Trying to Stay Afloat

[sSsflamesSs]

Why young Americans are drowning in debt

I haven't been out in the "real world" yet, but will be soon enough. Is it really this bad?

[xBaron Dants]

At times like this, I am very happy to live in the almost-socialist province of Quebec, where we pay around 2000 a year for college tuition.

[Sip]

It can be bad if you are not responsible with credit. Many think of credit cards as something that increases purchasing power ... that is not really true. Your purchasing power stays the same ... but a credit card is a VERY useful thing to have if used properly.

I was fortunate enough to end up at UCLA and live at home while going there ... the tuition with books was less $5K per year and I could easily afford that, my car, expenses, and insurance with working part time (it's good to know computers ) I did take something like $20K in subsidized loans over all but that was ok since I didn't have to pay the interest on it till after I got out of school. Unfortunately, most of that money disappeared in the stock market crashes in the late 90's ... but I have no complaints ... it could have been a lot worse.

But yah, if you want to go to school full time, party every weekend and go out, drive a new late model car, and dress to impress then of course you'll end up in big financial trouble in no time ... unless you got mommy and daddy to pay for it all ... in which case I'll say go for it! Spend it all.

My daddy isn't rich so I bought one pair of jeans probably every six months from target and that lasted me all through school and then some! This is especially true if you plan to go to grad school by the way. Edit: In case you're doing the math, xmas/birthday presents from family and free t-shirts from conferences and companies made up the rest of the wardrobe

[Thai-Samurai]

It can be bad if you are not responsible with credit. Many think of credit cards as something that increases purchasing power ... that is not really true. Your purchasing power stays the same ... but a credit card is a VERY useful thing to have if used properly.

I was fortunate enough to end up at UCLA and live at home while going there ... the tuition with books was less $5K per year and I could easily afford that, my car, expenses, and insurance with working part time (it's good to know computers ) I did take something like $20K in subsidized loans over all but that was ok since I didn't have to pay the interest on it till after I got out of school. Unfortunately, most of that money disappeared in the stock market crashes in the late 90's ... but I have no complaints ... it could have been a lot worse.

But yah, if you want to go to school full time, party every weekend and go out, drive a new late model car, and dress to impress then of course you'll end up in big financial trouble in no time ... unless you got mommy and daddy to pay for it all ... in which case I'll say go for it! Spend it all.

My daddy isn't rich so I bought one pair of jeans probably every six months from target and that lasted me all through school and then some! This is especially true if you plan to go to grad school by the way. Edit: In case you're doing the math, xmas/birthday presents from family and free t-shirts from conferences and companies made up the rest of the wardrobe

Very, very agreeable things to say.

[patlajan]

It can be bad if you are not responsible with credit. Many think of credit cards as something that increases purchasing power ... that is not really true. Your purchasing power stays the same ... but a credit card is a VERY useful thing to have if used properly.

I was fortunate enough to end up at UCLA and live at home while going there ... the tuition with books was less $5K per year and I could easily afford that, my car, expenses, and insurance with working part time (it's good to know computers ) I did take something like $20K in subsidized loans over all but that was ok since I didn't have to pay the interest on it till after I got out of school. Unfortunately, most of that money disappeared in the stock market crashes in the late 90's ... but I have no complaints ... it could have been a lot worse.

But yah, if you want to go to school full time, party every weekend and go out, drive a new late model car, and dress to impress then of course you'll end up in big financial trouble in no time ... unless you got mommy and daddy to pay for it all ... in which case I'll say go for it! Spend it all.

My daddy isn't rich so I bought one pair of jeans probably every six months from target and that lasted me all through school and then some! This is especially true if you plan to go to grad school by the way. Edit: In case you're doing the math, xmas/birthday presents from family and free t-shirts from conferences and companies made up the rest of the wardrobe

Seapahn is the friend I never met. What I can add to this is that if you live at home for a few years and have a job you'll be ok. Start planning and interviewing now, you'll be better off.

You'll need to think strategically about your career once you're out in the real world. Unlike in college, nobody is gonna tell you what's good for you.

In general don't get your hopes up too much. It sucks out in "da real" so far for me. If I had student loans to pay or car payments to make I would be totally screwed. However I am in good shape to pay for my own graduate education so far thanks to frugal living.

[patlajan]

bottomline: if you're a history (or art history in my case) major, you're screwed for life!
unless you marry rich hahhahaha

Psychology and music majors are in big trouble too.

[Genuine_Stud]

Psychology and music majors are in big trouble too.

Not necessarily.

Physchology majors have a wide variety of physchological fields they can choose from. If all of that fails, they can always turn to teaching. Similarily with music majors.

[GSTracer05]

Not necessarily.

Physchology majors have a wide variety of physchological fields they can choose from. If all of that fails, they can always turn to teaching. Similarily with music majors.

And art history majors.

[xBaron Dants]

Psychology and music majors are in big trouble too.

Nah, don't worry about music majors. Most of them fail at their dream of becoming rock stars and commit suicide. They don't need to worry about debts..

[patlajan]

Nah, don't worry about music majors. Most of them fail at their dream of becoming rock stars and commit suicide. They don't need to worry about debts..

One does not need to study music formerly to be a rockstar.