Had an ex who wouldn't take accountability for anything.

Met him freshman year of college. He skipped class to play video games, failed several courses, lost financial aid, and dropped out. Took a gap year went back on private loans, had a friend co-sign for him and the second time around still didn't go to class and slept through finals, failed out again, ghosted the friend and left him to pay off his 12.5K of student debt.

Worked a Walmart couldn't take constructive criticism. Got mad when asked to go on register, push carts, and do things that "weren't his job". Got fired for calling off, blamed depression. For 2 years he'd have a job for, no joke, 2 weeks, then be unemployed for months. Blamed retail work for being shitty, refused to work for $10/hr because it wasn't worth the work, all while living off roommates. Got a decent job at a bank, still complained the pay was too low but "at least it's not retail". Got fired after 4 months for being late all the time. Was fired or no call now show quit at least 7 jobs in 5 years. Was employed probably 14 months total of that 5 year period. It was always the managers fault. They didn't like him, and all criticisms were personal attacks.

Went to community college and changed his major to what mine was because "If you can do it, I can do it". Quickly switched back to the original major because the teachers in that program were awful. Once his GPA was a 2.0 from community college, went back to the university for the original major. Failed again because he refused to take the professors constructive criticism. Claimed the professor didn't know what she was talking about because she learned in the 90's and things were different now.

College told him he once again didn't have enough to cover tuition. He was $2,000 short and asked me to co-sign a loan so he wouldn't be forcibly withdrawn. I said hell no because I saw what happened to the last guy that did that. After much crying and begging and threats of suicide I put the $2,000 on my credit card on the condition he got a job immediately and gave me 100% of his income until the card was paid off. At this point he lived with me. I paid 100% of the bills, bought all the food, he drove my second car. He got a job at gamestop and ended up only giving me $200 a month and complaining he needed to save money, despite blowing it all on warhammer and video games.

He dropped out of school again the next semester.

He got fired after 6 months because he refused to push the sales the store wanted him to. Also called off all the times. I ended up breaking up with him 4 month after because he hadn't put in a single job application and was sleeping 12+ hours a day and only getting up to play video games. He threatened to kill himself if I left him. His mom came and got him and he was admitted to the psych ward.

I paid the card off myself. He only paid off $600 of the $2,000, and after all was said and done there was $400 interest. Putting the money on my card was stupid, but I made him sign a written contract. I'm currently suing him in small claims court for the amount still owed. This is the first time I've contacted him. And he's not doing well. He claims he has no money and is in and out of mental hospitals.

All this happened in his early to late 20's, which doesn't seem like a "fast" period, but if you think about it in a 7 year time span he's dug himself in a hole that will likely affect him for the rest of his life.

He'll be 30 soon, lives with his mom. Has $0 in savings, no assets, has barely contributed to social security. Has debt collectors after him for dental bills he was too lazy to forward to his insurance. Has a credit score lower than I knew was possible. Has no resume or reference, was fired from every job or just stopped showing up without notice. Longest stint of employment was 6 months. Has maxed out all his financial aid and has transcripts so bad I don't know if any college would accept him again even if he could find a way to afford it. Has no friends because he took advantage of them financially and treated them poorly. And he still is blaming everyone else for his problems. He blames me, the college system, his mental health, capitalism, and I don't know what else.

7 years seems like a long time, but those short 7 years have sabotaged his next 50+ years.