Well, she told me to do it....

[LuckyDog]

... I realize not everybody has the impulse controls for a credit card...

I think that is why he makes it a blanket rule. Most of the people with large credit card debt have already shown they don't have the control. (Me and the bride do the same as you though.)

... the other area we don't follow to close is retirement accounts, ...

Me too. I had a heart attack at 33 due to thrombocytosis. (Too many platelets) My blood was just clotting up inside my body. That taught me to not sacrifice too much now for the future cause it isn't guaranteed. I'm 52 now and am on track to retire in 4 years though, so we have sacrificed for that goal.

I have always believed... Sacrifice now, or sacrifice the future.