[chuckdotis]

Don't be afraid to experiment, but "partying" should be kept to a minimum and only for socializing. Also, avoid debt as much as you realistically can. If you're taking out loans for school, don't be afraid to pick up a flexible part time job doing retail or waiting tables (this helped me keep my student loans much lower than they could have been). Source: personal experience

[kristiandupont]

I partied quite hard and I don't regret that.

It can obviously be a bit hard on the body and you should avoid getting addicted to alcohol or other substances, but I don't think there is anything inherently wrong with it..

[chuckdotis]

> you should avoid getting addicted to alcohol or other substances

This is basically what I'm referring to. I had a lot of fun partying and I think it was a great way to network and to mature socially, However, I admit that I did have a couple scary moments in that I almost died from doing too much, or I realized I was addicted and had to go through a period of withdrawals.

[lykr0n]

Same & Agreed. Be aware of what you're doing, and make sure you can realistically be sober 10 out of every 14 days. Dependence/Addiction needs to be avoided at all costs.

[hdjjhhvvhga]

Personally, the amount of substances I need to consume in order to enjoy a party is inversely proportional to the quality of the party. After some time it's easy to tell which ones make you happy and which ones just leave you dehydrated and feeling bad. I believe it's about a right mixture of good friends and unknown individuals that makes it tick.

[helij]

In my opinion partying that makes you happy should be kept at maximum in your 20'. That doesn't mean you should overconsume alcohol and substances. Go out, meet new people, have fun. Travel and party at various places around the world. Experience.

I was a hardcore party type in my 20'. Some say that I overdid it but I have no regrets. I am now in my 40' and still party.

[dougmwne]

Warning: focusing on your retail job during school to reduce loans is a local optimization, not a global one. Minimum wage is low and a high salary can make very short work of loans. Study hard and work even harder on your internships. Career relevant experience is king.

Debt is a tool and nothing to fear if you know how to use it. Many fortunes have been made with debt. Many lost as well.

And the drugs, yeah that's pretty spot on. Careful with those.

[tommiegannert]

> Debt is a tool and nothing to fear if you know how to use it.

The key is knowing that you're using a tool. It seems to me that many people just start borrowing, the same way they suddenly start being attracted to the opposite sex. "Oh, it's just a mortgage, and house prices go up." "It's just my second credit card, of course I can pay it off in three weeks."

Good debt is a conscious decision, made when there's a strategy, not as a default path. Overall, it seems prudent to ask people in general to not go into debt, so they are more willing to think it through. Rather than just going with the flow because the store clerk said "you can walk out of here with both the jewelry and a credit card with a $20k limit!"

[GianFabien]

Totally agree. It is a trap to spend heaps when you earn a lot (compared to the average for your society). Living beyond your means can quickly become a compounding problem.