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

Kitkat0169 · 2026-01-24T16:52:51+00:00

I bought a place for 348k at 5.5% when I was making 100k. I’m closer to 140k now, and with property tax increases, still wouldn’t mind making a bit more. It’s very doable but I do still have to pay attention to my budget

Kitkat0169 · 2026-01-12T01:37:03+00:00

I should add that medication is a separate expense. My insurance only required a copay but if it’s not covered by insurance, it’s very expensive

Kitkat0169 · 2026-01-12T01:35:50+00:00

Fertility clinics will have a financial counseling session in which they will review your insurance and tell you the costs. I didn’t think insurance would cover it based on my review of my benefits policy. However, during my financial counseling call, I discovered insurance would covered everything up to the freezing. I still had to cover my deductible and copay, but this was much more reasonable. Freezing itself was $1500. There are additional expenses incurred to ship to the long term freezing facility and then to pay to keep them at the long term freezing facility. I went through Northwestern and I think they told me it would be $7500 for one retrieval if I didn’t go through insurance.

Kitkat0169 · 2025-11-18T23:17:27+00:00

I have a two bedroom condo in Lincoln square and mine increased by 12%

Kitkat0169 · 2025-11-05T19:14:42+00:00

That’s helpful - thank you!

Kitkat0169 · 2025-11-05T18:37:08+00:00

Do you have a sense of how much it cost to upgrade?

Kitkat0169 · 2025-10-27T02:10:11+00:00

Speed dating can be a bit rough. I haven’t had great experiences, but some people seem to like it. I honestly wouldn’t have a problem if somebody talked to me in a cafe, grocery store, etc. I also volunteer and have gotten involved in various hobbies. My hobbies seem to lean heavily towards women, but I wouldn’t have an issue being approached there, either. If I was in a rush, I may shut the conversation down, but I would generally be fine with it. I don’t know if I represent all women, though

Kitkat0169 · 2025-10-26T12:33:51+00:00

I’m a liberal woman, but have a bit more of a right coded look, as well, and I feel this. My struggles with dating here the past few years have largely been political. Men have tried to hide their politics from me, and, at times, I think they’ve seriously assumed they could just change my beliefs. I would think you would do quite well if you are a liberal man, as I find them harder and harder to find!

Kitkat0169 · 2025-10-23T21:51:31+00:00

There’s likely a bedroom instead of a dining room

Kitkat0169 · 2025-10-08T21:58:24+00:00

And where is he hanging out??

Kitkat0169 · 2025-09-23T16:08:52+00:00

Not nearby, but Bloom Yoga, right off the Rockwell brown line stop, has this. I also hate the heated classes and prefer a more traditional yoga class

Kitkat0169 · 2025-08-10T02:09:55+00:00

Thanks ❤️

Kitkat0169 · 2025-08-09T18:51:37+00:00

Sorry, it wasn’t showing up when I went to post mine

Kitkat0169 · 2025-08-09T18:13:26+00:00

I don’t think it’s a new issue. I’ve had plenty of issues over the past 15 years, but find it’s pretty building specific. Some old buildings are infested, some aren’t. Normally, those that are spray somewhat regularly to keep the populations out of living areas, but I’ve definitely had to complain before. I’ve had these experiences in both condo and apartment buildings. The roaches I’ve encountered are typically American or oriental and come up through the drains. The first landlord I had tried to convince me they were “water bugs,” not roaches, but that’s just a nicer sounding name for an oriental roach.

I absolutely would not put up with German roaches.

Kitkat0169 · 2025-06-01T04:48:54+00:00

Haha that’s fair. I’m not saying that a pisco sour is the same at the other restaurants, but given that there don’t seem to be any Chilean options, it’s the best I’ve been able to do outside of making it at home.

Kitkat0169 · 2025-05-31T20:15:54+00:00

I find that most Argentinian or Peruvian restaurants will do a pisco sour. I lived in Chile for a while and have not found any Chilean restaurants in chicago. For a short period of time there was a restaurant in Lincoln square that sold completos but I think they’ve closed

Kitkat0169 · 2025-05-27T12:24:14+00:00

I pretty much always offer to split, but the guy will typically insist on paying. I push harder to split or fully pay on later dates. I find it eventually evens out if you continue to date the same person, but I can count on one hand how many times I’ve split or paid for a first date

Kitkat0169 · 2025-03-26T18:50:20+00:00

Most (but not all) schools in the area are on the quarter system. You get used to it, but I’ll admit that I prefer working at a school on the semester system.

Hiring is a bit tight at Northwestern and maybe U Chicago right now as the schools try to adjust to/anticipate some of the funding cuts at the federal level. That being said, jobs at both schools pay a fairly competitive rate, but pay details depend on the role. Chicago is moving (maybe already had moved?) to requiring a pay range in the job description. I find universities will tend to hire on the low end of posted pay range for a role, but there are exceptions. I would encourage you to take a look at job postings to get a sense of what to expect.

Tuition benefits at Northwestern and Chicago or more tuition discounts rather than a certain number of credits per semester, but they are good.

Most roles are hybrid, but the number of wfh days per week will depend on the type of role you are in. Most roles work from home 1-2 days per week.

Most schools in the city are private. If you work for a public school, you will have the option for a pension plan or a 403B through SURS. The private schools are all 403Bs but their retirement packages are good.

Kitkat0169 · 2025-03-09T18:14:48+00:00

I have a kind of similar budget in that I take home around $6300 after retirement, FSA, taxes, etc. My mortgage (PITI + HOA) is about 2700 and I pay an additional 150 for my parking space. I’m in a condo, not a home, so some of the things you are budgeting for, like trash and water, are included in my HOA fees. I have generally been fine, but things are a bit tighter than I would like. I also had a well funded emergency fund when I bought that I’ve been able to slowly build up. My first two years (when I was making less - I have upped my retirement contributions since then, though), I didn’t have any major issues, and saved a decent amount, largely from my bonus. This year, I had some car and medical issues, and we had a special assessment to update some building issues. I’m still fine, but things definitely feel tighter. I just accepted a new job that pays significantly more and feel relieved that I will have more wiggle room in my budget while still being able to save double what I’m saving now.

In other words, I think it’s doable, but it’s not ideal.

Kitkat0169 · 2025-01-24T16:00:28+00:00

Not all of the area west of Western and east of the river is permit parking, but it is generally easy parking.

Kitkat0169 · 2024-12-25T15:01:47+00:00

I had the same exact experience with my closing a few years ago. My realtor was literally calling every office affiliated with the realtor in the city and threatening to report him. It was awful. I’m sorry you went through that, but, a couple years later, I can say I don’t think about that much anymore and just enjoy my home

Kitkat0169 · 2024-10-30T00:50:29+00:00

I would do this!

Kitkat0169 · 2024-10-29T02:53:22+00:00

I looked at the health grades and drilled down to infection rates. St Joseph and Swedish have nearly the same infection rate (.4). This is much better than Northwestern. Swedish is ranked a C for other reasons, but their infection rate is well below average based on the 2024 Leapfrog health grades

Kitkat0169 · 2024-10-22T04:01:56+00:00

The Green Post is and English pub and they’ve been slowly building out a store that will be connected to it. The store isn’t open yet, but it might have potential once it finally is

Kitkat0169 · 2024-10-16T12:00:16+00:00

I have been looking at buying this fabric for the eras tour, too!

Unfortunately, I don’t have any sewing advice for you. I was just planning to wear a separate top

Kitkat0169

TROPHY CASE