Reply #9: I've never had anything but a fixed rate mortgage

[Zywiec]

and I'm on my fourth house in the last 20+ years.

I always knew what my payment would be, and what I could afford. If I took a loan that was 50% of my income, I did so knowing full well I would not be doing much other than living in my house and paying bills.

Everyone wants to live in a huge McMansion and feels entitled to it, regardless of whether they have the money.

Whose fault is it that this country has a record high level of credit card debt? Is that also the fault of the credit card companies?

People need to live within their means, even if that is not how they would like to live.