The student loan struggle is real.

Class of 2017 graduates left school owing an average of $39,400.

That’s a huge amount of debt to have hanging over your head when you’re trying to rent an apartment, start a career, and establish yourself as an adult.

But even though your student loans might require some sacrifices, they don’t have to take over your life. You can work toward other goals while hacking away at your student loan balance.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your student debt, here are four recommendations for taking back control.

1. Set specific goals and make plans to reach them

Let’s face it: The last thing we want to do with our hard-earned money is put it toward student loans. There are so many other ways we could use it, such as taking a dream vacation or saving for an unexpected emergency.

But if you aren’t clear about your goals, it’ll be difficult to reach them. Instead of vaguely wishing you had more money to spend, be specific about what your savings goals are and why. Pick the most important one and break down what it would take to achieve it.

Then, write down your income and expenses so you understand your cash flow. By getting a bird’s-eye view of your budget, you can figure out exactly how much you need to set aside each week or month to meet your goal.

“I think one of the keys to staying on track, financially speaking, is to have an actual plan,” said J.R. Duren, a personal finance expert at HighYa. “We get caught up in believing that other factors — social forces, greed, etc. — have more control over our money than we do. But that’s not true. Part of learning how to have control over your money is proper planning.”

Even though budgeting might sound boring, it’s an effective way to gain control of your finances. Whether you use a simple spreadsheet or an expense-tracking app, you’ll get a clear picture of your spending and saving.

Over time, you can meet your savings goals while chipping away at your student loans.

2. Strike a balance between saving money and paying off debt

The more you pay toward your student loans each month, the faster you’ll get out of debt. But you have other financial obligations, and it’s important to strike a balance between paying off your loans and saving for the future.

Having an emergency fund, for instance, likely should take priority over making extra payments on your student loans. Without one, you could be in major trouble if you encounter an unexpected expense or lose your job.

Saving for retirement is also important, and you probably shouldn’t wait until you’ve paid off your student loans to start.

“The worst thing you can do is declare that you’ll start saving when you can afford it,” said Nate Masterson, finance manager at Maple Holistics. “Even if you can only save $20 a month, it’s better than nothing. After you’ve paid off your student debt, you can start saving more, but starting from zero is not advisable.”

That said, other expenses, such as traveling to Europe or going to Coachella, might have to take a back seat if you can’t afford them. When it comes to (technically) nonessential expenses, you’ll have to decide whether splurging now is worth years of extra student loan payments and interest.

3. Look for ways to get out of debt faster

Besides making extra payments, there are other ways to get out from under your student loans.

With Public Service Loan Forgiveness, for instance, you might be able to receive loan forgiveness after you’ve made 120 qualifying payments while working full time for a qualifying employer. Teacher Loan Forgiveness is a federal program for teachers who work full time for five consecutive years at a qualifying school.

Several states also offer student loan repayment assistance in exchange for qualifying work. And some employers offer student loan repayment as part of their benefits package.

If you’re not working toward student loan forgiveness, refinancing your student loans could be a savvy repayment move. Borrowers with strong credit or a qualifying co-signer often can snag lower interest rates, thereby saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars on interest.

Plus, refinancing lets you restructure your repayment term, so you could choose a shorter term to get out of debt faster. Or you could choose a longer term to lower your monthly bills and free up more of your income for other pursuits.

Even if you started on a 10-year plan, that doesn’t mean you have to stay in debt for 10 years. By seeking out alternative approaches, such as loan forgiveness or refinancing, you can get out of debt sooner.

If you’re facing financial hardship, though, you might want to consider deferment, forbearance, or income-driven repayment instead. Although these approaches likely will leave you in debt for a longer period, they offer relief until you can get your finances back on track.

4. Start a side hustle to earn extra money

Tracking your budget will only get you so far if you’re working with a limited income. Another way to boost your finances is to increase your income. According to Bankrate, more than 44 million Americans are doing just that by working a side hustle.

Thanks to the internet, there are more opportunities to make money than ever before. For example, you could:

• Flip thrift store or yard sale purchases on eBay for a profit
• Rent out a room or host an experience on Airbnb
• Work as a dog walker in your neighborhood
• Drive for Uber or Lyft
• Offer freelance writing, coding, or design services
• Start your own blog and make money through ads or affiliate marketing
• Offer consulting services in an area of expertise

When it comes to side hustles, the possibilities are endless. To get started, think about what you enjoy and where your skills lie. Check out websites such as Fiverr or Upwork for freelance gigs or TaskRabbit for jobs in your neighborhood.

If you can increase your income, you’ll be able to pay off your student loans faster or save for other goals.

Take back control of your finances

Student loans are a burden for many people, and you might have to make some sacrifices before you’re debt-free.

But your student debt doesn’t define you, and you can manage student loan repayment while setting aside some of your income for other goals.

It’s also important to realize you’re not in the student loan struggle alone. More than 44 million Americans are dealing with student loans.

By sharing your successes and setbacks with friends and family, you can support one another as you work toward freedom from debt.

This post was written by Rebecca Safier. Rebecca writes for Student Loan Hero about education, careers, and other personal finance topics.