There are industries and trade groups in the United States that make their money by generating fear around major life events. They then assuage that fear by providing you a vast array of things to spend money on as a ward against the terror. The wedding industry is one of these - "If you don't spend a gajillion dollars getting married all your guests will hate you and your memories will be ruined forever!" That movie Father of the Bride? That's a $143k wedding. Having a baby? hie thee to Babies'R'Us to see just how much plastic crap you must fill your life with in order to ensure your child doesn't grow up eating paint chips.

One need only watch TV to see the infomercials paid for by Lowes, Home Depot, Chase and the rest - between the sponsorships and the fees charged the "consultants" who appear on them, every "home improvement" show you've ever seen is profitable to the makers without so much as being on the air. Flip this House. This Old House. Property Brothers. Tiny House. Not-so-tiny house. How many hours a night can you watch charming, smiling people learn that nirvana can only be achieved by spending $30k remodeling their kitchen? That profits are easy and fun if only you buy and sell "fixer uppers" in your spare time? The joys of repartee with your favorite contractor?

The game is rigged. The rules by which they would have you play are not for your advantage. Want a reality check? Fill out a loan request from a local credit union. Do not lie. See what they'll give you to buy a house. This is your baseline "sane" spending power. Considering you have no college degree and are job hunting, you may very well be completely denied. Now find a big bank. Do the same. Fill it out any way you want. I'll bet they give you $300k.

The delta between "nothing" and "$300k" is the space within the mortgage industry is monetizing cheap money. It is driven by the difference between a thrift that is beholden to its members and an investment bank beholden to its shareholders. The one must stay in business. The other must deliver profits at all costs. The one is sustainable. The other is reliant on central banks covering their asses when shit goes sideways. They do this because the "moral hazard" introduced in 2008 taught them that they will suffer no consequences from writing this loans, and that in the end, your loss will be amortized by the taxpayer, not them.

You'll still be out of your house. Your credit rating will still be shot. It will still be fifteen years before you get another chance. And your house will be foreclosed and bought as one of fifteen dozen, at auction, sight unseen, then superficially remodeled, sold to a property management firm, and rented back to you.

Unless you keep your powder dry.