Hello all! I have officially 4 days left at work until my staycation so it’s getting real around here 🙂
I’ve noticed a lot of new readers and subscribers lately and I just wanted to thank you all for checking out my little corner of the internet and taking the time out of your day to engage with me. Whether you comment or not, I really appreciate everyone who takes the time to read my blog.
With that being said, I realize I never told you guys the actual story behind my student loan debt. I just mentioned that I took out loans to get through college which is true, but that’s the short version. I find that with debt we seem to beat ourselves up about how much we owe and neglect to notice how much we don’t owe. For example, that last minute school change or that semester you took off could have saved you a couple thousand dollars off your student loan balance easily.
The truth is, I could’ve and would’ve taken out way more than $20,000if it wasn’t for the man I never knew who helped me make a life changing decision.
Senior Year of High School
Senior year was exciting. Prom was coming up, and I planned on starting college in the fall. I was such a good student that I had enough credits to graduate early in January so I was excited about getting extended time off after 12+ years of going to school each year.
I already knew what college I wanted to go to and I had everything planned out in my head (at least I thought). Even though it seemed like I had it all together, I was nowhere near being the perfect teen. Sometimes I argued with my mom and didn’t listen to my parents. Sometimes I had the audacity to think I knew better than them. You know, normal teen stuff.
I was the 2nd oldest of five children and knowing that my parents hadn’t saved anything to help fund my college education, I knew I would have to rely on financial aid. That’s why I had my heart set on a state university not too far away. My mom supported me attending an affordable state school and we arranged to attend an open house in the spring.
When we got there, we watched a little welcome orientation program about the school and all its glory, then we went to the main event that seemed like some sort of informational fair. We stopped at the first table to talk to a man and after I introduced myself and the area of study I was interested in majoring in, he said something to my mom and I that shocked the heck out of me.
“You don’t need to go here in the fall. Go to community college first and then come back here in two years.”
After an awkward silence my mom agreed with this stranger and told us we should head back home.
I Was Pissed
I had organized the visit carefully and we came all that way just to have a random stranger tell me what he thought I should do with my life, and my mom had the nerve to side with him as if his word was the law. Who the hell did he think he was?!?!
I didn’t understand how hanging out at community college for a few years was going to help. I knew exactly what I wanted to study, found a nice affordable state school, and just couldn’t wrap my head around how it still seemed too expensive for me to attend somehow.
Looking back, I didn’t understand a lot of things about college. I didn’t know that the ‘estimated tuition’ on the university’s website that I was basing my educational expenses off was just that, an estimate. I didn’t factor in the cost of housing, books and materials, extra fees, and how the tuition increased each year. Since I sucked at standardized tests and didn’t score so well on my ACT, I didn’t realize how much taking useless remedial math courses in order to get to college level math would cost me. There were a ton of hidden expenses associated with college that I knew nothing about at 18 and who could blame me?
I Ended Up Listening to the Random Guy
Whether I consciously obeyed his advice or not (my guess is not), I went to community college for two years and took all my general education courses there. I graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Communications and transferred to the school I initially intended to attend.
As a transfer and a junior, I was more aware about the costs associated with college and how student loans worked. I still took out loans to get by, but it was not nearly enough as it would have been had I gone to that university freshman year.
Some of my peers took out $40,000-$50,000 in loans easily upon graduation after four years at that school. I was happy I didn’t go that route, and I still ended up getting a wonderful college experience as a transfer. I personally don’t think having a good time in college and meeting friends is worth several thousands of dollars.
I also realized that ‘gen-eds’ were a perfect area to cut college expenses because everyone took them and it didn’t really matter where you took them; they all transferred 99.9% of the time. I was also happy to expose the myth that every employer cares about where you went to college. My current employer never asked to see my degree and just took my word for it.
After I pay off my current debt, I can pursue my other goals and if I ever choose to go back to school for an MBA I’ll organize a plan to pay for it without loans. I’m grateful for my debt and what being in debt has taught me, but I’m also grateful for the debt I didn’t accumulate because it’s changed my life. And I don’t want to give my stubborn teenage self all the credit for my decisions that got me to this point so I’m grateful to the random but very blunt man who gave it to me straight when I wasn’t trying to hear it from anyone else.
Has a stranger ever given you some life-changing advice that started to hit home with you? If you have debt, are you grateful for the amount you don’t owe?
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simplecheapmom says
Wow, that was very good advice! My university planning was done by my sister when I was picking my high school classes. It actually turned out pretty well!
Chonce says
My sister helped me out a lot too! I looked up to her a lot because she actually managed to graduate from college debt free but I just took a slightly different route 🙂
Tonya@Budget and the Beach says
I can’t think of anything off hand but I’m sure it’s happened. that was interesting he said that but did he ever said why he said that? Glad it saved you so much money though!
Chonce says
No he never really explained himself but I guess it doesn’t matter, because it worked 🙂
thedailywhisk says
I’m glad that advice worked out for you. I can’t remember any random advice, but I’ll take whatever anyone has for me! haha
Chonce says
That’s how I feel now. Thankfully I’m less stubborn and more open to taking advice and receiving various feedback.
Jason @ TheButlerJournal.com says
Actually, I did have a stranger tell me that he could see that I wasn’t happy at me last full time job. He said that I should quit before I turn into an old man. I had been debating quitting the job anyway. That convo with that guy made me officially quit.
Chonce says
That’s really interesting. It’s funny how strangers can say something that opens our eyes to a certain situation even if they’re not saying anything special and we’ve heard it all before.
Barry @ Moneywehave says
Oddly enough it was a random stranger that changed my view on finances. Before I used to be with an investment “advisor” and I didn’t quite understand how fees worked. A random stranger on a message board explained to me that the funds I were in were just lining my advisor’s pockets. Since then I’ve taken the time to learn and manage my own finances.
Chonce says
That’s awesome! I’ve learned recently that sometimes it’s perfectly fine to take the DIY route when it comes to managing your finances. As long as you educate yourself, it is your money after all. I wish there was a way we could go back and thank the people we barely knew for their advice but I guess I tried to do that in a way through this post.
Barry @ Moneywehave says
I actually reconnected with the guy since I still talk on the message boards, I’ve quoted him a few times on my site.
shopmyclosetproject says
Hmm, this is interesting. I had the opposite situation where I was recruited to a very expensive private college..that I’m still paying for LOL! Am trying to get that done in the next three years. Community College is a wonderful way to cut expenses. It’s just hard to make it appealing to students because it can be a slightly different college experience. I wish I had talked to him too!
Chonce says
Yeah that sounds like the more common situation. I went to a college prep highschool for a bit and it seemed like all they did was push us to apply to expensive private schools, which is nice, but if you don’t have the money to pay for it a bigger issues gets created.
Holly@ClubThrifty says
That is awesome! I would love if it my kids went to community college for a few years then transferred. At the end of the day, your degree is just a degree. It won’t be worth any less if you did a few things to save money along the way.
Chonce says
Community college wasn’t amazing, but it wasn’t horrible either and I loved how much money it saved me. When I transferred to the university, I got an apartment near campus, joined more clubs, and I still got to have the ‘college experience’. When it’s time for my son to go to college, I’ll just give him the facts and try to help him out financially all I can. I absolutely love how you plan on helping your kids pay for college Holly! I’m sure it will lighten their burden and make their decisions a bit easier 🙂
Leslie R says
I can only imagine your high school self looking at that man like he’d just ruined your plans. In hindsight, it was a great choice for you and I am so happy to hear you had a wonderful experience as a transfer student.
Honestly, when I was a senior in high school, my boyfriend was going to the community college in town and I wanted to spend every.waking.moment with him. I found out I could do an early entry program based on my grades and SAT scores, so took classes at night along with him. Little did I realize I was saving $1000’s of dollars that way by not having to take them when I went to my 4 year university the following year. Cheers to my lovestruck 18 year old self. (He and I broke up my 1st quarter of my Freshman year of college!)
Chonce says
Looking back I always wish I could’ve done one of those college programs during my senior year of high school since I had so much extra time, but I think I did pretty well overall. It sucks that you guys broke up but the good part is that he unknowingly helped you cut the cost of your college education 🙂
DC @ Young Adult Money says
Incredible advice – and story. Honestly I’m so conflicted on this. From a financial standpoint it makes total sense. From the standpoint of potentially making some great (lifelong) friends your first semester, it can make sense. I’m sure if my wife and I could go back and do it all over again we would go the community college route. If my parents had paid for my entire education I wouldn’t think much about the costs at all.
Chonce says
Sometimes it is tough to put a cost on a life changing experience like college, but with the national student loan debt situation, it seems like more people should. I personally was always good at school but I never wanted to be in school forever and the only reason why I was excited about going to college was to get it over with and start my career. I’ve always been the type of person to think about the next step and I’m sure that can be both a good and bad thing. I still met a ton of friends though as a transfer because I got really involved but to this day my high school friends are still my best friends. But looking back I think that college is what you make it, just like everything else. You can go to the nation’s top school that offers the best education and student experience or you can go to a community college but it’s all about what you do with the experience and how you make the best of it.
Jessica @ Settle Your Finances says
I received similar advice, but from my the guy who would eventually become my husband. I had been accepted to a university, but he encouraged me to attend a community college first. I’m super glad I listened to him, because I paid cash for my first two years and then got a scholarship for the final years at the university. I graduated debt free. Then I decided to go to law school though.
Chonce says
Aww that’s so sweet how your husband helped encourage you. And that’s good that you don’t have to deal with law school debt AND undergrad debt.
Christina @ Embracing Simple says
That was really great advice! My Husband says his number one regret in regards to school was not going to a community college for 2 years to save money.
Chonce says
I’m thankful I was able to save some money by going to community college first, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world it I didn’t. Being is debt has taught me so much and as much as I can’t stand debt at the end of the day I’m grateful for it.
Prudence Debtfree says
I work with a man who has just turned 40, and he and his wife just paid off the last of their student debt a month ago. They had the debt you didn’t have – and they’ve spent the first 15 years of their careers paying it off. It’s a huge accomplishment for them. Definitely something to celebrate. But I like your celebration of the debt you haven’t had to pay.
Chonce says
I feel like both are great reasons to celebrate. Even though it took a while that’s still awesome that they were able to pay back their student loans!
doubledebtsinglewoman says
I am living the nightmare of student loan debt right now. I’ll be pushing 50 before I finally have it paid off. Thinking back on it, I don’t know if I would have listened to the ‘random guy’, had one appeared in my life. I’m glad you took a good path and are helping to guide others.
Chonce says
When it comes to paying off debt the best thing you can do is embrace the journey no matter how long it takes. It’s a process, but you’re definitely not alone 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!