[quote=svelte]
Maybe that’s true in your life, but not in mine.

With my current mortgage, I can make it 6 to 12 months after becoming unemployed without evening touching savings. After that, I can make it another 2 years on savings before I start eyeing the 401K.

If I had a huge mortgage like the ones I listed, I would have to cut those numbers from several years down to a matter of months. Quite a difference.

Size does matter.[/quote]
First and foremost, I think you’re more of an exception than the rule. That’s why we see unemployment hitting the low end hard so far. If you’re talking about the exception, then how do you know some of those people can’t do the same thing you can do. We don’t know their income/saving level. If you have their mortgage, then you won’t be able to hold out as long, but if they make 2-3 times more than you and have 2-3 time the size of your savings, then I think they can hold out just as long as you do.