Borrowing money is just like killing -- the more you do it the easier it gets. I know people my age who don't have squat, and the reason they don't have squat is that they've borrowed money their whole lives. OK -- I also know people how are living pretty high on the hog who've borrowed their whole lives. Wanna pay $500K for a $250K house? Take out a mortgage. At least you won't completely lose you a$$ like you will on a car.