I am thankful that we own our own home because it means we don't have to panic about the rent going up each year.

However, owning your own home means you must be financially able to comfortably pay property taxes, homeowner insurance, HOA fees, and maybe flood insurance each year, and all of those costs can increase over time. You must also be able to comfortably afford to pay for home repairs. All of that is stressful.

I really wish, though, that my city would fully embrace the tiny house movement. That's what my husband and I truly need--a smaller, less expensive house--as long as it could be centrally located. But in my city, tiny homes are only allowed in trailer parks, which are all located in the boonies. There is no concept even of a starter home here.