More crazy nutty student debt...

[passit1]

The people who get in over their heads with student loans did not research options prior to making their decision. Any project needs to be fully researched with multiple options that have numbers for cost and time associated with them. From there the best option is usually very obvious. While moving forward with that option, leaving it open to adaption based on new information ensures it is tweaked to provide the best cost effective and productive outcome to meet the objective. If working the chosen option is not going well, considering if the original goal was correct should happen and course correct if needed.

I constantly get crap for doing this in my professional and personal life, leading me to believe that many people do not believe in proper planning. "Just get it done" is the refrain. Interestingly, when I pull the trigger the project typically is completed much more quickly that it would have been, costs less and has fewer errors than if the planning had been less comprehensive. Then everyone is all happy and forgets they were pains about the planning. No less than 3 discussions/arguments about cognitive decision bias occurred during my daughter's recent room renovation as my hubby and little miss fell in love with the first option they considered. Then when they realized it wasn't the right one, they fell in love with the very next option.They FINALLY considered 3 options complete with discussion and cost analysis (after making me crazy convincing them they had to do this) and an informed choice made. And they are thrilled with it. And it cost $300 less then their "love it gotta have it" option. (*eyeroll*)

"Just get it done" without thinking is why this woman has almost half a million dollars in debt. It's why people pay extra to say they live in a certain neighborhood and run up room/board costs when they could stay at home. It's why buyer's remorse is a phrase that exists. It's hard to choose paying more for an option that does not provide a better outcome when looking at options objectively.