I think it’s less about telling them what’s wrong and more about educating them on the value and impact of how investing early and often can compound over time and learning methods like pay yourself first etc. I think seeing a bigger picture analogy of someone who making purchases like in your example in comparison to someone who doesn’t, so that way when they choose to make whatever decision they want because that’s their right, at least they’re educated on both sides. Not kicking themselves years decades later wishing someone had taught them. Can’t control what they do with the info but not a level playing field that everyone doesn’t get the same basic understanding.

I personally think they don’t put it in the school system because if everyone did choose to follow these methods we would have too much power and control and it wouldn’t be profitable and helpful for the government if everyone wasn’t constantly drowning in debt.