I`m not saying it`s the only way or the right way but other than a mortgage, try and keep as debt free as possible. Whatever you get, pay cash for, otherwise you`ll find lots of your hard earned will be going to service your debt. When I 1st got a mortgage in 1976 you received tax relief on it which made a mortgage a must have. Then they brought out Miras in the early 80`s which gave you tax relief on the 1st £30,000. I thought it was time to pay off the part of my mortgage I wasn`t getting tax relief on. As the government reduced Miras and the tax relief I paid my mortgage off.
My Thought`s
While you have debt you are in danger. Rising interest rates, dip`s in the world economy leading to job losses and as I said servicing your loans.
Make an attempt to become debt free as quickly as is reasonable possible. Make it that everything you have you own. I know neighbours who have lost everything because of ill health and being overly indebted. First thing to go were 1 of the car`s they leased, then the 11 properties they were paying mortgages on. Finally when one man died the last car they were leasing and the house they were living in were gone. His partner of 12 years ended up with nothing as his debt`s were bigger than his assets. This isn`t uncommon, it can happen because of health or economic change. Stop working for your debt provider and work for yourself.