Honestly? No. I don't think it's always a matter of what the student has had or has not had to pay. Not always. I say this because for instance, I have ALWAYS been a very strict on money kind of girl. Even when I was a kid -- very young, around 6 when I remember myself -- I would look at prices and NOT buy something if it didn't seem to be a good deal. Of coursee someone that age can't tell what's best, but I would tell my mom no, not to buy me something because I thought it should be cheaper. She says I was born a tight wad. Lol. I have never ever lost it either. I'm still really careful about how I spend and it's not anything that I was taught or picked up on. My parents did not discuss money AT ALL in front of us as kids. They took care of us and if we ever wanted something, they bought it. Pretty much always. So it's really about personality. Everyone is different. Someone who's had to pay their own way since they were 12 could even turn out being bad with handling their money. I know a perfect example. My partner has always had to pay for anything he ever had, even clothing. He started working at 12 and if he had something, he bought it, not his parent. Turns out, he's more lenient about spending than me! But of course that's just us.

As for a college student having to pay, I do think it can open their eyes some. I'm paying my tuiton fully out of pocket. No help whatsoever from the government, grants or anything. And I do think I maybe would've chose to take MORE classes had I went with grant money. I would. I know I wuold. If I had grant money right now, I'd also be taking psychology and absolutely hypno therapy. But since I don't, I chose to go with the one thing I'm most passionate about -- writing. So yes, having to pay your own can make a person different in some ways. I guess it truly depends on the person and how much they really care. Some people just downright blow their money no matter what.

I don't think I would let myself slide had my tuition been paid for by a grant or something. It's about the classes. Since I could be terminated just for doing horrible work, I don't think the money part wuold make a difference for me any in that department. I'd be making the same grades if I weren't paying my own. The work is just too important to me. I slack sometimes, but only with time, never in my work.

I guess it all depends on the person, their ability to handle money well in general as well as whether or not they're paying out of their own pocket.