Fair question, and one I’m sure people will happily find a reason to crucify me with the answers. My apologies for being vague. Technical degrees (personal affinity). End of eighties to mid nineties. In-state. Yeah, things have gone up since then. But I still had classmates who single majored and racked up 5 figure debt. Seemed crazy to me. I was in school to get a better life, not live the good life in school. But it was their choice. I still had a fun college experience, but without spending nearly as much money. And I never heard my friends complain about having to pay their loans back.
After school, I found that I still didn’t mind living modestly. Better lifestyle, for sure. But being careful had become a habit. Even now, I fix my kid’s toys, buy second hand clothes, buy a used car and keep it running for years. When my business went south and my income disappeared for 3 years, it was stressful. But the mortgage got paid, food was on the table, heat was on, kids had clothes. Savings disappeared, but I had savings to start with.
Likely someone will call bullshit on this part of my story too. Screw 'em. I refuse to be ashamed of my past.
How does it shape my perception? I have less patience than most for people who live beyond their means then complain about it. Call me heartless, because in this one respect, I am.
