I live in an owned home that I paid the last 15K of a mortgage off on...while paying power, internet, water, garbage, phone, and "child support" (not court ordered or as much as usual). The mortgage payment was 289 a month because of a large down payment and because it is a 55k home.

That said, I live by myself....make minimum wage....work less than full time...and have been able to pay all of my bills and speak to you now as a man who doesnt owe anybody a dime.

Along the way, I have essentially lost all of my friends by staying home all of the time and moving to a totally different town (an hour from everywhere Id want to be).

My job isnt "beneath me", but I could get better and better hours almost anywhere with my experience/resume'.

I have lived in this town for 3 1/2 years and have only met ONE single woman my age. I have been single and relatively untouched by human hands for 5 years. The "big splurge" I allow myself is a movie at the theater once in a while or the occasional marijuana cigarette.

Nobody I know would want to trade me for my life, but I couldnt take paying more for rent than for a house payment ANYMORE. I have a (small) 2 bedroom house so that my daughter has her own room, I have a fenced yard, and I have a 2 car garage...all on a corner lot.

I couldnt do this in a city where I would make "a good living" or where there are ladies and nightlife. That said, if living in an owned home and having access to my 7 year old daughter were my main goals, I am killing it. If I moved here to make friends and get lovin, then I am failing miserably.

Im not saying my choice is for anybody, but anybody could buy a home where I live. There is a (totally crappy and run down) house down the street from me selling for 10K. You can make 10K by collecting cans if you do it consistently and you live like a monk.