<prompt> Human: Im currently in my second year of college and just signed a lease for 500 a month. I work at the air national guard and they cover 100 of tuition at my university. Additionally I get a monthly stipend of 350 and I get an extra 200 from my monthly drills.So I make enough to cover rent, but not with much extra. Also, Im responsible for paying any fees that are not tuition. Im trying very hard to get through college without any loans. How am I doing? What can I do better?EDIT: I dont have a phone payment, all utilities except for electricity are included, and I do have to pay for gas though not for insurance.I am a computer science major.Also I work in the summer and use that for any extra expenses while in school.Assistant: You know, a little bit of college debt is not a huge deal. Taking on some debt instead of a second job may be prudent. College is your job, so you are really talking about A third job. I think it is time to look at you circumstances and see if we can improvement them.Do you have savings? What is your field of study? Avoid credit card debt, dont drink a whole lot of alcohol, read the penny saver for entertainment.Do you have hobbies? Do you have anything laying around of value to sell? Maybe a gi joe collection or scap metal? Human: So far, Im 100 debt free and I like it that way. I do see what youre though saying about school being my job in addition to the Guard. I guess I need to look at my options and determine if I can handle a job on top of everything else. Assuming I can even get hired.Assistant: I applaud you for having such a smart idea about debt but now that you have passed the first test, its time to learn how useful debt is.Like a gun, debt is powerful to hurt you if used against you but is extremely powerful if you know how to use it for your benefit. Everyone uses debt, hell, most people Would never be able to get into a house if it werent for debt.What you need to do is realize that taking on debt to invest in yourself as a prospect to get a better job, higher pay, better value for yourself is worth it even if it means you have to pay a little in interest. What you dont want to happen is that you work so hard to live life that you fail in school andor fail at EXCEEDING in school which wont put you in as good of a position as your peers who work hard in school, take on a little debt, then get a nice job and pay off that debt reasonably.Just food for thought.Human: So what youre saying is that getting a loan and focusing on schoolwork is better than not doing quite so well and getting a job now?  <response>: Yes. 