{"id":5918,"date":"2014-03-24T10:00:17","date_gmt":"2014-03-24T14:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/canadianbudgetbinder.com\/?p=5918"},"modified":"2025-02-12T11:27:38","modified_gmt":"2025-02-12T11:27:38","slug":"wise-stay-home-pay-student-debts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digitalskyweb.co\/canadianbudgetbinder.com\/2014\/03\/24\/wise-stay-home-pay-student-debts\/","title":{"rendered":"Is it wise to stay home and pay off my student debts?"},"content":{"rendered":"

I WANT, I WANT, I WANT<\/span><\/h2>\n

Ah, the student debt fever<\/strong> doesn’t hit until school is done and reality hits the young adults of today. End of the school year 2014 is quickly approaching which means many graduates will be free from their education but not from their student debts.<\/em><\/p>\n

Today’s post is based on a question in the CBB mailbox from a student fan who was looking to me and all of you for some advice on what he\/she should do after University because of student debt load.<\/p>\n

It’s funny how many people when given lump sums of money or money in general will live in the moment especially if they don’t have any savings to back them up.<\/p>\n

The feeling of happiness that money brings to most people overrides anything that will happen after the fact such as paying it back.<\/p>\n

I know a friend of ours who year after year gets in a financial bind and has to get a loan from whoever is silly enough to give it to them.<\/p>\n

In the months leading up to actually finding someone to give them a loan to pay off their debt they are miserable, have no money and complain about having no money to pay debts off so they need to find a loan.<\/p>\n

The minute they find a loan it’s like their entire world does a 360 as if they won the lottery. No, you still need to pay that money back. Once they come off their cloud loan 649 and the bills come rolling it the cycle starts all over again.<\/p>\n

You can attribute the same feeling at Christmas time when shoppers are raiding the malls with credit card in hand, the fancy shiny decorations, Christmas lights etc. take over their brains and they shop until the credit card is maxed out.<\/p>\n

It’s not until January hits that they come down from that cloud and realize, what have we done?. The miserable, depressed people come back to earth and have to find a way to pay down credit card debts.<\/p>\n

There are no two ways around debt whether you accumulate it as student debts or after school. When students go to University and College they are bombarded with deals from credit card<\/a> companies and store credit cards. Why? They know they are vulnerable and why not start them off on the wrong foot?<\/p>\n

University and College students and credit card debt go hand in hand. It makes some students feel like adults with prestige to whip out a credit card but to be honest, I’d say having cash in the bank would make me feel better than saying charge it.<\/p>\n

If they are silly enough not to understand how to manage money then you can bet someone will swoop in and say hey, we’ll take advantage of that. Are they really taking advantage though? Not really.<\/p>\n

It’s up to the student to know how much student debt they can afford to accumulate and what they hope to do after to pay back that student debt. Living life with terrible credit <\/a>if you can’t pay back your loans is not a place you will want to be in especially when you have the means to control that debt accumulation by simply not spending money on crap.<\/p>\n

I’m not sure if parents go over any type of life lessons before the kids head off to school, especially when it comes to money but my advice to any parents out there, do it.<\/p>\n

If you are parents who are deep in debt yourselves and have no idea where to start financially find someone who can help not only yourselves but your children. Maybe you need financial motivation <\/a>and for many that involves a kick-start by someone going over their financial history and telling them where they are going wrong.<\/p>\n

The best thing you can do is teach your children that accumulating OSAP loans<\/a> is one thing but digging themselves a grave with credit card debt buying booze, clothes, and stuff is another.<\/p>\n

Sometimes it’s hard to come off that cloud when you are in school because it’s a long ride sometimes years. What is the average student loan debt?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I can’t tell you that number but for most students who go to College and University they are coming up with enough OSAP student loan debt that may just take them years to pay off if they pay the minimum payments.<\/p>\n

Sure you can pay your OSAP loans off faster but that’s only if you have the cash to do it. Don’t assume that after University you will be making a 6 figure income either, time to wake up.<\/p>\n

Student debt<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Student-debt-asian-graduate\"<\/p>\n

My reader wants to know if he\/she should stay home and pay off their student debts before venturing out into their own apartment to live life as an adult.<\/p>\n

My answer would be if your parents don’t mind then go for it. If they are willing to help you get your student debt under control and you are committed to getting rid of that student debt as fast as possible then accept that offer.<\/p>\n

Life isn’t going to run away, and if you meet the love of your life than they should understand why you are still living with your parents. If they are financially savvy themselves they will support your efforts to get rid of any debts before moving forward in the love and relationship departments such as moving in together or marriage.<\/p>\n

Living with your parents is not a bad thing to pay off student debt but you also don’t want to take advantage of your parents.<\/strong> Remember that your parents have bills to pay and have to go to work every day as well.<\/p>\n

Nothing in life is free. Not everyone is lucky to have parents to pay for their education so they are left with OSAP loans and other student debt to pay off.<\/p>\n

This is a great time to put that budget into play especially if you never used a student budget when you were in school. A budget will save you financially if you aren’t able to keep afloat on your own.<\/p>\n

You can download my free excel budget spreadsheet <\/a>to get you started and read my 10 step budgeting series<\/a> to give you an idea of where we began with our budget.<\/p>\n

There are people who don’t need a budget but for many a budget is a life saver. Without a budget we wouldn’t be where we are today in terms of our debt-free status and net worth.<\/p>\n

If your parents ask you to pay for a bit of rent or food then oblige because if you don’t pay them you’d have to pay someone else. They are not being mean they are teaching you life lessons. Trust me when I say it will benefit you down the road.<\/p>\n

Moving home<\/span><\/h2>\n

I moved back in with my parents for a while at one point in my life before I moved to Canada and I paid them rent but I also did some renovations for them around the house.<\/p>\n

I’m a handy guy and I love renovating spaces in homes. Think of ways you can help your parents where they might have to hire someone. If you have the skills they are looking for they may just hire you like my parents did.<\/p>\n

I bartered my skills to pay off living with them even though I didn’t have any student debt to pay back. When I went to University I paid my way without any student debts by working in the summers and throughout the school year. I was frugal with my money even though I wish I had used a budget but I still made sure I didn’t waste it.<\/p>\n

This is also another option for students especially if you can find a part-time job that is flexible with your school hours. The faster you can get rid of that school debt the fast you can get on with your life without having the burden of debt hanging over your shoulders.<\/p>\n

Student debt doesn’t have to be scary unless you make it scary by accumulating more than you need and not doing everything you can to pay it back.<\/p>\n

Stop thinking you need to live the dream when you are done school because for most that never happens. It has nothing to do with being uncool if you live with your parents. Who cares? You will be the last one laughing if you have little to no debt when you venture out on your own.<\/p>\n

Even if you don’t have the option to move back in with your parents, rent a room if you have to instead of an apartment. Whatever option costs you less to pay down your student debts, think about that option.<\/p>\n

Know what is right for you and think clearly because these debts may affect the rest of your life or a good chunk of the years where you should be building wealth.<\/p>\n

Keep your goals in place and you will walk many miles longer than those who think they must have the house with the white picket fence, boats, vacations, clothes etc before their financial time.<\/p>\n

How did you pay off your student debts fast? Did you move back with your parents? What advice would you give to this student reader?<\/p>\n

\"Money-Quote-Logo-CBB\"<\/p>\n

Are You New To Canadian Budget Binder?<\/strong><\/p>\n