An average dated house in FloMo is 450k+. Decent houses are 550+. I budget for min guarantee. At 3 year FO pay, no long term debt other than a mortgage from 2018 with a 3% rate, and no kids, we are breakeven, and have no outrageous spending habits. I max out my 401k and IRA and purchase the APA insurance products. Car and home insurance went up 50% and 30% respectively, and property tax rates have gone through the roof. Houses today in the same area are 50% more than what I paid and interest rates are more than double.

I imax and make significantly more than guarantee, but it isn’t prudent to budget for more, especially as a reserve.