I struggled through University, financially and grade-wise. I was a "townie" so didn't really establish membership in a "study group" until Senior year. I had to w*rk at rather menial j*bs to make my way (I drove a delivery truck, mowed lawns, w*rked in people's gardens and did unskilled "handy-man" type stuff for old ladies.) So w*rk and study was my routine for 4 years. I managed some dating of DGF who is now DW. Other than that, it was pretty much drudgery for 4 years.
I didn't really know much about financial stuff. I just knew how to save. Originally, I had saved for college. I never needed a loan. I paid for books, tuition, food, etc., but I did live at home and commuted.
When I got to my new Megacorp j*b, I saved for retirement.
The "light-bulb-coming-on" experience was my orientation at Megacorp. I was sent to Megacorp and I learned about a savings plan (not nearly as good as 401(k) because that didn't yet exist.) Projections of how saving just this little amount could add up to this huge amount by retirement at 65 really impressed me.
I started my savings plan ASAP and then switched to the 401(k) the minute it was available. I "Rothed" as soon as those were available (and had opened tIRAs before that.) I was a bad investor, but a good saver. The rest is history, as I FIRED at 58 and have way more than I think I'll need (AKA I have enough.)
I saw so many people who would spend every dime and then try to get loans for stuff or use CCs. I simply couldn't understand not being able to wait for gratification as waiting/saving simply made sense to me. YMMV.