At the age of 35, I am FINALLY pulling the last of my law school student loans out of default. I messed up quite a few financial aspects of my life in my 20s. I'd love to try to explain why, but it would just sound like an excuse. For lack of a more intelligent reason -- I was immature and I thought that 30-years-old was something I would never see. I have paid dearly for my mistakes, and for all my talk of buying a house, the truth is that without my wife's good name I wouldn't even be able to rent. But I have worked my butt off for the past 5 years to make good on my obligations. And I'm doing it. Fiscal responsibility is within every kid's grasp -- they just need to realize that it's important. I hope it doesn't take your daughter as long as it took me. But even if it does, life is a very forgiving thing, if you try to earn it's forgiveness. Banks are even more forgiving, if you work hard and cough up the dough.

Al