<prompt> Human: My wife 32 currently holds a BSN and works at hospital making around 45,000 a year. I currently make around 43,000 a year. We have 2 children, a 7 month old and a 9 year old. Our student loan debt is a cumulative 72,000 with an average interest rate of 5. Mine being 20,000 and hers 52,000. We just bought our first home for around 135,000. We have one newer vehicle financed for 28,000. On top of this, our poor budgeting has gotten us into around 4,000 in credit card debt. My wife wants to go back to school get her masters degree and become a nurse practitioner. The school she wants to go to costs around 45,000. Once she graduates starting salary for this position is anywhere from 85,000-120,000. She feels that with this added income, we wouldnt have to worry about the loan payments.I am personally tired of working just to pay our debts. I feel like we could live very comfortably now if we just budgeted better and got a cheaper vehicle. Am I wrong for not wanting her to go back to school given our current amount of debt? Or would the added income payoff in the long run?Assistant: Id get a solid grip on your budget and credit card debt before adding a huge pile of additional debtIf youre not able to live within your means now, adding more debt in the hopes that in two years your income will match your lifestyle isnt a good planHuman: I agree, and have been stressing this point to her since she mentioned going back to school. It has actually driven a wedge in our relationship. I want to be debt free as quickly as possible. It doesnt seem to worry her. Perhaps I should have posted this in rrelationships or whatever.  <response>: You can find a middle ground she can do school part time while working, you can put less money towards your debts while still paying above the minimums. Its ultimately up to what you guys agree is right for you.I went the more college route. I dont regret it, but lets just say that the 120k I could be making isnt reflected in my current paychecks, while my loans definitely are. Potential salary can be used to justify pursuing a degree. It shouldnt be a justification for living a certain lifestyle. 