Changes

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Doesn't matter what food costs when you run out of money after the rent and all the other bills are paid.

It's an educational experience living on ~$5k a year and having to maintain a 3.0 GPA to keep it.

Sounds like when my wife and I first got married and had a house and car payment and were still going to Jr Collage. I used up all the money I had for the down payment. I remember eating pot pies for months. If you bought a case of them they gave you a discount.

However struggling paid off down the road. Taught us some good lessons

One thing for sure - you learn how to cook on the cheap!

[robert.]

I think it is harder now. The struggle is real!

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I think it is harder now. The struggle is real!

It's worse now since at the end of the school phase, you still don;t have a job and do have a pile of debt that is designed to last forever.

[robert.]

Maybe higher education is a bad choice for some. I have some friends. Their kids owe $60,000 +. Some of the figures are staggering. With their $14.00 an hour job they will never get above water. Most of them think or hope they will find a job . That pays of their student loans. A 60g sign on bonus.Good luck

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Maybe higher education is a bad choice for some.

I have no doubt that this is true.

[HONDO74]

I think it is harder now. The struggle is real!

It's worse now since at the end of the school phase, you still don;t have a job and do have a pile of debt that is designed to last forever.

I not so sure these loans were ( designed ) to last forever. Once thousands of young people found out they could get these easy loans the price of tuition escalated dramatically so now they come out of school with thousands of dollars of debt and a degree that won't get them a very substantial job to pay off that debt.

When I started Jr Collage I wrote a paper about how I thought Collage was not for everyone. But that was back in the days that you didn't need a collage degree to work at McDonald's.

I was also a science major when I started collage. My goal was to be a marine biologist. After the first year I switched over to a business major. My dad suffered his 1st heart attack and had to retire and he and mom we moving to a retirement community so I would be 100% on my own. About the same time they discovered that I had valley fever....

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I think it is harder now. The struggle is real!

It's worse now since at the end of the school phase, you still don;t have a job and do have a pile of debt that is designed to last forever.

I not so sure these loans were ( designed ) to last forever.

The loans that my two kids took on are designed and structured just that way. Relatively low interest so you don't really feel the pain like the 18% on your credit cards, so they are always tempted to take on another and another loan......and then you forget to make a payment or 30 and the interest just piles up. Unemployment might low but a lot of those jobs are low end, part-time under 40 hour w/o any benefits that you need 2 of to make ends meet. My son drives a truck on his day off just to kill off that student loan.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Coronavirus looks to be a real mess looking at the papers in The Lancet - might not peak until April - and might have serious impact on the world economy.

Nothing like a nice little pandemic to shake things up.

[HONDO74]

It's worse now since at the end of the school phase, you still don;t have a job and do have a pile of debt that is designed to last forever.

I not so sure these loans were ( designed ) to last forever.

The loans that my two kids took on are designed and structured just that way. Relatively low interest so you don't really feel the pain like the 18% on your credit cards, so they are always tempted to take on another and another loan......and then you forget to make a payment or 30 and the interest just piles up. Unemployment might low but a lot of those jobs are low end, part-time under 40 hour w/o any benefits that you need 2 of to make ends meet. My son drives a truck on his day off just to kill off that student loan.

So what would happen if they tightened up the money and made the loans harder to get ?? Who is encouraging the young people to take out these loans ?? is it the schools ??

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I not so sure these loans were ( designed ) to last forever.

The loans that my two kids took on are designed and structured just that way. Relatively low interest so you don't really feel the pain like the 18% on your credit cards, so they are always tempted to take on another and another loan......and then you forget to make a payment or 30 and the interest just piles up. Unemployment might low but a lot of those jobs are low end, part-time under 40 hour w/o any benefits that you need 2 of to make ends meet. My son drives a truck on his day off just to kill off that student loan.

So what would happen if they tightened up the money and made the loans harder to get ?? Who is encouraging the young people to take out these loans ?? is it the schools ??

Schools are certainly involved. No interest in tightening them up - the more on the hook; the more money they make. Not unlike my undergrad school; 25% attrition rate freshman year; they just pulled in a replacement pool after the 1st semester, filled the holes, and took their money.

I'd like to see the loans tied to area of study - put an incentive into needed areas.

[HONDO74]

Coronavirus looks to be a real mess looking at the papers in The Lancet - might not peak until April - and might have serious impact on the world economy.

Nothing like a nice little pandemic to shake things up.

From what I have been reading it is having a significant impact on China's economy.

[rogruth]

A couple of disorderly comments.
I taught 43 years full time and 6 part time.
I NEVER encouraged a student to go to college just to be able to say that I was able to get so many students into a program.
Yes, I was a band director but I taught a lot more than band and music in my classes. I have been upset for some time
at so many students being sent to school who could not afford to go but borrowed much money to do so and by the idea
that so many push today that everyone needs to go to college.
I'll stop because this will turn into a too long rant.

[HONDO74]

A couple of disorderly comments.
I taught 43 years full time and 6 part time.
I NEVER encouraged a student to go to college just to be able to say that I was able to get so many students into a program.
Yes, I was a band director but I taught a lot more than band and music in my classes. I have been upset for some time
at so many students being sent to school who could not afford to go but borrowed much money to do so and by the idea
that so many push today that everyone needs to go to college.
I'll stop because this will turn into a too long rant.

Roger, I agree with what you just posted. It's always good to have a former teacher provide some interesting perspective on the subject ..

[rogruth]

We are hearing much about the Corona virus ( 1 word or 2? ) except for just what it is.
Not much about what to watch for or to do or not do except don't go to China.

Rufus,
Could you please help us, at least me, in understanding a little more about this?
Laymans terms if possible.

[robert.]

Coronavirus looks to be a real mess looking at the papers in The Lancet - might not peak until April - and might have serious impact on the world economy.

Nothing like a nice little pandemic to shake things up.

Im glad you mentioned this. I wanted to post about in the morning. I think it’s BS. Something appears real fishy. Why is this getting so much attention? 35,000 people apparently die in the usa from the flu. Now 400 die world wide an it’s a pandemic!