Student loan debt is perhaps the biggest “first world problem” of our generation and is weighing down the young Millennial middle class more than anyone without this massive debt can begin to comprehend. Student loan debt is making it difficult for Millennials to buy homes, get married, invest in their retirement and plan for their futures the way their parents and grandparents had before them.
Most high school students or other young adults considering attending college don’t actually weigh or understand the costs and benefits of whether college is a good or bad decision for them. Outside influences (namely parents) generally make the decision for college students, in some cases before the child is even born or before they grow into their own personality. College is not a choice or a privilege anymore for average Americans, it is just the next step after high school before entering the real world. A step that costs a lot of time and a lot of money.
Building a budget is easy if you know how to create a spreadsheet on excel and have a gist of your basic expenses, the difficult part is KEEPING a budget. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. In order to KEEP a budget you must be well disciplined and you must WANT TO KEEP TO THE BUDGET.