I was 29 when I bought the house. Single, good job, no kids — I thought it was time to “build equity.” That’s what all the blogs said. My parents too. “Renting is just throwing money away.” So I bought. 3-bed, 2-bath, quiet cul-de-sac. It felt like a milestone. But here's the truth: I never really wanted that house. I didn’t want to mow lawns on Saturdays. Didn’t want to spend $12,000 fixing a roof after a windstorm. Didn’t want to stay at a job I hated just to make the mortgage work. But that’s exactly what I did — for almost 8 years. I was trapped. By granite countertops, by what I thought success was supposed to look like. Selling that house was the most liberating financial move I’ve ever made. I broke even, barely. But I gained something better — flexibility. Now I rent a small apartment downtown. I can walk to work. I travel more. I sleep better. So yeah — biggest regret? Buying into someone else’s version of “stability.” I should’ve asked myself what I wanted, not wha #Finance #MakeMoney #MoneyMistakes