Raise your hand if you've ever been told that a fancy degree is the golden ticket to a successful career. 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️ Yeah, me too. But guess what, Adulting Crew? That's a load of crap. 💩

The average student loan debt in the U.S. is a whopping $37,667. That's basically a down payment on a house! And let's be real, half the sh*t we learned in college we'll never use in the real world. So, is racking up five figures of debt for a degree that might not even land you your dream job really worth it?

My $50K Lesson in Student Loan Hell

I'll admit it, I fell for the "college is the only way" trap. I took out $50,000 in student loans and let me tell you, paying that sh*t off was more painful than a breakup on Valentine's Day. 😩

Here's the thing: when you're in school, taking out loans feels like playing with Monopoly money. It's easy to forget that you'll eventually have to pay it back – with interest! Plus, you're paying with after-tax dollars, so that $297 monthly payment actually costs you way more in reality. $36k with interest to be exact.

See that chart? That's 10 years of your life – 10 years of stressing about making payments, 10 years of delaying your financial goals, and 10 years of feeling like you're stuck in the debt trap.

Screw Prestige, Prioritize Experience

So, what's the alternative? Ditch the debt and focus on building skills that actually pay the bills. You don’t have to chase a prestigious school just for the name. It's all about getting your foot in the door and gaining real-world experience.

Here's what we did:

• Freelancing Frenzy: My wife honed her design skills through freelance projects on Upwork, designing everything from Amazon product pages to entire e-commerce apps. This gave her a killer portfolio, relevant experience to talk about, and the confidence to land her dream job.

• Side Hustle-Hustle: I dove headfirst into side hustles, building and running e-commerce stores and creating physical products. I learned invaluable business skills that translated directly to my career in tech.

• Networking Ninja: We both focused on building relationships with people in our fields, attending industry events, and reaching out to potential mentors. It's not just about what you know, but who you know. Use free resources like meetup.com to find meetups near you.

Pro Tips for Ditching the Debt Trap:

• Think ZERO: Do whatever it takes to minimize you loans. Take only what you actually need.

• Start Early: Don't wait until after graduation to gain experience. Start freelancing, interning, or volunteering while you're still in school.

• Explore Alternatives: We’re not saying ditch school, but don’t also put all of your eggs in one basket. Consider trade schools, bootcamps, or online courses that offer practical skills training at a fraction of the cost of a traditional degree.

• Be Resourceful: Network like your life depends on it. Attend industry events, connect with people on LinkedIn, and reach out to potential mentors. Always be selling yourself.

• Negotiate Your Salary: Once you land a job, don't be afraid to negotiate your salary. Your skills and experience are valuable, so make sure you're being compensated fairly so you can pay any debts off quickly.

Your Turn:

How did you approach education and career development path? Did you go the traditional route, or are you blazing your own trail? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below! Let's learn from each other and inspire those who are just starting their adulting journey.