Quote Originally Posted by Dogmama
Seriously, I work at a major University with kids that are in debt over 6 figures with college loans. In many cases, their chosen profession pays almost nothing. But they refuse to cut back on cell phones, manicures, designer clothes, etc.
Plenty of my students carry huge credit card debts, too. I don't know whether it's that nobody ever taught them about compounded interest or that they just never learned any fiscal responsibility at all. Probably both.

I also occasionally get a student who will blame her poor grades on having to work to pay for school. I do applaud the effort to remain debt-free, but usually, on closer investigation, there are other expenses the student doesn't want to give up, like the ones you mentioned, Dogmama. On the other hand, unless your parents have made some provisions for paying tuition, it can be very difficult to pay both living expenses and tuition these days, not to mention being able to afford your textbooks.

It's important to make good choices, but not everybody has been taught how to do that, and sometimes you just don't have a lot of choices.