So I'm net surfing last night and come across this little gem of an article. Some dame recounts how much dough she spent when she and her man first moved into their house after they'd been renting for 6 years. I'm not talking about closing costs ... I mean property taxes, insurance, furniture ... the whole housing cost shebang, baby. We're talking 4,800 bucks a year just for utilities in the new house.

This is the reason that Dave Ramsey says to not buy more house than you can afford. It ain't just the digs that cost you the bucks. Between taxes, insurance, and start-up costs, you're looking at spending a pretty penny, even with a budget.

Here's a clue for you ... it's great to own a house, but it's not when the house owns you. So pay off debt, every last bit of it, and have an emergency fund in place before you buy the place where you hang your hat, see? Look for ways to keep your costs in check, and make sure that the house is a blessing, bub ... not a curse.