[ineedasername]

Okay, that's fantastic. I am honestly glad that you are doing well, there's no reason that many more people couldn't also have that financial security. But your personal anecdotal experience does not demonstrate that 2x should be the universal rule.

I am also a millennial, but I spent 4x for my house but now have a fully paid-off investment home and a 10% equity mortgage on my primary residence only because of recent home improvements and the fact that the low interest rates mean my excess money is much better used investing in an index fund instead of paying that 10% out of pocket by cashing out the investments. I have zero other debt, not a dime, not on credit cards, not on anything.

There are multiple paths to financial stability that do not have to involve a single rule. I'm glad it worked for you, but circumstances differ greatly between people.