the part that always gets me is that these kids have a sense of a future and that there's room to eff up: the universe will forgive you. i see the rob lowe character as going in a tragic downward spiral, but instead he is redeemed by the end of the film. real life isn't quite so forgiving.

Alec wasn't a politician, he was a legislative aide. They make lousy money.

Jules was in debt, though. A collection agency took all her furniture, and she'd advanced on two or three paychecks, so she didn't have any income for awhile. She had expensive habits but was ultimately living beyond her means. Alec and Leslie were a politician and architect respectively, who were sharing a nice one-bedroom apartment, and we presume, not spending extravagantly.

I'd say Jules gave the illusion that that was well off with that swank pink apartment and clothes. Alek and Leslie's pad was pretty big, too. At least Kirby and Kevin seemed more in line with the times with one driving a bike around town and the other wearing the same clothes over and over (while sharing a small place). I remember having a total of two shirts and a hoodie back then and being one of the few of our same-aged friends at least living out of home.

"for recent college graduates"
ever seen 'girls'. lena dunham is complaining about HAVING TO GET A JOB. she didn't go to georgetown either, the the 'rents are predictably filthy rich.
what's fascinating to me about this film is that these people are, like, employed and talking about getting hitched and sh/t. my friends are all like, "maybe i'll be able to pay off my loans".

Exactly. I don't understand the OP's point on this one. Maybe it was the clothes that made them appear more successful? But, in the 80s when people graduated college they got jobs, moved out of their parent's house and into apartments, and dressed as "adults." I remember when I graduated college in the early 90s, my aunt gave me these blouses with bow ties at the collar and long wool Pendleton skirts. It wasn't like today when everyone wears jeans and converse to work.

Wendy's Character still lived with her parents; Billy was always broke and borrowing money; Jules was in credit card debt, Kevin & Kirby shared expenses living with each other; as well as Leslie & Alex.

Either that or he got in on Daddy's coattails. Or he could have been a good student in high school who went wild in college. I saw this happen more then once.

Wasn't he a jock? Or am I getting this confused with another movie. If he is, then I'm thinking sports scholarship.

Billy went to Georgetown? How did a flake like him get in to a major school like that? Must've been a legacy admit.
toh devres tseb hsid a si msacras

They went to Georgetown University. Their families have money. Yes, unrealistic that they ALL have tons of ready cash upon graduation, but not impossible.
Besides, it seemed to me that Jules got her money and drugs etc by using her body. Clearly the saxophone guy needed money.