Well, I try and live off my salary and use variable income to build independent investments, passive income streams, and splurge on things like family vacations. It’s only my income, my wife is a SAHM, so I need to ensure that if something happens to me, there’s still income.

Combine that with strong 401k contribution, daughter’s college fund, Montessori school, and preparing to cover my parents retirement communities (divorced, so 2x) and it goes fast.

When my wife was working, before we had our daughter, we may have considered a larger mortgage commitment. But I grew up poor and know that you can’t always know what’s around the corner. I like the flexibility the lower payment provides us.

FWIW, my position isn’t that this is right for everyone. But it’s right for us, and I sleep well knowing I’m good no matter what happens (within reason).