Do you ever feel like your life is centered around money? Either not having enough or saving for this or what should I be allocating my money towards…that’s been life for me recently. My latest money hang up: how to buy a house.
At 22 years old I thought I would have life figured out by now, boy was I wrong. Honestly I am not sure that any one has life figured out. Working in what I consider my first “big girl” job, I am able to save money for some big purchases. Big has in expensive and big as in big life purchases.
At first I was really excited about that, but it has become stressful and overwhelming at times. I decided my first big purchase with my big savings from my big girl job is going to be a house. Well guess what people? Buying a house is scary. Not to mention that houses are stupid expensive right now. So that’s what I call the Level 1 anxiety.
Level 1 anxiety is anxiety that happens for everyone. The general nerves associated with making big purchases or starting a new job or learning how to do adult things.
Here is where Level 2 anxiety comes in. What if I didn’t build my credit up enough to receive a large enough loan? How does one go about getting a loan? How much should I have saved up? What if I change jobs and need to move to a new place, then what am I going to do with my house? What if Sweet Sam wants to get a job at a different hospital and it is out of town? Do I move with him? But what about my house?
Level 2 anxiety is the deeper more detailed thoughts associated with what caused your Level 1 anxiety. I thought everyone experienced this level of anxiety, turns out that is not the case.
Finally Level 3 anxiety sets in…I question my abilities, maturity, intelligence. Basically questioning everything about myself and if I should be venturing towards this goal at all. This is when I lose faith in myself and what I have worked towards.
Level 3 anxiety is the final point for me in my anxiety. It reminds me of my past failures. It forces me to compare myself, to doubt myself and finally to give up on my goal. This level is the worst one.
Navigating this process is difficult. Pushing through the doubt is hard. How do you know when the right time is? The right time to even inquire about house buying. Part of the people think you should wait until the market prices are down, the other part think you should wait until there is more inventory and the final part wonder why you are even looking at all. They think you should live in the situation that saves you the most money for as long as you can.
So how do you know? Where do you start? When is the right time?
– Questions and thoughts from a Twenty Something
Thoughts from a Twenty Something 