http://wsj.com/article/SB121858688764535107.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries

I very much enjoyed the article about shopping and eating. I vaguely remember being single and shopping and preparing meals only for myself on the fly. A lot of her ideas would be a good way to change-up our weekly family cooking and planning, especially her use of daily fresh ingredients found at farmer’s markets in season. Mmmmmm.

I think the conventional wisdom is right that the most cost-effective way to buy groceries is to do a trip once every week or two.

That said, the method that the linked article was suggesting isn’t necessarily bad. The expensive habits include restaurants, takeout, and not using or throwing out food you already purchased.

But if stopping at the store once a day and buying relatively inexpensive food works cost-effectively for someone, then great. I doubt its as inexpensive as shopping once a week, but it isn’t necessarily anything close to the expense of a restaurant.

Colleges will gladly let you pursue a meaningless, garbage degree in hopes of you coming back for Graduate school when you finally realize you just wasted 4-5 years on a degree that is totally useless in the real world. I’ve witnessed too many graduates who went after some easy-to-earn degree and now work as a waitress or work in a pizza shop…

my husband is at community college right now. he’s had a very good experience while working on his associate’s degree, and the cost has been very reasonable. his anticipated starting salary in the new field is equivalent to what he made when he left the old field- after nearly 10 years of experience. part of that is the specifics of the fields, part of that is the value of specialty education.

Where I am at now. After becoming a General Studies major (sorry, I wanted to party and work when I was 20, 21), I worked as an event planner and HR manager. Hating the field I was in, I am now going for my Masters in Speech Therapy. Yes, I am shelling out more for an education. But it is something that is so specific, and needed, that my rate of return is virtually “guaranteed”. Now for my graphic designer boyfriend, 2 years was all he would have needed, and been able to start earlier. After being pushed into a 4-year, he was 2 years behind most of his peers and struggled to prove that a 4-year degree with no work experience was just as good as a 2-year degree with 2 years of work experience. It wasn’t, and it’s still not, but luckily, that was a long time ago, and hopefully those struggles are over, and the difference is not as apparent anymore.
I think that there should be more choices after high school, and that these alternative choices, such as non 4-year schools and work experiences should not be frowned upon. I still think that a lot of parents and students feel that working or going to a community college is for students who aren’t good enough, but realistically, it could be a very financially sound decision.

Where are the guys? Do they figure they’ll be better off at age 21 with four years of work experience, even if it’s scutwork, than starting at the entry level after sitting in classes for four years? Or are they wary of racking up debt in the form of student loans?

Not sure I agree that attending a community college for the first two years puts you at some sort of social or networking disadvantage. Most people don’t start their major course of studies until their junior year, and so that’s plenty of time to schmooze with professors and classmates. Where I have taught, students come over from the community colleges in cohorts — they all know each other and many have formed strong friendships that last for many years beyond university graduation. The savings you gain by doing your lower-division work in a community college, especially if you live at home, can be huge. And it’s the university you graduate from that goes on your resume: you don’t list the community college; you list the school where you finished your bachelor’s degree.

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I think it is time for both high school and college curriculum to include helping students to graduate with a diploma (high school) or degree (college) and a stock/bond portfolio, some type if real estate investment, a small business that generates at least $1,000 a month, a strong credit card rating, and as little educational debt as possible.

The principle of compounding interest does not stop just because your in high school or college and that interest can sure compound quickly over those 8 years.

It’s an interesting exercise. “Sell stuff” is by far the best option because stuff can always be replaced later (if you even determine that you still need it after going without). There are some work options that basically would demand me leaving my job, but could raise the money very quickly… wait tables at a steakhouse, sell cars at your local dealership, you know, high-turnover jobs with quick hires, cash in the pocket daily if you perform, and no hard feelings if you walk away after your emergency is over. I don’t think any of that beats “sell my Wii and pocket $250-300 or so and just buy another in a few months when things are stable again” as a practical option. The “sell stuff” angle might take you all of fifteen total minutes out of your ordinary schedule, counting the Craigslist post or eBay listing and arranging to ship or transact the item after you’re paid.

If you can reduce your expenses by going to a two year college first with its much lower tuition, it could help reduce the gap. Community college in both my old state and new state are very low compared to the universities nearby and haven’t changed dramatic over the last couple of years.

Short version: Ip’s sentence was ridiculous, but inflation might be problematic – but only in the long run.