> People get into mortgages, in new car payments, etc, and into a deeper debt trap every time Only if they choose to. I haven't got caught up in upsizing (lif

> People get into mortgages, in new car payments, etc, and into a deeper debt trap every time Only if they choose to. I haven't got caught up in upsizing (lifestyle, houses or even having a car). My aim is to pay off my mortgage as soon as possible, and that's made easier in a few years when our childcare costs will drop dramatically (nursery is frighteningly expensive!). Our lifestyle isn't completely frugal, but we keep most of our holidays in the UK visiting friends/family, rather than splurging on worldwide travel. Most of the money from bonuses, share options (those were the days) and pay rises go towards paying off chunks of the mortgage rather than upgrading lifestyle. Good public transport (London, UK) means that owning a car isn't a necessity; buses/trains/tube/taxis will do most of it and there's Zipcar or other rental cars to fill in the gaps.