By: Kristine
I agree that most debt is an albatross, and that it's important to get out of debt to free up your cash flow and allow you more options and more long term portfolio growth potential. I also believe that taking on certain debts (like a mortgage) can help you leverage more options. Not all risk is "bad risk" if you take the appropriate measures to mitigate, and certain debts can help you get further ahead.
In the event of job loss, don't forget the power of flexibility. If you can cut things down to the bare bones, your emergency fund can last much longer. Just because you spend $800/month now, it doesn't mean you need to spend it if you've lost your job. (Unless you're already living a bare-bones life...)