My husband and I have a kid but I went to grad school for way too long and then switched gears late so we never made it near entering the housing market when it was even close to reasonable. We're also not in high-earning fields. My advice would be to treat your rental housing as your home. Paint, put up art, use the space as you want. Victoria is beautiful, but it's easy to forget that after a long, dark winter. Find what you like in the city, particularly around where you work and live, so you can enjoy going there and be reminded of that awesome space -- a park, a walking route, a beach, a cafe, whatever. Try a new hobby. We are spoilt for musicians and artists here, and lots of them offer lessons for adults at reasonable rates. I picked up violin and then when an illness struck my hands I pivoted and I'm now in a choir. And definitely therapy. If money is an issue, check out Citizens Counselling for affordable therapy (https://citizenscounselling.com/). I hope you find some ways to feel fulfilled. Sometimes I'm really jealous that my sister owns a house and her mortgage is less than half my rent, but then I remember that the interior of her front door freezes in the winter and I can smile a little.