Like most college students I borrowed money to pay for undergrad and law school. The average student loan debt in 2013 was approximately $35,000 for college grads. Mine was slightly double that. I have been out of graduate school now for 12 years and each month I’m sending multiple checks to pay off my student loans. As thankful as I am for my education, I can’t help but wonder what I could have done differently to pay for school. The out-of-state tuition was no help at all. I paid more than three times the amount of school than my in-state friends. I had scholarships, I even had three jobs some semesters. I was a nanny, customer service rep, and worked at the school. But alas, here I am. No sense of crying over spilled milk.
As I was paying the bills one distracted afternoon, I decided to compile a “fun” list of all the other things I can own or do for the amount of student loan debt I have. Well, here they are:
10 Things I Could Have Instead of Student Loan Debt
1. I could own three Domino Pizza franchises.
2. I could have bought a two bedroom rehab in Brooklyn, New York and renovated it with a modest budget.
3. Round trip tickets and five nights for the family and I in one of the world’s most expensive hotels, a four-bedroom, six-bathroom, two–dining room suite that takes up the entire sixtieth floor at the Royal Etihad Suite, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi.
4. This gorgeous 2007 Bentley Continental GT could be in my driveway right now. Imagine me pulling up to the bus stop in this baby!
5. Or for something bigger and newer, the 2014 Range Rover Sport could be mine, with a few upgrades.
6. A 3 bedroom, 3 bath cute home in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, the best city in the world and our favorite place to disappear to in Mexico.
7. A Rolex Oyster Perpetual Lady Datejust Pearlmaster White Gold Watch made of 18k gold with 174 diamonds on the bracelet plus more on the case. Bling, bling!
8. A 700 square foot flat on the outskirts of Paris with central air.
9. A preowned 42′ boat with two cabins and room for all five of us. This family cruiser would do wonders for our weekends fishing!
10. A 3.5 carat signature Princess Cut diamond in a platinum setting, F-color and VVS1-clarity.
Now to figure out how to pay these loans off before my son starts college in six years– yikes! And, I better go back to using coupons!
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