Debt considered acceptable because of student loans

According to a recent report the popularity of student loans has made debt in the UK seem even more acceptable.

According to the financial education charity Credit Action student loans have become such a norm that being in debt has become something of a fact of life. And according to officials from Credit Action these student loans have nothing to do with a need for money, but more to do with the easy access to student loans.

One official from Credit Action described student loans as ‘government endorsed debt on a massive scale’. Of course, students can find themselves in need of financial aid at some point during their education, but the easy access to student loans has resulted in many students just taking out loans for the sake of it rather than through real need, placing them on a downward debt spiral that could lead to problems later in life.

According to Chris Tapp from Credit Action there is not enough caution exercised with student loans, and the easy access to this type of finance has made debt appear to be acceptable even for the younger generation. With consumers levels in the UK at sky high levels this has raised concern amongst some charities and campaign groups, as those in their late teens and early twenties begin a debt ridden life before they have even completed their education.

According to Mr Tapp student loans enable students to live lifestyles that are beyond their means – something that they then become used to, and something that many have to continue funding through further finance, as their initial jobs after leaving college or university is unlikely to be a high paying one.

Tom Smith
17th June 2007

Tags: Loans, cheap, money, education, credit, action, rate, student, debt, cash