When I went to college, I did it the hard way. No loans, no grants, not even money from my parents, aside from being able to live at home rent free. It was tough, but at least I didn’t have debts to pay back after college.

But thinking back, it would have made a lot of sense to get stafford loans or other financial aid. I could have gotten through college with a lot less stress and spent less time there. Years were added to my time there just because I had to work to pay my way and couldn’t take a full class load every semester.

Deciding whether or not to take on debt as a way to get through college can be a very personal decision. There are a lot of advantages, such as not having to worry about where the money for each semester is coming from.

Scholarships and grants are the best, of course, since you don’t have to pay them back, but not everyone will get any money or enough money from these sources. Student loans of one type or another can really help.

One of the great things about Stafford loans is that if you qualify, the loan is subsidized and you do not start owing interest on the loan until after you graduate. The government pays the interest until then.

In the long run, I really think student loans can be worth it. You don’t want to overdo it and be hugely in debt after graduation, but as a way to help yourself get through college promptly they can be wonderful.