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An article featured in USA Today shows why letting daily expenses get in the way of retirement savings is a big (and common) problem. The issue: the later you start saving, the harder it will be to comfortably retire —or to retire at all.

The piece, which cites research conducted by Comet, shows that over 40% of Gen Xers and Baby Boomers have not started saving retirement. 

Although you may not know it, you probably make calculations about your discretionary income every day. From weighing the necessity of our next Amazon Prime purchase to considering the expense of eating out, most of us are conscious of how we spend the money that’s left over once we’ve got our bills covered.

If you’ve recently begun to repay your student loans, the details of your debt may be frustratingly fuzzy. After all, it’s likely been months or years since you closely considered the terms of your loans, and most students aren’t eager to examine what they owe until after graduation.

If you’ve enjoyed tax benefits for being a college student, you may be mourning the loss of those valuable credits now that you’ve graduated. But the upside of your educational investment doesn’t need to stop now: The government offers a special tax deduction for student loan interest, which could save you hundreds of dollars when you file this year.

Does the love of your life have a giant pile of student loan debt? If so, that’s not surprising. Approximately 70% of college graduates have at least some student debt—and the average amount of that debt is somewhere around $37,712.

It’s a common misconception that once you marry, you’re jointly responsible for your spouse’s student loan debt. In fact, in the vast majority of cases, you’re not. There are exceptions to this rule, however.

Chances are, if you are a new college graduate, you have some federal and/or private student loans that need to be repaid.

Because managing debt can be a burden and keep you from achieving life goals like moving out on your own or getting married, paying off student loans early might seem like a good idea. But debt and finances are intertwined, so there are several things to consider before you start applying any extra cash toward retiring student loans early.