Yeah, ignoring the option to declare bankruptcy or foreclose, effectively bounding your downside, seems like a major gap in this analysis. Especially as many jurisdictions usually allow people to keep significant assets (primary residence, 401ks) in bankruptcy. (Though on the other hand since 2005 US bankruptcy law obliges many filers to accept “repayment plans” for some fraction of what they owe, so it’s not quite “discharging your debt for free”.) That said I guess the most common debt for people reading this post is probably nondischargeable student debt; it makes sense if it’s mainly talking about that.
Yeah, ignoring the option to declare bankruptcy or foreclose, effectively bounding your downside, seems like a major gap in this analysis. Especially as many jurisdictions usually allow people to keep significant assets (primary residence, 401ks) in bankruptcy. (Though on the other hand since 2005 US bankruptcy law obliges many filers to accept “repayment plans” for some fraction of what they owe, so it’s not quite “discharging your debt for free”.) That said I guess the most common debt for people reading this post is probably nondischargeable student debt; it makes sense if it’s mainly talking about that.