This Commentary has made a name for itself in covering breaking, shocking news that other, lesser outlets are too timid to even mention. “One day I hope to be wealthy enough not to do a double take every time I see abandoned furniture on the side of the road.” “Wealth” is an interesting concept, and while lenders carefully watch their locks, funding volumes, and margins, and what they’re worth (STRATMOR’s current blog is titled, “Doing Business with the Agencies: The Golden Ticket?”), individuals are doing the same thing. Loan officers from coast to coast tell me the same thing: With inflation continuing to outpace consumers' wage increases, their levels of debt are rising. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, total U.S. household debt (mortgages, credit cards, car loans, and student debt) rose to $17.05T, with balances standing $2.9T higher than at the end of 2019 (before the pandemic recession). Fortunately