I've been on both sides. Since getting my undergrads in Comp Sci and MIS I make more money than I ever thought I would. Before this I got a job driving buses for the city making ~$10.50/hr and I thought that was all the money in the world.
Being on both sides is interesting, and in some ways I'm thankful I lived off a low without even a high school degree just for the life experience. I still ride the same bicycle, drive the same car, etc. I try not to forget how much a dollar is worth but it can be hard sometimes.
My life back then was far harder and far more stressful. It's hard being in front of people (food service worker) and dealing with customers for a lot of us -- it takes an emotional toll. I have a fairly lax schedule now and make almost eight times as much money. I hope that someday anyone can make a living wage if they work hard, whether they flip burgers or write enterprise Java spaghetti code.
And yes I use IntelliJ which makes Java very very bearable.
This is right on the money. Going to uni felt like an extension of high school -- same students, same teachers. Nobody ever seemed like they wanted to be there; they just wanted to grind out their Bachelor's: an educational milestone no longer seen as optional.
Of course, it goes without saying that things are a little different in technology. Many job listings I came across required a BS, but an equal amount did not (or added the caveat 'or equivalent experience'). I'm currently happily and gainfully employed with no degree from a university.