pretty sure that having kids and buying large houses are optional
as per the example families used in the papers who have the McMansion, two cars, one kid, plasma etc.
what ever happened to buying within means and trading up on house size as you become financially secure instead of maximising your home loan size and fitting out a large house with all new furniture and appliances
anyone who has done that and is now in mortgage stress doesn't get much sympathy
move to a country town where houses don't cost $600k if you can't afford to live in the city, put two kids in a room when they are growing up, have two $10k cars instead of two $30k cars, second hand furniture....
