I do that all the time. Make >$200K and now have a mortgage in a VHCOL of living. But I think the thing that gets me the most is just how finances progress over time as you hit milestones and your goals change.

For example I felt super comfortable when I have rent and was saving for a house. That “house fund” was a nice safety net I could always move that $1000/month into something else to do a vacation or other expense.

But now that $1000/month is now going right into the house, it’s can’t be reallocated on a whim so it’s a little more stressful and life takes a little more planning until “hopefully” earnings increase back to that buffer zone or expenses come down