Allison Ernst
age 31 | office manager and graphic designer | divorced | Baltimore

The big decision I'm currently wrestling with is... Should I renew the lease on my apartment or try to buy a house? Selling my marital home brought a lot of heartache. I'd love to buy again, but I'm not sure it's realistic financially. It’s a tough call. When I sold the house back in August, I was able to pay off some bills, buy a new car, and invest some money for the future. It’s not all about the money, though. Owning a home was a huge step for me, and selling it was painful. For the past few months, I’ve been living in a small apartment that’s still full of boxes and not at all homey. I look at it as more of a stopover on my way to the next house.

I’d love to buy another place, but I’m not sure I can afford it. I want to be able to live comfortably and not have my mortgage consume my entire paycheck. If a friend wants to go out for a glass of wine or dinner, I don’t want to have to turn her down. In addition, I’ve met an amazing man, and I hope our future is bright.

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