Evelyn Anderson

Bought a condo with a dog and thought I was winning, until the HOA dropped a surprise roof assessment in month three. Your math says about 1,750 to 1,900 a month all in with PMI and HOA, which is fine on your income but tight with just 7k left. Condos do save you on lawn and exterior, but appliances and water heaters still die on Fridays, and HOAs can ban certain breeds or limit first floor availability. If you shop, comb the last two years of HOA minutes and reserves, get a first floor for the terrier, and push for seller credits or a rate buydown. If that all feels heavy during busy season, they will happily rent to you another year while you stack to 10 percent and keep your sanity.

I run with my phone too and the slick plastic shells never lasted for me on pavement. switched to a rubbery TPU blend with ribbed sides and it stopped slipping, plus the soft edges soaked up a couple of face down drops on the sidewalk without cracking the case or the phone. For hikes I go a touch thicker at the corners for a bit of air cushion, still pocket friendly. Rain happens. Good enough for drizzle. I do not chase full water sealing at this budget since those usually get bulky and the touch response feels off, so I aim for tight button covers and a flap over the charging port and that has kept water out through drizzles and splashes. If a stand is on your wishlist choose one that sits flush when closed so it does not snag, and check the photos for clean cutouts so charging and sound are not obstructed.

I hate how every app wants a subscription and every bank hides fees while paying pennies in interest. I built my fund with ugly automation I do not have to think about. Open a free online savings, rename it Do Not Touch, and schedule a transfer for the morning after payday so it moves before you see it. I also keep a zero-dollar overdraft setting so a surprise charge cannot claw back the savings. If money is tight that week, I edit the transfer down instead of skipping it entirely. Track it in a simple spreadsheet or a paper index card, not another paid app.

Keep the lights on before funding the lights on the dance floor. For what it's worth and taking a few minutes to practice this in a calm setting usually helps it stick.