Question

Update
The first time the user makes a choice such as “1” the menu is displayed again. The next time a selection is made the payment information begins to cycle. After the cycling is complete and the menu is displayed again, it works as it should. Also, the first two years are output instead of just the first when a selection begins to cycle, but then outputs one year at a time as intended.

//create scanner object for choosing a loan, then prompt for and accept input
    Scanner choose = new Scanner(System.in);
    String choice;
    System.out.println("\nType 1, 2, or 3 and press enter to see the monthly payment information for the respective loan. To end the program type \"end\".");
    choice = choose.next();

    //cycle loan 1 payment information
    //create scanner object to advance to the next year's payments

    //loop for cycling payment information
    //initialize loan principal to variable

    while (!"end".equals(choice)) {
        System.out.println("\nType 1, 2, or 3 and press enter to see the monthly payment information for the respective loan. To end the program type \"end\".");
        choice = null;
        choice = choose.next();
        if ("1".equals(choice)) {
           //calculation code
                    }
                if (j < 6) {
                    System.out.println("Press enter to get the mortgage information for year " + (j + 2));
                    choice = choose.nextLine();
                } else {
                    System.out.println("Congratulations, your mortgage has been paid off.");
                }

            }

            choice = null;
        }
        if ("2".equals(choice)) {
            //calculation code
                }
                if (j < 14) {
                    System.out.println("Press enter to get the mortgage information for year " + (j + 2));
                    choice = choose.nextLine();
                } else {
                    System.out.println("Congratulations, your mortgage has been paid off.");
                }

            }

            choice = null;
        }
        if ("3".equals(choice)) {
            //calculation code
                }
                if (j < 29) {
                    System.out.println("Press enter to get the mortgage information for year " + (j + 2));
                    choice = next.nextLine();
                } else {
                    System.out.println("Congratulations, your mortgage has been paid off.");
                }

            }

            choice = null;
        }
    }
    choose.close();
}

}

Answer 1

I can see three issues upfront:

1. You don’t need two scanners for System.in stream. Remove this statement Scanner next = new Scanner(System.in); and use the choose instance.

2. If you close your input scanner as next.close();, it closes your input stream System.in as well and you may not be able read the stream again. Make sure you close the stream only when you are completely done with your program.

3. Use equals method to compare the condition in while as while(!"end".equals(choice)). Put the literal "end" as first argument will take care of the null value of choice.

EDIT:

Your modified code at high level:

    Scanner choose = new Scanner(System.in);
    String choice= null;
    int j = 0;
    while (!"end".equals(choice)) {
        System.out.println("\nType 1, 2, or 3 and press enter to see the monthly payment information for the respective loan. To end the program type \"end\".");
        choice = choose.nextLine();
        if ("1".equals(choice)) {
           //calculation code
               if (j < 6) {
                    System.out.println("Press enter to get the mortgage information for year " + (j + 2));
                    choice = choose.nextLine();
                } else {
                    System.out.println("Congratulations, your mortgage has been paid off.");
                }
            choice = null;
        }
        if ("2".equals(choice)) {
                if (j < 14) {
                    System.out.println("Press enter to get the mortgage information for year " + (j + 2));
                    choice = choose.nextLine();
                } else {
                    System.out.println("Congratulations, your mortgage has been paid off.");
                }
            choice = null;
        }
        if ("3".equals(choice)) {
                if (j < 29) {
                    System.out.println("Press enter to get the mortgage information for year " + (j + 2));
                    choice = choose.nextLine();
                } else {
                    System.out.println("Congratulations, your mortgage has been paid off.");
                }
            choice = null;
        }
    }
    choose.close();