Oh the truck. I used to drive in Quebec, in my car with snow tires. I would get passed by the SUVs and trucks. Then a few kilometers later, they would be in the ditch or the median. More recently I have driven in Ontario in a blizzard (I am not joking, the plows could not keep up, I was on 2" of snow with terrible visibility and high winds, doing 60 kph), and although the drive took longer, I got home. And yes, cars and trucks and semis in the median). Snow tires rule.
For what you use the truck for, could you sell it and get an older vehicle? Or just get a good station wagon/hatchback. I have a Mazda 3 hatchback and it is amazing what I get in it. And it has snow tires on now - ugly winter rims, but so what. I am ready for the next blizzard.
Housing - OK the grandparents won't take money. But you are not getting a realistic view of living expenses, which is actually of more concern than the very face-punch worthy truck.
SO: homework time #1. Find out what rent and utilities would be on a similar place. Put that money aside every month, before you do anything else. I don't see a kitchen listed in your description, so I am assuming you are either eating out (which will get you more face punches on the forum), eating with your GF, or eating with your grandparents. Keep track of what you eat (and what your girlfriend eats) and figure out how much that would be at the grocery store, and put that money aside. Will your grandparents take money from your girlfriend when she moves in? If yes, good. If not, figure out her living costs as well and put that money aside.
Now your budget reads:
Monthly Net Income = ?
Expenses = rent + utilities + food + present expenses
Left over = Income - expenses.
Money management - your income goes to casual expenses + savings realized from free living + true savings. Invest those last 2, conservatively. You will need that money in 5 years for the down payment.
Homework # 2: Don't worry about values 5 years from now, prices will probably be up but so will income.
Find a house that is similar to what you would buy in 5 years. Down payment = at least 20% of price. Then calculate mortgage and taxes. Then utilities - they will be higher, a house is always more expensive than an apartment or duplex, because it has 4 exterior walls. One time cost of appliances. How much more is this than your present calculated expenses? How well will you be able to save for that 20% down payment? Can you easily carry that load? Her salary won't be great to start, if she has just finished school.
And again personal comments: Comment 1 - the model expenses is what I did with DD when she was moving out. It works.
Comment 2 - this is potentially a lot of stress on your relationship with GF, when you are at ages that people grow and change a lot. If your GF were my DD, unless living with her BF was the only way she could go to school, I would advise against it. For one obvious thing, you will come home from work and be ready to relax and socialise. She will come home from school and have school work to do, and exams to study for. As a retired teacher, I have seen so many students do poorly because their social life (especially boyfriends, and to a lesser extent girlfriends) took their time and energy away from where it belonged - school. Think of school as a 70-80 hour a week job. Days, evenings and weekends. Can you live with that for however long it takes her to finish?
Again, the advice I would give to my DD and 2ndhand to your GF - living with a BF during school is a worst choice situation, if anything else is available. If anything goes sour in the relationship, she has more problems, not only is she dealing with the breakup, she is also dealing with finding a new place to live. I have seen this where a couple was living together and renting, broke up, and they had to deal with the lease - living at your place it would be that much worse for her.
Sorry to be such a downer, but your posts are so optimistic, and shit happens.
