Happiness has nothing to do with money, but money does certainly make it easier at times. The thing is, perspectives change as your life changes. At 22 years old I don't think I would've given a shit about my income in the way I do now. Back then my income meant that I could buy things whereas now my income means I can provide stability to my family. It's a very different perspective. I definitely do not think that a college degree is the only way to get to income stability. However, it certainly doesn't hurt to have one. That said, it can be very expensive to get a degree and depending on what you are studying it may not be worth it. It's certainly a complex issue. Good luck in your endeavorsIt's also incredibly funny telling recruiters and HR people who are "impressed with my resume" that I don't have a degree. I've had people end the phone call because of it. It's absurd.
It may be funny now because you're 22 years old. But I got to a place in my career where I hit a ceiling I couldn't get beyond because I did not have a degree. I ended up going back to school and getting my degree in business management. After that my earnings tripled. Was it because I was magically more proficient and had abilities I didn't before have? No. But I don't make the rules I'm just playing the game. Until the game changes, I would highly recommend that anyone that wants to succeed in this game get their degree.
Oh, I don't mean I do it on purpose as a joke or something. If they ask, I tell them - then they'll either go "oh well not a big deal" or they'll tell me I need a degree and end it. It's just amusing how arbitrary it all is. I'm able to do as much if not more than some fresh college graduate tenderfoot because I've been in this industry for years, but he's gonna win over me because he had tens of thousands of dollars 4 years ago. I can't help but be bitter about that. Well, I guess I can. I'm just bitter!
I hear ya, I was bitter too. I'm not justifying it, but I realized I couldn't change it so I bit the bullet and got the degree. I learned a good bit about business getting that degree, but honestly the amount I've learned by doing far outweighs that which I've learned in college.