 TITLE: Should You Continue to Make Student Loan Payments During COVID-19? CONTENT: Should I Stop Paying My Student Loans?\n--------------------------------------\nYour decision about whether to stop paying your student loans will ultimately depend on your financial situation. If you need the extra money now or are worried about your finances, this payment pause could offer welcome relief. But if you're financially stable and want to continue making your payments, doing so could save you money in the long run.\nTake inventory of your current finances and consider these options if you have federal student loans:\n1.  You're financially stable: If you don't envision needing any extra cash in the coming months, you could continue to pay your student loans as normal, which will help you save on interest charges once the no-interest period ends. But if you've got other debt, especially if it charges a higher interest rate than the normal rate on your loans, think about instead using this money to pay down those accounts.\n2.  You fear you may face financial hardship in the near future: Consider taking the money for your student loan payments and putting it aside. It's not clear when the economic impacts of this crisis will let up, so having this extra cash might come in handy should something happen in the future. Remember that you can choose to use this cash to pay down your student loans later on, should you not end up needing the money for other things.\n3.  You're currently facing financial hardship: If money's tight, you're better off using the funds you would have otherwise used for your student loans to pay for essential purchases like food, utilities and housing. You may not be making progress on your loans at this time, but at least you'll be better equipped to make sure you have what you need during this difficult time. END