Re: $100,000 in student loan debt?
I cringe whenever I see a post asking whether one should borrow money for living expenses in school.
I always shout, "NO!" at my computer screen.
As I understand it, some financial aid programs "penalize" students who have money saved for education, so some families don't establish college savings, thinking it will lessen their ability to get low cost loans for college. That's a shame, because such savings can go a long way toward meeting living expenses during college.
I can't imagine taking out loans for living expenses and paying 6-8% for 30 years for groceries and utilities. But since our public education system does such a poor job of providing the basics of financial and economic education, many young people don't understand the ramifications of doing so.
I understand the desire to get thru college as quickly as possible and begin earning a professional salary, but I think most students would be better off to work full-time for a few years to save for college and living expenses, or go to school part time while working.
Graduating with crushing debt is not necessary, and most who do, come to regret it when they realize the impact it has on their post-college standard of living.
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