yes, both of them. i know some people think dave ramsey is full of schit, but i started following his advice 25 years ago and it has paid off. as he says, once the mortgage is paid off, the grass feels greener under your feet.
well until the tax bill shows up and you realize nobody really owns property in this country.
Maybe my hatred of debt is shaded by my Dad suddenly dieing
at 40. I was 3. Mom got kicked off the farm and her only assets
were the beef cattle and his equipment. Other issues made it worse
for her. She got by on grit and help from Dads friends.
When we bought our home a dark cloud formed over my head.
That payment, and the risk of foreclosure, dogged me until
it was over. Every financial decision was focused on my family
having a home if something happened to me.
Dad was just going through a normal day, unloading a tire from
his truck. Then, he was gone and we were left in a bad place.
Yes, I have life insurance.
But everyone isn't lucky enough to die.
Some linger. Keeping life insurance off the table
while putting more drag on the "survivors".