What specifically are you unhappy with in your current rental?
- Lack of ability to make home improvements
- Lack of vented range
- Downstairs neighbor who complains about my noise (which I think is reasonable)
- Don't feel comfortable having potlucks/parties/6am solo morning dance parties
But overall the biggest thing that this has brought up for me is (get ready for it...) where do I live out of scarcity and fear or where do I live out of abundance and joy.
Am I pursuing FI because I'm afraid of losing a job and being on the street and being broke, or am I excited about more freedom and quality of life and time to spend with loved ones.
There are also two sides of this, but really diving into this more and learning about myself and fears (therapy, meditation, introspection, journaling, etc all have helped a ton) and my joys and my wants have revealed lots of things that I didn't really pursue in the first 5 years of my career and strict FIRE frugality.
I love lots of the ideas of FIRE, but if I'm spending 30 minutes trying to save $10 on which site to buy something from, I'm wasting my time. How can I value my time, myself, and really use my resources to create a life of meaning and purpose.
Taking a leap to purchase a house feels like a scary leap from my previous mindset and beliefs, but I'm also excited to really invest and live the life I want, and with my salary I feel this is still within my means and reasonable and I can still save a good amount and move towards FI. Once I'm FI, will I want to quit my job, not right now.
I want to take a bold leap and pursue a life I'm excited about and the house buying is more the commitment to that principle and to myself, the choice of spending more money to increase my quality of life and valuing myself and where I live. And to not wait until FIRE to live that life that excites me and brings me most meaning.