How To Pay Down $73,674.28 In Student Loans

I never realized how long it has been since I last reported on the repayment of my very large student loan. I started of the year admitting to you all that I had $83,306.89 left on my tab. That was during January and after some analysis of my budget outlook for the entire year, I set a goal having the loan down in the low $60,000 range. As of March of this year I had it down to $80,100 with the help of some serious cutbacks in alcohol consumption. Another goal for the year was to make a payment of at least $1,400 per month towards the loan.

These goals and ideas were the groundwork for my year. With the 3rd quarter of 2009 soon coming to an end, I feel like I have been doing an average job for what has gone on this year. I did happen to get engaged in March, which involved me purchasing a ring and coercing my current fiancee into saying yes (I have it in writing somewhere, probably my Facebook wall). So that was an unexpected financial expenditure that affected my budget for the year. I decided to finance my ring and pay a little each month with it on track to be paid off by years end.

There have been some months where I have paid less than $1,400 and there have been other months where I have paid close to $2,000! Much budget has definitely varied but I have made an aggressive effort to pay as much as I can, when I can. My idiotic credit card debt has plagued me numerous times throughout this year, with that I only have myself to blame (and the booze that I have bought).

Currently, I am looking at $73,674.28 left to go in order to satisfy my debt with the evil Sallie Mae. With 3 months worth of paychecks left for 2009, I am going to try and throw as much as I can at this principle, including any bonuses (don't get your hopes up) and other funds I receive at the end of this year. I am hoping to get it down to $69,000 by the end of the year because just getting it under $70,000 seems like a moral victory in my books. I am getting reimbursed a week's worth of vacation in December, so that will be some extra firepower that I will utilize.

So much for New Year's resolutions right? It's all good, I only have myself to blame. More importantly now is the date of July 17, 2010: My wedding date. I want to have this loan paid down as much as possible by then because I just do not want it to cause any issues going into the next phase of my life. Conversely, I need to get this savings/emergency/liquid cash fund close to the $10,000 mark (currently hovering at 6k) and cover some expenses for the wedding.

Lot of wishful thinking or feasible plan of attack?