[MysticLlama]

There is also something to be said about investing for the long haul and adding some stability.

We bought a house we wanted to live in for the long term, vs. the whole "starter house" syndrome. Just sticking to the loan with a few extra bucks paid in here and there will get it paid off @ 55, which should make the retiring at 60-65 much easier.

To many people try to move up over and over and never get past the paycheck to paycheck thing. (self included sometimes, but trying to grow up)

That whole stealing and redistributing 401ks thing is a real worry though. I contribute a little to a Roth, but I'd rather not pay the taxes now than *hope* they don't change the rules on the Roth later.