Are young people ‘proud’ of being in debt?

When it comes to the question of owing money – particularly the borrowing that affects young people – I might as well say that I’m not of the puritanical, ‘put them all in debtors’ prison’ persuasion.

While some argue that the young are simply too accustomed to easy credit and don’t have the discipline to budget, it’s my belief that the necessity of some debts – student loans in particular – muddy the waters.

Yes, I confess to being alarmed by the findings by Ohio State University, which concludes that young people are ‘proud’ of owing money on credit cards and loans, especially where these have been used to pay for education. But I can’t say I’m hugely surprised.

To borrow, or not to borrow? That’s not the question

Currently, I don’t think young Brits are as laid back about debt as their US counterparts. I’m yet to meet anyone who’s happy about owing the Student Loans Company tens of thousands of pounds, or blasé about the prospect of paying back their negative bank balance.

But why would anyone who’s borrowed money to fund their education spend time worrying, wringing their hands and grinding themselves into a guilty, terrified depression?

For many, borrowing isn’t a choice – there’s no question about whether you have to take out a loan if you want to go to university. Once the decision to do so is made, I know from experience that the only option is to be as calm as possible about the ensuing debts – and what it might mean for the future.

Good borrowing, bad borrowing

Student loans and credit cards are very different beasts – but being able to properly differentiate them relies on an understanding of personal finance that, in my experience, too few young people possess.

I was offered my first credit card at the tender age of 18, having had no formal financial education whatsoever. Nowadays, many student bank accounts come with a credit card option – some of which are complete with interest rates of around 20%.

I’m not convinced that we’re equipping young people with the information they need to distinguish between unavoidable loans that constitute an investment in their future (and about which they might justifiably feel relaxed), and commercial borrowing that could trap them into debt for years to come.

With this education lacking, can we really blame young Brits if they arrive at a point where feeling fine about all types of borrowing is the norm?

Thinking of credit card, overdraft and loan debts as things to be proud of is clearly misguided – but I can understand why wearing a student loan like a medal, proving your commitment to getting a degree, might feel good.

The crucial thing is that we help the next generation of borrowers understand the difference – not to mention the consequences of failing to manage their money accordingly.