My wife and I have no credit card debt — hell, we have no consumer debt at all, from any source — we own our house outright (i.e., no mortgage or home-equity line of credit), and we live within our means. It’s that simple.
The problem is we will have to pay to save these leeches
Yes you will. That is a given.
Over the years, I've built up a 401(k) into 7 figures but I know that it will eventually get seized to pay for those who never saved at all. As I get closer and closer to 59 1/2, the more tempted I am to just cash it all in, pay the penalty, and go live on a beach for the rest of my life.