We have two homes paid for, one in Indiana, one in Florida. Never charge anything on a credit card that you can't pay off by the end of the month, make two house payments every month. Sounds tough? Just throttle back the spending. If you think you can't afford it, you can't. Too many young people see others with cell phones, video games, tatoos, etc, and think they need all that bling too. You don't. Develope a budget, and stick to it.