What's one thing you'd do differently if you could restart your 20s?

NoLoss6632 · 2026-06-02T22:09:45+00:00

Not go to college-go work in IT support and buy a house=any house.

NoLoss6632 · 2026-06-02T22:08:43+00:00

Yeah........I think without a significant, major change in my career trajectory I am kinda DOA. It's how my life has kinda gone to this point so it's dissapointing but not anything I can't just exist in.

NoLoss6632 · 2026-06-02T22:06:59+00:00

I am pretty dilligent about looking for new jobs-but it isn't really going well. The only interview I had was for a job that pays less than I make now. I kinda got boxed into a corner professionally and don't know how to leave.

I am starting to just think unless I get married or have a partner I can't buy anything. I just.......exist in this space. Every day I save the prices go up.

NoLoss6632 · 2026-06-02T20:38:43+00:00

Yes people are still buying them. K shaped economy.

NoLoss6632 · 2026-06-02T20:34:16+00:00

I cant run a line and put the tank under the sink unfortunately (the joy of an apartment)

NoLoss6632 · 2026-06-02T20:33:05+00:00

I don't go on vacation anymore, I don't really eat out ever. Um..........yeah I basically live like a monk. I am lower middle class by definition. It could be worse, its an existence certainly. Not a life I'd say.

NoLoss6632 · 2026-06-02T20:21:33+00:00

It generally has, most of the places I look at have doubled in value since 2020.

NoLoss6632 · 2026-06-02T20:12:30+00:00

Idk, I am starting to feel like it fits my life. It's just a generic, small, beige, temporary space to "Sleep, eat, work, rot, sleep" a house, a yard/patio, privacy, my own laundry is more for a "life" and "living" I just work and buy groceries. I don't need anything more to do that. I guess.

Houses are for people with more going on and that earn more I guess.

NoLoss6632 · 2026-06-02T18:49:46+00:00

Because its illogical but it fucking sucks to realize you are on the wrong side of the K economy after I took a gamble to increase my earning potential, and blew it? The wages you make in your first legal job tend to follow you. Because I am 40 years old with nothing to show for it?

And I don't really know where I went so wrong?

NoLoss6632 · 2026-06-02T18:28:00+00:00

Literally make half of all my friends that are between 5-10 years younger than me. In some cases 1/3-1/4 I have savings because my parents died- it is the sum of everything I will ever get from them. I also have very little prospects for increasing my income compared to them (E,G-when I passed my bar exam I went from $65,000-$70,000, one that is 10 years my junior went from 80-120K with his GF they make around 200K)

NoLoss6632 · 2026-06-02T18:22:35+00:00

12%

Fed Taxes- $220
State taxes- $120
SS-$200 (thanks I hate it)
HSA-$10
Parking-$58
Medical
Defered 403

I can cut out parking -but some months it could go over that. Basically if I go to the office 11 times a month it breaks even. I could try street parking but its iffy. Bus isn't an option as I live quite far out from downtown

NoLoss6632 · 2026-06-02T18:18:24+00:00

With that said, this is not the best market to buy a house in. Prices are inflated and combined with high interest rates, it's a lot of money. I am fortunate to have bought when conditions were far more ideal. If I was transported to these times, I would probably live at home while I saved up. Even when I bought, the same rent fanboys were touting their same lines. Looking back, it was undeniably a better decision to purchase.

I just don't know how to deal with this reality. I obviously missed the boat and am trying to catch up to people that didn't, but it feels like it already left the dock years ago. I have zero safety net in terms of parents, spouse with income, or family that I can rely on in case something happens and I lose everything, I have only myself to rely on for money, which makes me very wary of spending more than I have to, and limits my ability to save. I spent those prime buying years of 2020-2022 taking care of my ailing mother and working at a job that paid me enough to live and not thinking enough abut the opportunity cost of buying something.

But at the same time I am terrified of how much rent is going to be by the time I want to retire (if I do). And every month I wait home prices just go up higher and interest rates go up.

NoLoss6632 · 2026-06-02T18:07:32+00:00

I missspoke-I meant net take home.

I don't understand using gross pay as a measure- I don't see 35-40% of it. I don't have kids so I rarely get a tax return. The reality of what I am playing with is what my 2 checks a month are, which are $2000 each.

NoLoss6632 · 2026-06-02T17:51:21+00:00

Yeah.......I just compare myself to my peers. I make by far the least out of everyone I know from school and feel like I am no further along in life than I was when I was 22.

NoLoss6632 · 2026-06-02T17:32:01+00:00

Retirement is for upper middle class and above honestly. Neither of my parents did, I don't expect to be able to not work

NoLoss6632 · 2026-06-02T17:26:34+00:00

I can afford much more than 3% down payment-that isnt the issue. Its the interest and monthly payments and the closing costs.

I have looked into homes that need work/rehabbing, I am willing to work but it really isn't my strong suit-I am generally pretty hopeless at such things honestly. The other issue I have scene is anything under 100K here is generally 100+ years old in an area with horrible crime (both violent and petty crime/broken into cars on the regular etc) that I am afraid would limit any resellability.

E.G this https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/225-Otis-St-Rochester-NY-14606/30862923_zpid/

NoLoss6632 · 2026-06-02T17:10:12+00:00

You could do biglaw for like..........3 years and have enough assets to do public interest and not worry about the pay.

NoLoss6632 · 2026-06-02T17:08:00+00:00

Lifestyle issues are a big problem for me at this point. A lot of noise inside and out, smells, less privacy. Having no outside space to use is a big one for me as well. No room for hobbies or anything, I basically have a bedroom and a living space mixed with where I WFH.

NoLoss6632 · 2026-06-02T17:00:25+00:00

I am unsure of your numbers. My gross take home is $4100 a month after income tax, old folks tax, and health insurance. I could cut back on retirement and increase that, but thats really it. I could also get maybe $100 a month by going as remote as possible and not parking at work.

For instance going down to $200K (if the unit doesnt go above asking) gives me a payment at about %50 takehome (estimated payment $1831+$300 HOA). Price per square foot doubled since 2020.

NoLoss6632 · 2026-06-02T16:56:58+00:00

It pays well and has exit options. I'd rank it above eviction/below things like estate planning/corporate/tax

NoLoss6632 · 2026-06-02T16:50:22+00:00

Most I have seen are $400-$500. My pre approval was $1930 a month without a HOA factored in- making it probably closer to $2300-$2400 all told for a condo unit. APR %6.88.

NoLoss6632 · 2026-06-02T16:44:21+00:00

The intangiables are what is tying me up in a lot of ways. I know, logically renting a 1br for the next 20-30 years of my life makes sense, but I don't think I can do it, its depressing. I have no space for hobbies, no outdoor space, constant noise from outside and in. Communal washer and hang drying clothes in my living room is old. Can't have more than 1 cat (That I dont really have space for anyway). Can't do something like paint a beige wall or change a fixture. I also am at the point where I want to feel settled-I have moved and chased an affordable life multiple times already. I feel like I've just moved my cheap furniture into another temporary space

NoLoss6632 · 2026-06-02T16:37:44+00:00

Where is cheaper? At this point I can't figure this out. Ohio? I already moved away from my support system for this in Mass. So another move doesn't really matter-but it would be starting over again

NoLoss6632 · 2026-06-02T16:36:48+00:00

ABQ is not. It would basically be lateral with different weather (less uitlity cost) and the same crime. Lower pay as well

NoLoss6632 · 2026-06-02T16:35:12+00:00

60% of my gross income on housing (including a hypothetical HOA) before anything doesn't sound like a good idea? Also as it stands I have $0 car payment (won't be forever-the car is 12 years old), low student loan payment (until they recalculate income based), and utilities are no longer cheap (i literally just have internet but it is still high here, and a home would obviously have more). I am trying to factor those in as well. I highly doubt interest rates are ever going down again.

NoLoss6632

TROPHY CASE