[Perfectlap]

NOT living with debt certainly lowers your stress level. But when you realize that $30,000 cash diversely invested in real estate, stocks, bonds will be exponentionally greater thirty years from now you have to know that the elusive "debt free good feeling" is a luxury in itself! You are leaving allot of retirement money on the table by putting the cash in another man's pocket and driving home with a smile. One very expensive smile really.
The number one thing financial advisors preach is the benefits of time. every year that you tie up cash in non-appreciating investments, is that much more cash you have to kick in to get the same return in thirty years. They also preach that even if you are in your 40's you should never think its too late to invest, people are living longer and the world is getting more expensive.

My father used to always say "a guy who makes $100,000 goes out and spends half his income on a car isn't very wealthy" He has never paid more than $5,000 for a car, EVER... even though he was more than able to buy a really nice car.