The recent economy has really opened my eyes too. I know a lot of people who are unemployed, have an upside-down mortgage, 2 massive car loans and tons of credit card debt. They have lost everything and suffered a great deal of mental stress and even physical illness because of it. With no debts, it is a different story. I might feel betrayed or something if I lost my job and it wouldn't be fun but we wouldn't be devastated. No collectors at the door, no repos, nothing like that. Just tighten the belt a little and keep on going.

Every time you use credit there is an inherent amount of risk, even if it is only a slight one. For some things that risk is obviously worth it but model airplanes are not.