Folks have become too darn class conscience these days.
Buy houses they can't afford. Buy cars they can't afford...and on and on. 
I think television has promoted that sort of lifestyle, and too many youngsters have no concept of the difference between their needs and wants. They are conditioned to overspend, and then be in thrall to whoever the lender is for insane amounts of interest on their debts. College loans are just one more example, with many out there obviously having failed to do any sort of cost/benefit analysis on their education.
If there wasn't so much sanctimony from educated people who can't unclog their drains or change the oil in their own car, directed at people who get dirty at work, maybe kids would make better choices.