<prompt> Human: So my SO and I are looking for a house and were at impasse as to how much house we should buy. Here are some rough numbers for our financial situation:Our combined pre-tax income is over 300K. We have one debt with a 1.75 interest rate that we pay approx. 300 a month. Thats it for our current monthly debt. My SO only wants homes in the 1.1-1.2 million range, while I think 1.3-1.4 is more appropriate. Well have a 20 down payment for any of the houses in this range. We have recurring monthly expenses - cell phone, childcare, internet, etc. We dine out on weekends and would like to take a nice vacation yearly. Theres also retirement and college funds to save up for. My SO is convinced that going up to 1.3-1.4 million which roughly puts us at an 25-27 DTI would make us house-poor. Staying at 1.1-1.2 puts us at an 22-24 DTI. SO believes we wont be able to save for retirement, take vacations, eat out, etc., if we buy a bigger home. So does rpersonalfinance have any insight into the difference between a 22 DTI and a 27 DTI, lifestyle-wise? Maybe there is no difference and its personal preference. But if theres anyone out there whos experience one or both and would share how its impacted them, itd be helpful. Thanks!  <response>: 2-3 differences in DTI at that income level is unnoticeable.Id go for the cheaper house just for the fact ideally, its best to buy a house that a single spouses income can cover, not one that requires both spouses. 