In the comments of a recent DFA article – highlighting how we always have options to help us overcome fear and unhappiness – one DFA reader tells of his lack of financial resources necessary to receive a degree he’s interested in. My reply to his comment made me realize how perfectly personal sacrifice determines value… which is a concept well worth an article all its own.
Here is our comment exchange:
Comment: You know, I really like the way you track your financial progress openly and publicly like this. I especially like the “education loan” part, I think that’s the amount that I have to churn out if I want to get the advanced degree that I have been eying for the last 4 years.
My reply: Thank you, putting the information out there helps me to better realize my mission and reach my goals. I would encourage you to think long and hard before taking on new debt. I hope that you come away with the understanding that you should avoid paying later. If you want the education, save, work, and pay as you go. That way you value the education more because you are FULLY aware of how hard you are having to work to get it. Where as, if you get the education before paying for it, not only will you have to pay it back later at the expense of freedom of choice, but you run the risk of not valuing it as highly since you haven’t sacrificed for it yet.
What do you think?
Do you value things more if you sacrifice to get them as opposed to getting them, then having to pay for them later?