because he is doing the usual modular commercial tight on money gig.
To be able to start your ATPL ground studies you need a PPL.
So you do it. (45hours total)
You then get the box of books through and start studying. 6 to 12 months later you sit the exams then head off to where ever is cheaper and burn 40-50 hours.
You get the next box of books through and repeat the above apart from you don't go off hour building until you have got all 14 passes. When you have decided when you are going to train you burn the rest of the hours off a couple of weeks before you start with 150 hours on the dot.
It really is a very common way of doing it for wannabies myself included. You only realise that you have learn't jack **** in 145 hours about flying when you do your instructors course.