I know this is a wildly unpopular stance, but it's true so I'm going to say it - student loans will enslave you financially and cripple your ability to build wealth.

Right now, the average student graduates with just over $35,000 in student loan debt.

Add in their $20,000 car loan and $5,000 credit card debt and they've successfully dug themselves into a $60,000 hole before they've made any real money.

We live in a nation where many people are enslaved financially.

Think about it, what has all this pushing of higher education led to?

It's led to young adults mindlessly wandering into debt and expecting the student loan tooth fairy to pick up the tab.

The student loan crisis thrives upon the idea that if you don't go to college, you will have unfortunate consequences.

In other words, if you don't go to college you'll be a social outcast who lives in their parents basement until they are 30 and never makes over $20,000.

I'd argue if you don't go to college (or go debt free) you'll be at least ten years ahead of your peers when you graduate- here's why.

Debt Related Resources:

One of biggest reasons college is shoved down our throats is because if you go to college, THEN you can get a "good job."

Don't worry about the debt, you'll be able to pay it off in to time with the outstanding job you get.

Yet many college students end up taking jobs that are not in their field of study and/or that don't require a degree.

A degree is NOT priceless. In fact, so many people have a degree it doesn't set you apart at all!

Instead of going to college for four years and starting $30k in the hole, many students would be wise to go straight to work and start building a nest egg.

I know that some professions do require a degree and a lot of continuing education, but I would still advise paying cash for school.

It's not easy, but it's worth it!

Want to take an extra day or two off of work? Can't afford to do it because the bills won't be paid.

Have a new job opportunity? Can't afford to take it because you've extended yourself too far financially.

When you're in debt, your master is the lender and whomever is your master gets to make all your decisions.

Proverbs 22:7 says, "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender."

There is a reason the Bible warns against debt, because it enslaves you. God wants you have to more freedom than that.

Most students don't even realize what they've gotten themselves into until they get their first notice in the mail saying their first payment is due.

Just think, 21 years of payments, that's enough to make anyone feel overwhelmed!

You can borrow however much money you want, go to any school you want, and have no ramifications... until you graduate.

Then you're left with a mess and no idea how you're going to get out of it.

Student loans don't hurt at the time- you're in college, not paying a dime, living the good life.

It hurts when it's time to buck up and pay.

Only then do you wonder... was it really worth it?

People are waiting longer to get married. To have kids. Divorce is rampant and the most cited reason for divorce is money problems.

You'd love to start a family, but you can't afford it.

You want to be a stay at home mom, but you can't afford to quit.

Buying a house would be nice, but you can't save because of all the monthly payments.

All your dreams and goals get delayed and take a back seat because of your debt.

Digging yourself into a hole has both short and long term affects.

If you can go to school debt free and your spouse does the same, you will be at least 10 years ahead of all your peers.

Your student loan debt will not dictate when you get married, have kids, etc.

You will tell your money where to go- not the other way around.

Statistics show the average student with a bachelors degree takes 21 years to pay off their student loans.

If the average student takes 21 years to pay off their loans, that means it takes them 21 years just to break even- to get up to broke.

Keep in mind, you're not paying back the face amount of your loans, you're also paying 21 years of interest.

That being said, if you are the average student with $35,000 of student loan debt and it takes the average of 21 years to pay off, you'll have paid $49,473 for a $35,000 degree after accounting for interest of 3.5% (a low ball).

Does that sound like a good deal?

Stop believing what our culture deems "normal" , because normal is BROKE.

Student loan debt is not good debt. It's bad debt.

Student loan lenders do not have your best interest in mind. They're trying to figure out how they can make the most money off of you.

Now, I'm not against education. I think education is a great thing- for some people.

The reality is not everyone who starts college finishes, and not everyone who goes to college has a clue what they want to do. In fact, most don't.

This is why many students end up either not finishing school, changing majors (cue more debt because more school) , or finding out they love a field that doesn't even require a degree.

But, because they were told they would amount to nothing unless they went to a four year school, they signed their name on the dotted line and off they went!

Change how you think about student loans.

Whether you're saving for school or you are the person I'm describing with a mound of debt- a monthly budget is an essential tool for you.

When we started budgeting , suddenly we were able to free up more income to throw at my student loans.

To give you all the tools you need to succeed financially, I created a budget bundle that includes 45+ pages of personal financial resources.

Or, you can sign up for my free budgeting email course below that will help you create and understand your first budget!

What if students actually calculated what they can afford, and only let those schools be options? We'd have a heck of a lot less than 44 million people in student loan debt.

Trade schools and community colleges are SO underrated.

Colleges are overcrowded with students looking to get degrees in fields that are swarmed with competition. On the other hand, trade schools offer degrees for fields that have very competitive pay and jobs sit open.

I think the reason so many students shy away from trade schools and community colleges is because we're told they're second best.

We're told you should look at them ONLY if you are dirt floor poor.

Even if you only go to a community college for two years and then transfer to a four year school, you'll have saved $40k or more!

The bottom line is DO THE MATH. Choose a school you can afford.