Fiscal responsibility seems outdated

I never imagined that I would feel so awful for being a fiscally responsible person. My husband and I funded our bachelor’s degrees with a couple of scholarships, our own hard earned money, a little bit of grant money and loans where necessary. We scrimped and saved, avoided grabbing fast food on the way home, bought used cars, worked part time, and didn’t spend money on spring break trips. These habits continued after we earned our degrees and our loans were paid off within two years of graduation.

My husband’s master’s degree incurred $10,000 in debt and we sacrificed to pay it off within six months. A fiscally responsible lifestyle meant simple vacations, a functional but small home, only occasionally eating food prepared by others and buying used when possible. We saved between $20,000 and $25,000 for each kid’s education, intending that they would also work to cover expenses, attend less expensive schools and/or earn scholarships. I did the same when I earned my master’s degree, graduating with no debt.

But today these fiscally responsible decisions seem like the absolute wrong decisions. It was scrimping and saving that we didn’t have to do.

Emily Allen

Salisbury Township