Yes, but their house only cost them $30,000 with the kitchen make-over. A young couple with two small children, a 3 bedroom house costing 30k can be a very tight fit (my sister and her hubby are expecting their first child in May and live in a house that cost maybe $35k, is considered 3 bedroom [one of the rooms is the size of a closet, really] and it is smaller than the condo I currently rent [not by much, but still].). So... I still think, even without a mortgage, living off 14k a year with 2 small children is quite the feat. Even I make more than that (but not by much...) and I have trouble making ends meet with student loans, and I don't have kids!!!