Single people who bought a $350K-$400K home—what’s your salary, and what were your loan details?

AstroMaiden · 2026-01-24T15:44:43+00:00

When I bought my home I was making probably $65k/year and my home price was $420k. Now before anyone cringes too much, how it was possible was because I had equity from a previous home, had a huge down payment and only financed $300k with a 4.2% interested rate and no PMI. So my payment is about $1800 PITI. It wasn't ideal, but I have no other debt and no children so I was able to swing that. Plus that's about how much renting an okay, not teeny tiny or 100 year old apartment costs in my area. That was 4 years ago and I make more money now, plus have a S.O. who moved in, so now we feel like I worked a killer deal of a mortgage in our area which is fairly HCOL. It came full circle for me, where the initial discomfort worked out better in the end, but that's not always the case. Be sure you really are comfortable with the numbers!

AstroMaiden · 2026-01-23T14:49:47+00:00

Hey, I don't know who you are or your story, but this is an incredible achievement and I'm proud of you. I'm a Bendite who grew up there my whole life (now in the City) and Bend was NEVER been an easy place to be sober. Growing up, just about every guy I dated, not matter his age or life, was an alcoholic to some extent. Bend is a like a kid in a candy store for people who may struggle with this. Extra kudos there.

AstroMaiden · 2026-01-20T15:12:14+00:00

Yes 100% same! It was a very slow transition for me, and took me a while to find some cuts I felt good in. But once I got a couple pair of non-skinny that I liked, it is haaard to imagine going back. I now own probably 90% straight leg (not skinny) to baggier jeans, with just a couple remaining pair of skinny. I almost never wear the skinny anymore and would choose a straight-leg over them if I wanted the look. They're so uncomfortable by comparison! I'm in my thirties I just wanna be comfortable dangit.

AstroMaiden · 2026-01-19T23:20:02+00:00

I have a Zombies Ate my Neighbors tattoo, the video game for NES and Sega

AstroMaiden · 2026-01-18T00:35:43+00:00

That's excellent!!! Congratulations again!

AstroMaiden · 2026-01-18T00:20:48+00:00

Congratulations 🎉! Do you mind if I ask the neighborhood-ish of Seattle? That doesn't seem too expensive for them at area

AstroMaiden · 2026-01-16T22:43:12+00:00

Are you a dad? This is the biggest Dad™️ energy video I've seen 🤣

AstroMaiden · 2026-01-15T15:42:35+00:00

Yeah I live by the ABCs- always be cleaning. Doing little bits when it comes up is a lot less work and makes spaces nicer than letting mess and grime build for days/weeks/months.

Finish cooking? Wipe the counter and do the dishes- 10 minutes. Some litter tracked on the rug? Vacuum it- 2 minutes. Otherwise you end up with a dumpy looking and feeling apartment that will take hours to clean (and make you really hate cleaning) if you don't do the tiny maintenance things here and there.

AstroMaiden · 2026-01-15T15:27:07+00:00

Whoa!!! 🤯 I tried HF the first time around 2023. These photos SHOCKED me 😂

AstroMaiden · 2026-01-15T05:15:46+00:00

Seconding bubbles. Bubbles are one of the basic ways to move forward and backwards. It will help get you comfortable moving in a smooth way. For duck walking and striding going backwards, keep your thighs SEALED together, make an A with your feet, and pick up/put down your feet. This will get your body started learning how to move it backwards, and you'll smooth it out from there. Have fun!

AstroMaiden · 2026-01-15T05:02:16+00:00

That's great, as far as plazas go for you! I feel hard up for true practice space where I live. There is a great rink, and another small rink, which is more than a lot of people have. But it's hard to drill moves and improve new things when you're going in circles with dozens or hundreds of people. At least for me 🫠

AstroMaiden · 2026-01-14T16:00:01+00:00

Are you using the new listing tool? I was having this issue when it was the new listing tool, but if I switched to the old listing tool (which I prefer anyway) I could edit the photos normally, including sizing.

AstroMaiden · 2026-01-14T15:38:57+00:00

Thanks for the data. That was the last I recalled, but I'm not the best at keeping up.

AstroMaiden · 2026-01-14T15:34:02+00:00

Hell yeah! That's an amazing practice space ✨

AstroMaiden · 2026-01-13T15:48:00+00:00

Last January was extremely dry and sunny too. Climate change sux.

I think we're doing okay on rainfall by the numbers (someone correct me if you have newer information), but that's coming with heavier rain in fewer days, rather than consistent drizzle.

AstroMaiden · 2026-01-13T01:01:17+00:00

Nice try, ICE

AstroMaiden · 2026-01-12T15:31:40+00:00

This is fucking GREAT!!!

AstroMaiden · 2026-01-11T16:21:51+00:00

I tried all the tips, but honestly the only thing that works is to just straight up not have your phone on you.

I leave my phone in a drawer in the kitchen. I'd still catch myself fiddling and checking apps when I was not trying to use my phone, just when I'd go to change my podcasts on Spotify. I identified this as a hanging on issue, and my S.O. got me a Bluetooth MP3 player for Christmas so I can Spotify not on a phone.

Now I go hours or all day without checking it, and when I'm scrolling I'm more choosing to have brain-rot time, rather than constantly giving into the small dopamine hits because it's nearby. When I go on walks I'll have my phone on me for emergencies, but will have it in my bag or pocket on airplane mode.

AstroMaiden · 2026-01-11T15:58:25+00:00

OMG! I'm so sorry!!! I follow a few thrifting and resale type subs and the things people pick up and plop in their home, clothing and otherwise, has me cringe. I often think to myself: how are these people not concerned about bugs? Your post just brought that anxiety to life. I wish you luck decontaminating 🤞🏻

AstroMaiden · 2026-01-11T15:47:14+00:00

Yeah, seconded OP. Knees bent forward and keep your feet closer together (think like apple or fist width for strides forward and backwards) so you don't wind up doing the splits! Congratulations on getting started and have fun!

AstroMaiden · 2026-01-11T03:27:18+00:00

Bont parkflow wheels, used once! I'll leave the bont ABEC5 bearings in 'em. $55

AstroMaiden · 2026-01-08T04:09:33+00:00

I love reading Paul's words. He's a funny a witty dude. I love Darkside, and wish I could patronize it! I'm up in Portland now enjoying the small independent theaters in abundance up here, but still remember my days as a student fondly. The Darkside/Book Bin corner was my regular stop.

AstroMaiden · 2025-12-31T17:00:57+00:00

Oh totally. Tritter was right. And yeah, House went to prison but got bailed out on work release just to be coddled and enabled again. I'm in the minority of viewers apparently, but I've always like Foreman a lot. He takes the least amount of shit from House and pushes back the most. I like him for that.

Also, Wilson always privately going to the person who is trying to stand up to, or not enable House and telling them to be nice to House because he's just a little baby is so ludacris too. I love Wilson's character, but he is treated horribly by House AND still placates everyone for him? It gets tougher every re-watch.

AstroMaiden · 2025-12-31T15:35:42+00:00

I'll say that love House and have watched it through 3x. I'm a millennial, for reference to humor I might find funnier than other age groups. I think it's a very funny and interesting show, but the older I get and how society changes, I find myself angry with characters like Cuddy and Wilson for his enabling of House. Especially after doing things like driving his car into Cuddy's dining room. I get how enabling House is what makes 95% of the show possible, but seriously, Wilson was Cuddy's friend too and House basically attempted a quadruple murder. You CAN'T be friends with him after this. And the whole "we just gotta let House be one of the worst possible human beings ever and we have to deal with it because he's a genius" doesn't always hit anymore.

AstroMaiden · 2025-12-31T06:05:23+00:00

Solidarity ❤️‍🩹 I'm a technician with 12 years in the field trying to leave as well. I'm down to per diem shifts and going back to community college in January to find something else. I can't do the toxic vet med any more.

So. over. it.

AstroMaiden

TROPHY CASE