<prompt> Human: So Im 31 years old with a Social Science B.A. I was lucky enough to score a government job with a decent pay currenty 56kyr and a sweet pension.I also have about 40k in a student line of credit with 1 interest thats costing me about 600 a month.Ive also just recently returned from a trip which drained my finances and left me with 3k owing, and I just got a 1k tax bill. I should be back at 0 from this debt by September.Now, about my situation - I feel like I was slowly sucked into this job because of the nice pay, and pension and benefits - which I understand is very good, but I absolutely hate it, and have been thinking of just walking away for a bit now. Problem is if I do that right now, Im screwed.Ive thought about going back to school in Sept for a Law Degree, but that means I need to apply now and ill stack on more debt. I really love travelling and since Im not getting any younger, I feel like this would also be a good time to go if I really want to Yolo. However, ive done this before and I usually get back with more debt, but no regrets.If I want to travel while keeping my pension, I need to stay at my job and work at least another year.If I want to go to school, ill prob have to quit my job for Sept, then add on a stack of debt and hooe my future salary will compensate for it.And my third option is what Im pondering and hoping to get some advice - if I were to cash out my pension worth about 43k, with half going into RRSPs I could slap 10k in my debt to lower my monthly payments, use the extra 10k to go travel I would like to worktravel for a few years then I could come back after paying off my debt for a few years, and use the 20k in my RRSPs to go back to school I can borrow the 20k and repay it interest free from my RRSPs and essentially start over at around 36-38 years old with a new career and less student debt as I have now, but no pension.My friends tell me Im crazy to cash out, but my pension will only currently pay me 200-300month when Im 60, and I dont want to work all my life just for my pension, if it means Im miserable. However, having that pension also means ill have medical and dental coverage from 60 until I die.Also, I should add that although its not guaranteed, I know my Grandfather left a significant amount of money to my parents, which will eventually go to me, and although I dont want to bank on that money, its definetely influencing my choices as a fall back So my questions are;-Is it stupid to cash out from a pension at any time, even to change careers?-Is there another option Im not considering?-What should I do? Has anyone ever restarted their careers this late in life?Thanks everyone, Ive seen some spectacular advice in this sub and I hope someone can give me the go-ahead, or give my head a shake :Edit: great advice so far, thanks to everyone who contributed. They are all answers Im sure I knew inside...just needed to be told once again. Another tidbit since Ive been convinced not to go back to school - what about opening a business, another dream of mine, is that an equally silly reason to cash out a pension?Edit 2: so there seems to be a common theme emerging. I kind of expected it and it is helping me relax a bit more. I have been guilty of making hasty decisions in the past, and this does seem more and more like it would be one - so if you all convince me to wait and suck it up, I guess I have my answer. Oh and Ive also got the hint - I wont take my possible inheritance into consideration. P.S. you all sound just like my mother!! What? You all want whats best for me?! Thanks :Assistant: I know my Grandfather left a significant amount of money to my parents, which will eventually go to me, and although I dont want to bank on that money, its definetely influencing my choices as a fall back God, I hate this attitude. It is such a slap in the face to the generation that worked to provide this money for you. I worked with a 50 year-old expat engineer that never wanted to find meaningful work in the States despite struggling a bit because he was waiting for his millionaire mother to pass away. I hope she lives until 105.Human: I get what you are saying, but ignoring the reality of this situation is just as bad IMO. I think my Grandfather would want me to be happy regardless, and maybe even especially thanks to this money, so its not so much that im taking it for granted but rather taking it into consideration. Thing is, if he was still alive and I told him my situation, I know he would have paid my education. I dont want to ask my parents for any money however.I get that I shouldnt rely on the money, but acting as if its not a variable is just dishinest IMO. I think my grandfather worked his ass off because he wanted us to be taken care of and happy - so I should ignore that its there even though the very reason that it is, would be for this kind if of situation?Im not slapping him in the face either, since I havent had or touched a dime of his money, but it IS a reality so I wanted to add it to the whole picture. Sorry if I came off sounding entitled.  <response>: I worked in a nursing home as a CNA while going to nursing school. Because I worked in a nursing home, I saw people expect to get money from their families, or medicare to pay for their families costs, and many people not get the services and cares they needed because they thought grandpagrandma had money, and they didnt plan for it. It cost us 5,000month for my grandpa mind you a vet too to go into a VA home... and he lived to be 97. While your parents may have some money now from inheritance, it is inappropriate for that to be ANY part of your decision. Your parents may decide they want to travel and blow it all themselves. They may live to be a centurian and will have to pay as a private pay because they make too much money, or have too much money. Keeping medical benefits after 60 is such an important thing... If you really want to bank on some of that money, tell your parents you want to go to law school but are worried about the cost. Leave it at that, see if they offer. If they dont then you just need to flat out ask. If they still say no, its likely they dont have all that money you think they do. Look at all the millionaires who have spent all their money and claimed bankruptcy. 