<prompt> Human: I was discussing with my friends where I wanted to go on vacation this summer to horrified stares Why? How can you do that? How can you afford it?. I am a college Sophomore on a scholarship and I guess it never occurred to me that I couldnt take a vacation. I am going for my BS in Math and as you can imagine the work is mentally exhausting, and travel is something I really enjoy. Current Financial Status: - About 2K in the bank for food, expenses not a problem; I cook from scratch, and dont eat out, plus 1k in an account for travel - My parents are paying for my rent this year. - I have 3K on an auto loan with a small and manageable payment and have thrown down an additional 700 on it since august. car is doing great and is my back-up transport - I am in an intense physics program and working is not an option For Next Year:- Projected expenses 9,000. I could comfortably make 4,000 in the summer while allowing 2 weeks for my vacation, and take out a 5,000 loan to cover the rest of the years expenses. I guess my question is, am I totally nuts? If I have the opportunity to work my ass off and have no loans If I worked really hard I could probably make 9,000 in the summer... is that really better than taking out a single relatively small loan around 5,000 and enjoying two weeks of vacation? Should I just be paying off my car and working really hard with no reward the feeling of not being in debt is not a reward to me? I know thats the name of the game, but I cant help but feel that I deserve a break. Next year Ill be putting in 12 hours a day for school with hardly enough time to eat and sleep. :  <response>: It wont be the popular opinion here, but Id say go for the vacation. Youre only young once and youre in a stressful major that should at least have employment prospects to pay off loans.How come you can make 4k in the summer while being away for two weeks, but 9k if you stay the whole summer? Is it just the way the position works, or could you position the vacation beforeafter the job so that you can make more money and minimize the loans youll need? 