No one is saying it’s always a good idea. But good financial planning for life requires planning to take on debt based on what you need near term, but can plan to afford long term.

For example, if you buy a house and take out a mortgage you will have a monthly payment that might be equivalent to rent. But unlike rent, you can sell the place you live and recoup the value of the house you own because you took on debt. But on the flip side you can plan that wrong and be house poor where you can afford your mortgage but have no money for the rest of things you need to do in life.

I mean, of course I’m not advocating maxing your credit on meebos or whatever frivolous spending floats your boat. The way you phrased it, it’s obvious that your elders meant going into debt to invest in your future.