This guy just moved to a jungle to escape his student loan debt?

[amastewa93]

I decided to write a whole blog post on this one today, which you can check out below. However, I wanted to get your opinions on this...

This guy (Chad Haag) moved to the jungle to escape his student loan debt. He essentially just moved to India, stopped paying, and is allowing the loan to go into default. He is literally running away from his debt.

What are your thoughts on this? To me, it is kind of infuriating... especially as someone with about the same amount of student loans as this guy. I think it is ridiculous that people do this!

[amastewa93]

Certainly education about loans could be better, but I also think some of it is just youthful ignorance and "head in the sand" behavior. The promissory note spells out all of the details clearly: when repayment begins, how much the monthly payment will be, etc. Most people just ignore all of that and figure they'll worry about it later.

And some of it is also the fault of parents and friends and relatives who actually encourage students to borrow as much as they want and worry about it later.

There is definitely a bit of ignorance going on there - most of them don't want the information IMO. And others, like you said, definitely have people close to them leading them astray.

[disneysteve]

You hit the nail on the head there! Most students aren't being properly counseled on SL debt or repayment. I knew someone from school that was SHOCKED when she had to make her first SL payment. She said she didn't know she'd have to pay it back until she had a better paying job in her field (who told her that??). I think there should be more education about loans, interest rates, and other info.

Certainly education about loans could be better, but I also think some of it is just youthful ignorance and "head in the sand" behavior. The promissory note spells out all of the details clearly: when repayment begins, how much the monthly payment will be, etc. Most people just ignore all of that and figure they'll worry about it later.

And some of it is also the fault of parents and friends and relatives who actually encourage students to borrow as much as they want and worry about it later.

[amastewa93]

The median personal income in 2016 was 31K. Broken down by demographics, the highest group median was 56K. Reality is that most people earn modest incomes. You need to choose a college path that matches up cost-wise with your likely income after graduation. The problem isn't people going into lower paying fields. The problem is how much they spend and borrow to get there.

You hit the nail on the head there! Most students aren't being properly counseled on SL debt or repayment. I knew someone from school that was SHOCKED when she had to make her first SL payment. She said she didn't know she'd have to pay it back until she had a better paying job in her field (who told her that??). I think there should be more education about loans, interest rates, and other info.

[disneysteve]

My point was that he should act on the weekends in Community Theater. "Follow your blisters, not your bliss" so that you don't end up with a pile of SL debt

The bolded part I totally agree with. I've said many times, there is nothing wrong with pursuing a lower-paying career, but you need to get an education that is financially in line with that. Don't borrow 6 figures to become a social worker. Lord knows we need good social workers, but go to community college for at least the first 2 years if not all 4. Don't go to some pricey private school.

The median personal income in 2016 was 31K. Broken down by demographics, the highest group median was 56K. Reality is that most people earn modest incomes. You need to choose a college path that matches up cost-wise with your likely income after graduation. The problem isn't people going into lower paying fields. The problem is how much they spend and borrow to get there.

[Nutria]

Of course, if everyone thought that way, pretty soon there would be no professional theater left for your son to enjoy on the weekends.

Thankfully, many of us recognize the value of the arts in our society and encourage people to pursue those careers if that's where their interests and talents lie.

My point was that he should act on the weekends in Community Theater. "Follow your blisters, not your bliss" so that you don't end up with a pile of SL debt, a degree in an economically worthless area and are poor the rest of your life, and do your bliss as a hobby.

(I'm so fortunate that my bliss is economically viable...)

[disneysteve]

From the time my son first showed an interest in acting, I told my kids that things like this are hobbies. Enjoy art, theater, etc on the weekends, and study for a Real Job that pays Real Money during the week

Of course, if everyone thought that way, pretty soon there would be no professional theater left for your son to enjoy on the weekends.

Thankfully, many of us recognize the value of the arts in our society and encourage people to pursue those careers if that's where their interests and talents lie.

[Nutria]

Why does anyone go for a degree in philosophy in the first place without a clear path of how they plan to use it? One of my older son's friend got his degree in Philosophy and one of the jobs he worked was at a call center! My son and the third Muskateer were landing jobs that made them money.

Because parents, educators, social workers, etc drum it into kids to study what they're passionate about. Heck, I've seen it recently here on SA!!

From the time my son first showed an interest in acting, I told my kids that things like this are hobbies. Enjoy art, theater, etc on the weekends, and study for a Real Job that pays Real Money during the week.

For those who whine that it'll crush his spirit, I say "bah humbug". Humans have been working at soul-crushing labor for 200,000 years and we're no more special or entitled than they are.

[amastewa93]

does the urban jungle of philadelphia count?

Ha! Plenty of people are probably there doing the same thing LOL.

[greenskeeper]

does the urban jungle of philadelphia count?

[ellisael]

the original post is hilarious and so concerning at the same time. Thanks for sharing!

[amastewa93]

So for me to see stories like this guy's makes my blood boil. One assumes that he has no disabilities to put roadblocks up from finding a job he could do. How he couldn't live on the money he had coming in while living with mom is mind-boggling. He was making more than we live on! I would have loved to see what he was spending while living with mom. I wonder how his mom felt knowing she probably won't be seeing him again after coddling him. Wonder too what he is doing for a living in India. It seems more and more young people refuse to take responsibility for themselves anymore. I wonder if his wife is working and supporting him now.

Why does anyone go for a degree in philosophy in the first place without a clear path of how they plan to use it? One of my older son's friend got his degree in Philosophy and one of the jobs he worked was at a call center! My son and the third Muskateer were landing jobs that made them money.

I agree! I share your frustrations. When I first read/wrote about it I was LIVID. Then I realized there are plenty of people doing this. They simply run away from their debt instead of working out a way to take care of it. What always blows my mind when this is revisited is the amount he ran off for. A little more than $20K in debt was enough to send him packing... I can't wrap my mind around that. Just pay it and move on!

[Gailete]

Unbelievable! When I think of my autistic son coming out of school where he got his associate's degree for medical coding and other stuff in a medical office. Since he was having trouble finding a job for what he trained for, he worked his high school grocery job and signed up at temp agencies. Finally got a part-time job and so worked it with the grocery store. Then the medical office gave him full time and he worked part-time at the store. Then he moved to be closer to his main job and save the cost of so much driving. So quit the grocery job, but as he had financial goals he wanted to meet he is working fulltime and part-time still. He had loans and through those years of balancing sometimes up to three jobs he had gotten them down to about the last thousand when my folks gave him a gift of money to finally finish them. What he did would be tough for anyone to go through and balance those jobs and paying off student loans and his car loan (no other debt - he doesn't own a credit card at 35) without having problems like autism. But he made it and I am proud of him. When the boss is away he is in charge! So for me to see stories like this guy's makes my blood boil. One assumes that he has no disabilities to put roadblocks up from finding a job he could do. How he couldn't live on the money he had coming in while living with mom is mind-boggling. He was making more than we live on! I would have loved to see what he was spending while living with mom. I wonder how his mom felt knowing she probably won't be seeing him again after coddling him. Wonder too what he is doing for a living in India. It seems more and more young people refuse to take responsibility for themselves anymore. I wonder if his wife is working and supporting him now.

Why does anyone go for a degree in philosophy in the first place without a clear path of how they plan to use it? One of my older son's friend got his degree in Philosophy and one of the jobs he worked was at a call center! My son and the third Muskateer were landing jobs that made them money.

[amastewa93]

And, by the way, she made her final student loan payment last month so she is now debt-free 7 months after graduation.

That is FANTASTIC!

[~bs]

That's surprising because most preschools (at least in my area) require an associate degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) and those that do hire non ECE candidates will make it a requirement for new hires to get their degree within X number of months. Many also offer work / study where you work at the preschool / day care during the day and go to school during the evenings and weekends.

Most English majors I know end up as journalists so that's another path for her.

depends on your state, but teaching is 1 career path that generally doesnt require above a 2 or 4 year degree (at least at first), and doesnt require a specific degree. They have stardardized tests to pass before becoming a teacher though.