Is it good to be in debt? Curiously, when it comes to the average young adult’s self esteem, the answer is yes. A new study found that youth ages 18 to 27 actually like to carry debt on their credit cards. The more debt they carry, the better they feel about themselves. It’s only when these young adults turn 28 that the process reverses itself, and all that debt begins to feel like the crushing weight it actually is. Scientists say this odd finding actually makes plenty of sense when you think about it. Credit allows cash-strapped youth the ability to live beyond their means. They can buy fashions, gizmos and accessories they really aren’t able to afford, and all that cool stuff can make the owner feel pretty nifty. “Credit cards effectively anesthetize the pain of paying,” says George Loewenstein of Carnegie Mellon University. “You swipe the card, and it doesn’t feel like you’re giving anything up to make the purchase, unlike paying cash where you have to hand over bills.” (Slate)
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