Yea, for many people their student loan payment is by far their largest expense (even over rent), so it makes sense to maximize, maximize, maximize.<p>Not sure how your friends&#x27; or co-workers&#x27; lifestyles have any effect on your own, though. I have friends who work for Google and live what I see as pretty extravagant lifestyles, and overhear co-workers (who must make a shit-ton more than me) talk about their nanny, their maids and their kids&#x27; private schools, but it doesn&#x27;t really have any bearing on my life. You have to live the lifestyle you can afford or you go broke.