No kidding. Lower payments are more affordable

Every once in awhile -- and by every once in awhile I mean daily -- you come across a study that is so obvious in its conclusions that it's actually appalling that it made headlines.

Friday's Wall Street Journal headlines says it all(subscription required): "Cutting financially troubled borrowers' monthly mortgage payments by more than 10% reduces the chances that they will fall behind again after their loan is modified, a study found."

Wait. Do you mean to tell me that spending $1,800 per month is more affordable than spending $2,000 per month? What's next? Are you going to try to tell me that having money in savings can make retirement more comfortable?