I turn 50 in October.
Like Big Daddy, I have little debt.
Home & vehicles are paid for.
Worked full time since age 18, never collected a day of unemployment in my life.
I've had a paycheck waiting every Thursday since 1978.
If I succeed or fail in this life, it ain't the democrats or the republicans fault ...It is mine.
Work has always been priority one, it feeds and supports every other thing in my life.
My wife of 20 years sometimes gets frustrated that I won't call in sick or miss work days for certain family functions.
Responsibility and a strong work ethic was something my father tried to pound into me even he was a rather poor role model at times.

Being somewhat intelligent with my estate will hopefully give a nice jump start to my son when my wife & I die.
This home is not mine to refinance and play with, buying new toys & trips, it is the only financial legacy that I can give my son.
I can't afford to send him to fancy colleges, he's not that kind of kid anyway.
So if I can leave this world with a knowledge that my son will benefit down the road, I'd consider that rather comforting in these uncertain times.
I hope that he can hand down my gift to his children as well.
Debt makes you a wage slave, with heavy debt a person will never know freedom.
The debt crisis in this country is frightening for so many families, hopefully it won't kill this country as well.