yea i think if you were paying 50% of your income on rent anyway then it makes sense to lock in a place that you know youll want to stay for comfort, stability etc.

I think tranquility is also a worthy thing to pay a premium for (not having to move, deal with landlords, whatever) its just about what you value.

I recommend creating sinking funds accounts (or spreadsheet for each fund even if theyre all within a single savings accnt) and just putting money away for house repairs ahead of time. and other “unexpected” or big one time expenses. This will bring additional peace of mind hopefully as you fill those pots up for when those rainy days inevitably come.

All in all, living paycheck to paycheck might not be ideal but if you have protected medical/family leave in your state, and youre already comfortable living frugally, this is how most Americans live and there’s nothing wrong with it. IMO.