If you are getting ready to purchase a new home, one of the very first questions you will be asked by your Loan Officer when you speak to them for the first time is: How much of a monthly house payment do you think you can afford?

I’ve been a very good (aka frugal) girl lately. I’ve reduced my Starbucks visits down to one day a week from three days a week (and this used to be 7 days a week habit, so I’m rockin’ this budget buster!) I’ve been consistent with riding my bike three days a week saving a few bucks on gas, and I’ve been eating at home more often.

Many home-buyers, and even apartment-renters, know the pain of choosing the right furniture for their homes. Furniture that seems perfect is often far too pricey, or might be too big an investment if you plan to move in the near future.

I’ve compared income and expenses from different decades in previous posts (see here and here). Most of the time I’m able to prove that expenses really have gone up exponentially while incomes have only grown modestly.

For busy parents, keeping on top of the housework always seems to be an arduous chore. With youngsters running amok and sticky fingers leaving marks all over the furniture, turning your house into a show-home never seems anything more than fantasy.