Most folks I know who were bad with money... had rich parents. So it didn't matter really if they had any discipline or not. They were going ot get bailed out either way, and did, repeatedly.

I can't speak to what goes on in other people's heads. But a lot of people rationalize totally distorted beliefs about money and I can't say I agree that taking on 100K of debt makes any sense if you don't have a clear plan on how to become employed and earn a salary as such to pay that back. Life is about choices and consequences... and for some reason on lemmy people feel like those things should be totally disconnected. The concept of everyone 'pursuing their dreams' doesn't really work in reality because both education and jobs are limited resources over which we compete.

There are also so many alternatives. I just walked my nephew through college application process. He could have gone to a few schools for free, but he decided those schools were 'below' him and he would rather take on debt to go to fancier schools out of pride and arrogance. That's his choice, and I hope it works out for him, but in 5 years if he is crying poor w/ 100K of debt in a 50K job and living outside his means, I am not going bail him out of his own mistake. I knew plenty of people that went to 'lesser' schools for free, and those who went to expensive schools with zero aid and f'ed themselves for life'. The former are a lot happier and chiller than the latter.

But you know what, if my nephew suddenly has cancer or a car accident and has to drop out and has 50K of debt from his choice, I'd probably feel pretty bad for him and help him out. Sometimes shit does happen that is beyond your control.