I have paid off massive debt (from hospital bills), debt which set me back a decade or more. Without it I could probably have lived a lifestyle like Donuel's. Now I sit amidst a ridiculous housing bubble generated by greed all around me. Greed of rich people getting richer; greed of the less creditworthy looking to get rich. All setting house prices beyond what I will risk to live in a "normal" home. When the bubble deflates, I will get hit in the generalized recession. I'm not crying about it - but I will continue to pay my debts while many other people who wanted to be rich sing the blues. Our society is bloated and spoiled by excessive credit. Our grandparents would be ashamed of us.