I Don't Want a Bigger House Even Though I Can Afford One. My Family Doesn't Understand Why

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One middle-class homeowner says they're perfectly happy staying in their two-bedroom home, even though their income could support something much larger. Family members keep encouraging them to upgrade, but they feel a bigger house would bring bigger bills and less financial freedom.

"I actually like where I live," the homeowner wrote on Reddit recently. They said a larger house would come with "a much bigger mortgage, higher maintenance, furnishing costs, and a lot less flexibility." Keeping monthly expenses low, they added, helps them "sleep better" than stretching for more square footage.

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Hundreds of commenters said they made the same choice and never looked back. They argued that buying more house than you need often brings higher property taxes, insurance, utility bills, maintenance costs and repair bills, along with hours of extra cleaning.

"Keep the house you like" was one of the most popular replies, summing up the feeling shared throughout the discussion. "Don't upgrade to achieve some 'status' of adulthood."

Another commenter said the biggest reward wasn't financial. "Lower cost of living means less stress," they wrote. "Your emergency fund will last longer and you can bank more over time."