Negative amortization see credit cards for what happens when a payment can't even keep up with a balance's interest. Where it's taught Emergency Fund or Pay Off Debt First?Student Loans: Standard vs Income-Driven Repayment (and Forgiveness) Try it with a calculator Emergency Fund Vs Debt CalculatorStudent Loans Calculator Related terms Cushion / starter emergency fundDiscretionary incomeExposureForgivenessGuaranteed returnIncome-driven repayment (IDR)PSLF (Public Service Loan Forgiveness)Standard plan