If you live below your means, inspire me please :)

amother

OP ↓

Wed, Aug 21 2024, 7:18 pm

DH and I married and bought a house young. we had some saving and we bought “in town”
Left for DH schooling and loved it OOT… right now housing in our city is crazy and DH may be switching jobs .. we listed our original home which had a tenant it in for many years now .. if we get our asking price we’ll be walking away with triple what we paid.
We’re thinking strongly about moving back in town in about 1 year .. We need to buy something that’s a decent size. We’ll have a good amount of cash.. question now is buy something not as nice and pay for it in cash or something a little nicer and bigger and take on a mortgage.
I want to work on myself to be a person who is ok with less. I really want that. I also want a comfortable spacious home with hosting space.
What are so books or podcasts that I can listen to that will inspire me that living with less is more? If you do this, can u teach me your ways?
I also grew up on a big home which really makes it hard for me. I go crazy in tight spaces.. there is a happy medium thou. Question is if I’ll be happy with that? Really wanna work on myself .. thx in advance

amother

Fuchsia

Wed, Aug 21 2024, 7:24 pm

me but not sure I can inspire. it’s just how I am. it’s how I was raised. my parents were (are) very comfortable but I never knew (I figured it out when my dad was able to retire 25 years ago BH at age 49) it’s a strong value of mine. BH of my husband too. I don’t think I live (or was raised) lacking in any way. but living below my means is absolutely second nature. and yes I live in a small space and yes I do without a lot that others consider necessities. but I spend on what are priorities to me (travel) but even then its spent carefully with money put aside, using points, etc.

ask me any questions you may have

amother

↑ OP

Wed, Aug 21 2024, 7:29 pm

amother Cognac wrote:

Are you moving back to the town where you own the house? If yes, why not just keep that house and move back into it?

We bought young and were clueless about areas. We have a much clearer idea of what we want now, type of shul/rav and types of neighbors ..

amother

Dodgerblue

Wed, Aug 21 2024, 7:29 pm

If you go crazy in tight spaces it makes no sense to buy small if you have the means, a large house doesn't mean your living in luxury
You can keep it simple no expensive furniture/decor but you'll have space to move around and host
I think your happy medium would be a large spacious house that's furnished super simple

amother

Hawthorn

Wed, Aug 21 2024, 7:31 pm

amother OP wrote:

We bought young and were clueless about areas. We have a much clearer idea of what we want now, type of shul/rav and types of neighbors ..

I'm not sure what area you're speaking about but I guess this applies to any area. Make sure that it makes sense to sell the house have to in order buy another one. House prices right now are super duper high and it might not make financial sense to sell the house you have in order to buy something else. Even if you buy it in cash, you're still going to be paying much more for a house.

If you are planning on buying something then I would definitely think hard on needs versus wants. If you don't like tight spaces, I would not buy a small house. You don't want to be going home everyday. Thinking that you can't stand your home because there's no place to move. Buy a house that's going to be good for a long time not just for the current.

giftedmom

Wed, Aug 21 2024, 7:33 pm

Go for the bigger house. It’s a great investment for the future. I live below my means (way below) in day to day life where it doesn’t matter and it’s ridiculous to spend. But a house is the most important purchase of your life. Prices will only go up. Go for it and may you have hatzlacha.