<prompt> Human: Paying off student debt, making an emergency savings, contributing to different retirement funds, etc.; I agree with all these ideas that have been drilled in rpersonalfinance and have been trying to practice them. But how is it possible to really live within these confines at the very beginning of your financial journey?I just graduated from college and have been living at home for the first few months while paying off student loans, so I cant really say that its impossible from experience. Yet, from what research Ive been doing into renting vs buying an apartment, looking to buy a car, etc., it just seems impossible to do the financially smart thing every time. Specifically, Ive been seriously considering buying a starter home of some sort by next year sometime, but by having enough to make a down payment would entirely wipe out any savings Ive made up to that point.The idea of having a home to build equity on is nice in regards to longevity, but it would leave me crippled in the short term as I rebuild my fundssavings. So for all of you rpersonalfinance, how did you know you were ready to buy a home versus renting an apartment?Edit: I feel like some more detail needs to be added. The only reason Im contemplating this is because I will have paid off all my student loans 15,000 within the next two weeks. This has only been possible because Ive been living at home and and paying off the loans aggressively since graduating and beginning work.Edit2: Thanks for all the input. I think Ill be going down the renting path after hearing all this. Really, appreciate the sharing of experience and knowledge on here.  <response>: One thing to remember: when you rent, your rent payment is the ceiling for what your housing will cost you that month; when you own, your mortgage payment is the floor for what your housing will cost that month. 