ThrustVectoring comments on Open Thread, June 2-15, 2013 - Less Wrong Discussion
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For recent college graduates, their best investment opportunity is early repayment of their student loans. It's essentially guaranteed 4-5% return (whatever their loan rate happens to be). Note that this "investment" is completely illiquid.
That's often but not necessarily true, especially on a post-tax basis (and especially if your alternative is putting money into tax-advantaged vehicle like 401(k) or IRA).
Hm, is it really? If you're paying back your loans early, couldn't you then, in case of need, cease paying for a time equivalent to how much you paid and then resume paying? You'd just be right back on schedule.
It depends on the terms of the loan. Some loans may allow you to skip payments if you're ahead. Most I've seen don't though. But either way, if you need $5000 cash right now because your significant other ran their car into someone's living room and you need to pay bail and a lawyer, or the levees are collapsing and you have to split town, you can't get the $5000 back from an early repaid loan.
Your loan may vary. For me, all it does is give me a few extra dollars a month.