I opt for term life insurance so the premiums are easier to fit into my budget. Term life insurance is considerably less expensive than whole life policies. In my opinion, life insurance is non-negotiable at this point in my life. Since it's a necessity, it fits into my budget with housing costs and utilities. This approach has worked for me because I've been doing it long enough that I've learned to live with what's left after paying those premiums. I don't even think about paying the premiums anymore because it's become habit.