Trying to end 2025 on a high note and finally paid off my student loan debt! $262k 😅🥲

Hi everyone, long time lurker/fellow loan commiserator/loan reform cheerleader here. Had a personally tough 2025 and said screw it and took the plunge with a large and final payment on my student loan bill!!! Ironically, payment cleared on Christmas Eve 😊 Won’t really celebrate with anyone, but figured I’d share with this groups of friendly strangers!!! Can’t even describe the feeling of happiness and relief I feel now that my mountain of debt is behind me. I would’ve NEVER been able to pay off this debt so quickly without the student loan interest rate pause, and I’m incredibly lucky that I have the job I do in these unstable economic times.

Paid $262k in total – $245k principal & 17k interest. Graduated from an MBA program in 2019 so basically only had a few months of repayment/interest accruals before the pause. Started making massive principal payments at the end of 2023 when repayment started, and was able to finish this year!!

I’m wholly rooting for student loan debt reform for everyone else out there, a million times over!!! Thanks for being such a supporting community and now off to treat myself to a nice dinner and maybe a glass of champagne to celebrate 🥂

Hope everyone has a blessed New Year!!