but for you it's the fact that once done you will always have the paper and therefor the opportunity to use it to get a better job and make more $$ (or at least, that's how it's supposed to work)
I would argue that it's not only about the money. Having the degree vs not having it makes a world of difference in the interaction with the people you work with. It's a layer of respect that simply makes your opinions matter more - in some cases.