If you make $22'350/month I have no idea why you even worry about all this. What is that 270k a year as a single male? I think you can afford that house you want. I am all for stingy, but live your life man. Who knows what will happen tomorrow (drunk hits you) and then what good did that much money do for you?
That is a wise recommendation but like many others here I came from a relatively poor background. I managed a college education by working full-time and getting scholarships in math, which is one of the things I like to do to try and keep my mind from stagnating… So the math thing and pie charts and trying to max out my savings are really part of what I enjoy and who I am. I have reached this level of income only in the last few years and it's hard to suddenly get out and start spending when I got where I am by being frugal. I would not buy a house now if I had 100 wives and 100 babies and 100 million dollars. IMO it is throwing money away. Besides, that was an above-average month, although lately it's getting more common. I bill by the hour and in order to make that much I need to work a lot so I'm sometimes too tired to go out and spend it.
Aside from the house, I do have everything I need and want. I just bought a new car (the mazda speed3, humble yet fun), a motorcycle, a new midi keyboard controller, a new vox amp, a canon XH-A1 AND a canon HG-10, and many more toys. I SCUBA and surf and play vball and travel and go to the gym every day. I would do the same thing rich or poor, most of it is free anyway. When housing becomes more rational, I might take Rustico up on his idea of buying 40 acres in Jamul and building a custom home. I’ve been looking at homes for years now and haven’t seen a single home in SD I liked. I'm not in a hurry though. I'm also saving money for a new industry that I'm starting in. I have an exit strategy from engineering.
I don't like condo living much but it's not THAT bad and every time my neighbors piss me off I smile and think, when I do get that house it will be all the better…
PS my home is alarmed, there is a vicious dog, and I am heavily armed, so don’t get any funny ideas. ;D
