Half Year

So it's been about six months since we both graduated and moved on with life. And here we are. Now we have a scooter, some furniture, and no debts. That's right, all the student loans have been paid off resulting in exactly $1.59 of interest, a nearly free loan courtesy of the establishment.

In case you're interested, the average graduate that carried any loan at all owes around $25,000. That seems mighty excessive for me, but my off-the-cuff estimate for personal collegiate costs are around $50,000 (I did an in depth study of this for my exit survey where I calculated the percentage of each source of funding. Unfortunately, it is lost) while national average for 5 years at a public university would be closer to $75,000. So it's relatively right, I suppose. I just don't understand the $100k loan for a degree in studies of dead languages. Sure, do what you love, but didn't anyone teach you to do a simple cost-benefit analysis?

Like my scooter. Sure I could have paid more and been spared the hassle of owning a Chinese piece of junk that I have taken apart, and will continue to so, and replaced various parts of it but what is the fun of that? At least I know how a carburetor works now. I might be forced to dig into the engine too ere long. Doesn't start or idle very well. Fun to ride though.

So that's where we are at coming into these holidays. It's good times.