I drove taxi cabs to pay for flight school.
5 years in cabs, part time and full time.
Flew sky-divers in C-206s and instructed in a PA-28-140 on days off
from the cab. First full time flying job felt good.
Drove my last cab in 1982.
No student loans, and pay was ok for a young bachelor without a mortgage.
Not for everybody but it worked for me.