#4. The Sadowski’s would have been fine if they did not refi and make the above purchases. Their original loan was only $260k. At 7% interest, monthly payment was at $1700. Dateline pointed out the husband was still able to pull in around $3000 per month doing odd jobs. Plus the wife was also working as well. They would not have been able to save, but certainly they were able to get by.

Someone made a good point in the YT comments. Fine, even if his monthly nut was up to $4000/mo, could they have rented out 3 out of four bedrooms for $2000/mo total, thus bringing down their expenses to $2000/mo?

No “worse” than living in a 1-bedroom flat, and they might have gotten to keep the house.