Heck. I won't have any loans when I am finished with all my flight training. And I'll have no debt at all (truck, motorcycle, etc. is all paid for). I worked hard up until almost 35 years old to make that happen. I simply could not even figure out how to pay back a $30k loan at $300/month when bringing home only around $1,500 a month after taxes for several years. The math simply does not work if you must do it all alone with no help from a significant other or family.
And amazingly, here I am almost finished with my training. I have no debt, and my complete life savings will be totally brought to zero in the near future. And even I have an empty feeling in my stomach. After all, I'll be 35-36 years old. I'll have no debt, but at this age I'll also have zero life savings to my name. And I'll be living like a hermit for a good 5 years. And most likely, I'll incur some debt along the way since I'll have to take out some kind of credit in order to supplement my living expenses (sorry, but no matter how I work the numbers, even being debt free I burn through about $2,500 a month between rent, utilities, insurance, fuel, and food).
The unknown creates that empty feeling. But I'd rather take the chance, follow a passion, and have that empty feeling creep up at times versus get comfortable with life and dislike what I do every day. You see, in the ladder, the empty feeling becomes bitterness for not pursuing your passions.
So stick with it. You'll be okay. And even if times get tough, in the long run it'll be worth it if flying is your true passion. Too many people are left on their death bed saying, "I wish..." And that's a shame. I'd rather be saying, "what a ride!"
