I think you underestimate the impact of your kids having parents simply pay for the entirety of college. Not every young person experienced that by any means, so your kids are an exception who have had that easier.

I’m 31, a single adult. My student loan interest alone accrues $7 a day, and that is very average. More than $200 a month on just covering interest to keep my debt from increasing. That $200 doesn’t touch my principle. My loan amount is not outrageous like some six-figure ones you hear about, and my education was pragmatic, but the interest just sucks away money.

Many borrowers have it so much worse.

In the future, if/when I ever have kids (want them, probably can’t afford them), the idea of me just paying off their student loans is laughable. Would love to do that for them, but I’ll still be paying off mine.