reach your financial goals.

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The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

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Perhaps you define your family as you and your partner—or maybe you have a house full of children. No matter how big or small your family is, you have goals to achieve and dreams to accomplish.

Sometimes, you’ll already be able to fund them, but, often, you need to save money to make these dreams comes true, and here you’ll find strategies you can customize for your own family’s wants and needs. When thinking about which strategies are best for saving your family money, always keep your goals in mind.

Ask Yourself These Questions:

1) What are you saving for? Are you saving to create an emergency fund for peace of mind? Will your goals then transition into a savings plan for a fabulous summer vacation?
2) How much do you need to achieve your goals?
3) Where can you cut expenses to free up cash flow and make it easier for your family to save?

Now, look at these tips and customize as needed to help achieve your goals.

Optimize Your Mindset for Saving

If you approach your new saving strategies with excitement, seeing them as an opportunity to accomplish family goals, not only are you probably more likely to be successful, but the process will also be more enjoyable.

With this attitude, strategies that might have seemed too challenging in the past can suddenly be transformed into an adventure. Plus, when the entire family is participating, you naturally create momentum to achieve goals and celebrate progress.

From “Should Have” to “Should” to “Will”

When it comes to money management, virtually everyone has some “should have” items to put on their list:

•   I should have started saving earlier in my life.
•   I should have created a better budget.
•   I should have [Fill in the blank and know you aren’t alone!].

Now, take those thoughts and turn “should have” into the present tense:

•   I should start saving.
•   I should create a better budget.
•   I should [fill in the blank].

Next, make it stronger by changing “should” to “will”:

•   I will start saving.
•   I will create a better budget.
•   I will [fill in the blank].

You’re ready to take positive steps to save. Here are some additional tips to help your family keep the right attitude:

•   Don’t compare your financial situation to anyone else’s. Create a plan that works for your financial situation and goals.
•   Create a savings plan and stick to it.
•   Celebrate successes.

Freeing up Cash Flow to Save

As a starting formula, calculate these three sums:

•   Net monthly income (after taxes)
•   Monthly expenses: housing/utilities, car payments, student loan payments, credit card payments, etc.
•   Subtract the second amount from the first and determine how much money you can save out of what remains.

Now, what expenses can you eliminate to free up even more cash flow? Do you have automatic withdrawals for services that you don’t really use anymore?

One place where families can often cut back is food:

•   Create a monthly budget for food expenses, including grocery shopping and eating out.
•   Determine what role restaurants will play in your family budget. Some families are more than willing to give up eating out as part of their new lifestyle, while others like to keep some dining out dollars in their monthly budget.
•   Many families find it helps to plan meals before they go grocery shopping. If that’s you, create a list to follow at the store. If possible, go without any small children who may have different ideas about what you should buy.
•   Manage leftovers well and make sure you use food before expiration dates.

Check contract payments and see if you can get better prices for your home and car insurance, cell phone bills, cable contracts, and more. Will your current vendors match pricing available from their competitors?

Two more ways to free up cash flow are:

•   Determine what loans are close to being paid off: How much will that payoff boost your ability to save? If it’s by a significant amount, consider focusing your energy on paying off those bills.
•   Consider consolidating high-interest credit cards and loans into a low-interestpersonal loan.

Saving My Family Money: Tips for Parents

Children tend to follow the lead of their parents, so how you present any changes in your daily routines is crucial. For example, if you realize that you’re blowing a whole lot of money on game machines at a local pizza place, get creative!

Start making pizzas at home with your kids—complete with silly faces made out of pepperoni and veggies and followed by family game night. The first time you do this, your children might be frustrated, but your enthusiasm and creativity can turn the tide.

If you realize that you overspend on birthday celebrations for your kids, cut back on gift-giving costs but turn the present-opening experience into a game. What if you hid the presents and gave the birthday boy or girl clues to follow? Play music in the background, making it louder when your child is getting closer and lower it when he or she is going in the wrong direction.

Use visuals to help your children become part of the family savings plan. You can create colorful charts to show your youngsters how much you want to save and your progress. Give each one of them fun piggy banks and invite them to start saving. Once there is enough money in a child’s piggy bank, you might take him or her to the bank to open a savings account, and make it a time of celebration.

And most important, pay attention to how you talk about money and saving around your children. Be positive instead of dwelling on the negative. Don’t apologize for giving fewer or less expensive gifts—make the most of the new traditions.

Saving for the Future

As you build up an emergency savings fund (say, three to six months’ worth of living expenses) and otherwise begin to reach your goals, saving for the future may transform into investing. And, although the terms “savings” and “investing” are sometimes interchangeably used, there are stark differences. For example, when you’re building up your savings, you are likely:

•   Adding money to a checking and savings account in regular increments
•   Saving with a specific purpose in mind for those funds, whether it’s a rainy-day fund or a down payment on a new house
•   Focusing on shorter-term financial goals over the next two to three years

When you invest, you take on a degree of risk. Investments aren’t FDIC insured (like a bank account), and account balances are subject to market fluctuations.

But often, people invest in light of longer-term goals, whether it’s funding your kid’s college education or planning for retirement. Bonds, and mutual funds, are very common investments, as are ETFs.

At SoFi, we believe that everyone should have the ability to invest in their family’s future, and they should be able to access quality investment management. So, even if you’re new to investing, you can start quickly and easily with an initial deposit of $100.

When you make an investment appointment online, you start by letting us know which of these areas is of interest to you:

•   SoFi Invest® Overview
•   Debt Management Strategies
•   Home Ownership Planning
•   Planning for Children
•   Financial Checkup
•   Financial Independence and Retirement Planning Strategies

To benefit from today’s automated investment technology and the insight of professional human advisors, contact SoFi. Because our advisors don’t receive commissions, they don’t try to sell you anything that isn’t in your best financial interest. Instead, they can help create a plan that’s customized for your unique needs and goals.

SoFi is ready to help you invest as a family. Start today by signing up for an investment account with SoFi.

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SoFi can’t guarantee future financial performance.
This information isn’t financial advice. Investment decisions should be based on specific financial needs, goals and risk appetite.
SoFi doesn’t provide tax or legal advice. Individual circumstances are unique. Consult with a qualified tax advisor or attorney.
The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
Advisory services offered through SoFi Wealth, LLC, a registered investment advisor.
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Getting married soon? Congratulations! Just be warned—there comes a moment in many weddings when half the guests suddenly slip away to watch a big game (just follow the cheers to find your wedding party).

Football especially is a pretty good analogy for a wedding – after all, in both football and marriage, you’re either tackling things together or you’re being tackled by them. Money is a common example of this (in marriage, not football), as the growing number of couples dealing with student loan debt can attest.

Whether the loans belong to you, your spouse or all of the above, once you get married it doesn’t really matter anymore. Paying off debt is now something you can tackle together. It may be tough, but with open communication and planning you can work as a team to get that student loan linebacker off your, er, back.

So what’s the best strategy for taking down student loans without letting them clobber your marriage? Here are five tips for proactively – and collaboratively – running a play that could help lead to the big pay-off: a debt-free happily ever after.

Tip #1: Create Your Big Financial Picture

Preparing to take on a big financial goal usually requires some conversation and preparation upfront. Before making any decisions, sit down and talk about your short- and long-term financial objectives, and make sure you’re both on the same page (or as close to it as possible). This can be an overwhelming topic, so see if you can break it down into chunks.

Have you established a household budget? How do student loans (and paying them off) fit into your long-term and short-term goals? Should you start aggressively paying off debt, or might it be better for you to ramp up over time? What other factors (e.g., buying a home, changing careers, having children, etc.) could affect your decisions?

Not only can this exercise help give you more clarity to create an action plan, it can also actually be kind of fun – after all, planning a life together is part of the reason you got married in the first place. The key is to listen to each other and remember that you’re both on the same team.

Tip #2: Take Advantage of Technology

Once you’re clear on the big picture, it’s time to get into the weeds. Many people have more than one student loan, often with multiple lenders, so a good place to start can be to gather all of your loan info in one place. You can use an online student loan management tool to collect this information, compare student loan repayment options, and even analyze prepayment strategies.

After crunching the numbers, your debt payoff strategy may include putting extra money toward your loans each month, which means creating and sticking to a budget that supports that goal. Platforms like Mint and Learnvest can help you aggregate household accounts and track spending.

Note: tracking your spending so precisely may feel like ripping off a bandage at first, but over time, this kind of discipline can help you better see where your money goes and help you make conscious choices about your spending. And once you have your budget in place, these apps can be set up to alert you both when spending is getting off track.

Tip #3: Define The Who, What, When

Whether your finances are separate or combined, you’ll probably want to come to an agreement on how to collectively pay all of your financial obligations. Many couples address this based on each person’s share of the total household income.

For example, if one person makes 40% and the other makes 60%, the former might pay 40% of the shared bills and the latter might pay 60%. Others find it simpler and more cohesive to have one household checking account and pay all bills from there.

However you decide to split things up, it could make things much easier to agree upon a plan that accounts for everything, because missed payments can potentially impact your credit (and/or your spouse’s), making your future financial objectives that much tougher to achieve.

Tip #4: Look For Opportunities to Optimize

Okay, so now you’ve established a plan and a budget, and you know who’s on point for each bill. You’re on the path to getting student loan debt off your plate. Is there anything else you can do to speed up the process?

Short of winning the lottery, the most common ways to accelerate student loan payoff are prepayment (meaning, paying more than the minimum) or lowering the interest rate, the latter of which is most commonly accomplished through refinancing.

If you qualify to refinance your student loans, you have a few possibilities: you can lower your monthly payments (by choosing a longer term) or lower your interest rate (which could also lower your monthly payments) – or you could shorten the payment term, and that means you could save money on interest over the life of the loan – money that could come in handy for those other financial goals you’ve both agreed to pursue.

Tip #5: Be on the Same Team

Living with debt is stressful for any couple, but being part of a relationship has its advantages, too. There’s a reason that weight loss experts often recommend finding a “buddy” to help cheer you on and keep you honest in your diet and exercise journey – and the same applies for achieving a big goal like paying off student loan debt.

Keep it positive and keep the lines of communication open, and you may even find that the journey to being debt-free makes your marriage even stronger – so you can take the hits that come your way as easily as your favorite team does.

Check out SoFi to see how you can save money by refinancing your student loans.

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The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
Notice: SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers such as Income Based Repayment or Income Contingent Repayment or PAYE. SoFi always recommends that you consult a qualified financial advisor to discuss what is best for your unique situation.

SLR15102

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