<prompt> Human: For all you people out there that have gotten some silly large debt early in life with nothing to show for it:It can get better, If you stick it through and learn from it. There is hope!When I was 18 just before moving out of my parents home I racked up 35,000 in debt from gambling and other reckless behaviours. I felt it was terrible. It took me 5 years to pay it off on my own mostly working min wage or a few dollars above. Right around the time that I had almost all of it paid off, I got a much better paying job and quickly paid off the rest. I was so used to shovelling funds into my bank account that I just kept doing that, and living frugally... I was accustomed to it. Now I have a house and plenty of savings.The debt seemed at the time like a huge mistake... But what I learned from it was how to save essentially. While all my friends were out doing what 20-25 year old people did, buying cars, traveling, having kids, partying, buying stuff I spent mostly reading and attending cheap college, sitting by campfires and focusing on the future.I still did some partying, but frankly I think the debt saved me from doing even more detrimental activities. I wont get in to numbers but, I just keep saving. I am not used to spending money.Going into debt taught me how to live frugally, yet still enjoy life. I spent many a night crying and contemplating bankruptcy or something... anything to get myself out of debt. I was depressed at times. Luckily my family was supportive emotionally. They never gave me any money, even though I asked for help... begged at times. Im thankful now that they did not. But they were always there to talk.In retrospect it was one of the best things that happened to me...What did not kill me, made me stronger.Im sure many people do not have supportive families and face other problems as well.. I realize that I wasam lucky. But just know that if you can manage to pay it off, and learn from it, things can get much better.edit:SpellingAssistant: Wouldnt it have been even better if you hadnt gotten into debt, learned that the house always wins, put your money to work earlier, and made better life choices from the start?Human: Maybe... But I dont think that I would have learned how to save and the importance of staying out of debt... Most people I know are in debt often large and its quite an issue for them. Everyone is different, and this is just me, but I feel like I might be in debt now and maybe not even have been able to save up for my down payment on my home had I not learned the hard way... Maybe Im selling myself short... I just see so many of my peers in bad positions now.It would have been better if I made better life choices from the start yes... But I dont think I would have honestly... my family and most of my friends are not very financially educated.I was in a way forced to educate myself in that regard.  <response>: I did a similar thing. Holidays and gambling and general frippery in my early twenties meant that I racked up 20k in debt. Luckily I never missed a payment or took on too much as I consolidated credit cards into low interest loans as I went. Now 37, home owner with, savings, and live a debt free existence. There is a light at the end of the tunnel - with a bit of persistence you can make it out alive and thrive : 