 TITLE: Should You Save for a Down Payment or Pay off Student Loans? CONTENT: How to Start Paying Off Student Loans While Saving for a Down Payment\n---------------------------------------------------------------------\nIf you're still torn between saving for a down payment and paying off your student loans, take heart in knowing that it doesn't have to be an either-or situation. With the right planning and budgeting, it's possible to do both at the same time.\nCreating a budget and sticking with it can help you rein in overspending so that you can chip away at your student debt and build your down payment fund simultaneously. An added bonus is that you'll also be reducing your DTI month after month, which will help when you eventually begin shopping for a mortgage.\nWhile you're saving, resist the urge to dip into your down payment fund, even if it's an emergency. Consider keeping separate accounts for your emergency fund, day-to-day expenses and your home savings. A high-yield savings account you deposit money into every month (possibly automatically) can put down payment savings out of sight and out of mind. You'll also be earning money on interest while it grows.\nOne other trick is to leverage cash windfalls like tax refunds, inheritances, work bonuses and raises. Whenever you come into some money, consider dividing it equally between debt repayment and saving for a home. END