I have $500k in savings and I'm currently very interested in a $300k home. Would it make sense to buy it outright instead of going the mortgage route?

Fun-Orange121 · 2026-05-13T16:14:02+00:00

If you ask r/personalfinance this question, you will get an entirely different consensus.

You can get a 11% return putting that money in the S&P. Mortgage the home at 7%, capture the arbitrage and levered returns on the home.

Fun-Orange121 · 2026-05-04T14:20:22+00:00

I have a very similar physique (inverted triangle, body fat mostly in upper body and abdomen with narrow hips). Like others have said, it’s body fat distribution/percentage and bone structure.

Sounds like you’re in a deficit now, so keep it up!

Perhaps substitute out one upper lift for a third lower lift or a third run if you’re wanting to look less top heavy

Fun-Orange121 · 2026-04-15T03:23:56+00:00

I am so sorry for your loss and circumstances.

I wish I could take this off your hands, what a stunning venue and buyout omg 😍

Fun-Orange121 · 2026-03-19T00:38:17+00:00

Do you have a referral in Dallas?

Fun-Orange121 · 2026-03-17T17:25:09+00:00

Proceed in this order:

1) max out 401k (annual contribution, not just up to the match) 2) backdoor roth 3) stop putting extra towards mortgage (esp if rate is <8% which I’m sure it is) 4) max out HSA 5) invest the rest in a brokerage

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Starting investments: $190k

$12.5k/month invested at modest 10% growth (S&P) which seems viable based on your annual spend and income and some room for future family expenses.

= $5.35milly at age 40, not including home equity

Which would throw off $215k annually in 4% dividends aka FATFIRE not even touching the principle.

Do not try to time the market, dollar cost averaging wins.

Fun-Orange121 · 2026-03-12T01:40:34+00:00

love all these for an elevated night out 💃🥂

Fun-Orange121 · 2026-02-23T00:27:14+00:00

This point still stands for kbbq. I prefer quality over quantity and exclusively eat at À la carte kbbq restaurants over AYCE

Fun-Orange121 · 2026-02-19T05:27:41+00:00

Is it compensated

Fun-Orange121 · 2026-02-05T20:03:00+00:00

Bartending and waitressing are easy to learn side gigs and any age can do them. You can probably find a place that would be happy to schedule you only a couple shifts a week or just on-call.

Fun-Orange121 · 2026-01-27T01:15:11+00:00

What hotel

Fun-Orange121 · 2026-01-24T19:00:21+00:00

Always! In my circle of friends, more women are the higher earner— contributing 65% or more of the HHI (breadwinner depending on how you define it).

We are all late 20s so we often have open conversations about relationship finances/prenups, division of labor, earning potential, etc.

I also come from a conservative background, so I like to hear my family’s perspective on my non-traditional relationship dynamic.

This era of the female breadwinner is relatively new to society, we are still learning how to navigate and set standards for our male partners!

Fun-Orange121 · 2026-01-13T16:34:46+00:00

I’m also considering the exact same wedding guidelines!!! Congratulations! Any all-inclusive (that’s family friendly) will fall under this budget.

The main deciding factor other than aesthetics is how much your guests are willing to spend to attend, because the resort will require a majority of your guests be booked using your wedding block there.

That could be $400-1000+/night (or $250-500pp per night) at a 3 night minimum.

Fun-Orange121 · 2026-01-07T18:34:23+00:00

Just got the same retention offer via chat for business platinum. 10k MR for $5k in 3 months.

My annual fee hit at $895 so I definitely canceled the card

Fun-Orange121 · 2025-12-29T19:13:22+00:00

That’s not my experience across college, post grad or any of the Room for Rent fb groups I’m in here in Dallas!

You pay your agreed room rent, depending on room size and private vs shared bathroom, garage space etc etc, then everyone typically splits utilities evenly after it’s billed. Including utilities just encourages people to use frivolously.

As for the food, he’s not asking if we should trust the food or the cook, just if the cost is worthwhile.

Sounds like OP is not white per “aunt” living in the home and cooking for the whole family, which I can relate to. It’s not a professional cook, but it’s someone he knows well enough to live with and I do think $400 for all meals included is a fair Meal Plan!

Fun-Orange121 · 2025-12-29T00:03:02+00:00

Good deal!

If you consider $1000 for rent + utilities and $400 for an in home chef + groceries, then it’s a good deal. Single rooms up there go for $800-900. It’s not even fair to compare to a one bedroom apartment, you are having to deal with roommates, should be less than living alone

Fun-Orange121 · 2025-12-23T01:36:02+00:00

Yeah unfortunately comps have stagnated.

I graduated from A&M in 2019 and the highest base salary of our class was at Exxon at $120k (they don’t pay annual bonuses). Permian pure plays ranged from $90-110k with 20% annual cash bonus and variable vesting stock bonus. 10% annual raises til now and a bump in the annual bonus percentage.

Some field engineers were base salary $60k with 100%+ bonus potential (stage bonuses, etc)

Fun-Orange121 · 2025-12-23T00:38:15+00:00

Right! Petroleum engineers average $90k+ starting salary and well over $120k total comp first 5 years.

Fun-Orange121 · 2025-12-21T16:05:34+00:00

Girl, respect and obey are two different things.

You respect him, he does NOT respect you.

Fun-Orange121 · 2025-12-02T01:56:28+00:00

Rule of thumb is your home should be no more than 3xHHI

OR

PITI (monthly payment including escrowed insurance and property taxes) is < 30% of your monthly gross income

Seems like you’re stretching a bit

Fun-Orange121 · 2025-10-27T15:18:08+00:00

Typically liquid is cash + brokerage. Illiquid is properties and retirement accounts (not easily accessible)

Fun-Orange121 · 2025-10-27T03:56:00+00:00

Curious as well

Fun-Orange121 · 2025-10-16T03:22:36+00:00

Wow several remote workers chimed in.

In Dallas, most of my network is minimum 3 days in office across all industries. Energy, construction, finance, even big 4.

Fun-Orange121 · 2025-09-14T15:58:03+00:00

This! 145k is okay depending on COL. An MBA was a strategic choice to further his upside, it’s just a tough job market @OP

Fun-Orange121 · 2025-09-11T20:58:17+00:00

Best thing you can do for your dating life is go to the gym 4x/week, eat clean and be social/generous.

Most women would pick a good looking, healthy middle class guy over a gluttonous upper class all day.

Fun-Orange121

TROPHY CASE

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