re: Income to house cost ratio: Assuming pretax income, what is the marginal ratio?

Buy experiences, not things. My mortgage payment is $404.00. Percentage you can guess, cuz I'm not telling. And it's not a dump, quite the opposite. And the cost of living where I'm at in Iowa isn't extremely low either. After the business is paid off, my mortgage payment is going to disappear quickly. To be fair, I am single and have no children. I did have to help take care of an aging parent with Alzheimers for about a decade though, so I guess that is somewhat like supporting a spouse and children.

I also could care less what my credit score is. At one time it was almost 700. I looked after the thread a couple of days ago and one place had me at 550. Now that's some laffy for a guy who borrowed for college books before I was 21, and have never made a late payment. I'm not a huge Dave Ramsey guy, but I do agree about not caring what my credit score is. Anytime I want to borrow, my bank has never said no.

I drive a Lexus. I bought it used. It is a 2005, 0r maybe a 2008. It has over 200K miles on it. Nice car. Don't want or need a new one.

I do however take frequent vacations and eat very well. I smoke whatever cigar I feel like, whenever I feel like it, and price be damned. I travel to every away football game. At least one mini vacation a month, and my freezer is stuffed with USDA Prime grade steaks.

It's personal preference, but I'm a minimalist. I'd rather be mobile and able to do whatever I want to do. I have no interest in shiny new cars and houses.

I'm gaining weight also. Imagine that.