I think it's worth starting with a few assumptions people make and treat like they're facts. Just because some guy on the internet, or your dad, or even me, your trusted Money Changes Everything writer says something with confidence does not make it a universal fact. Unfortunately, you have to interrogate the platitude, compare it to your actual life, then decide whether it applies to you at all. One person's platitude is another person's bullshit.
My husband and I live in a very high cost area. I am currently unemployed in a highly competitive field, though with many promising prospects that could coalesce in the next few months (or not! we live in unprecedented economic times!). His very low six-figure income supports us both, plus a special needs pet. The thing is, he wants us to buy a house. My husband is tired of renting, which he considers "paying off someone else's mortgage," and wants to get serious about buying a home.
