I once read an article with this exact idea I can’t afford a house, so why don’t I just be gorgeous and it stuck with me. Not because it felt flippant, but because it felt honest. So this is my own take.
I used to think adulthood came with milestones. A timeline. A loose checklist that everyone pretended wasn’t mandatory but somehow still was.
Graduate.
Get a job.
Save.
Buy a house.
Settle down.
Cool. Love that for everyone else.
I’m 26, I work hard, I’m ambitious, I’m not irresponsible—and the idea of owning a home still feels like a distant, almost mythical concept. Like something reserved for people who bought Bitcoin in 2012 or had parents who explained interest rates before TikTok existed.
So I stopped spiraling. And I made a decision.
If I can’t afford a house… why don’t I just be gorgeous?
Not in the shallow way. Not in the “ignore reality” way. But in the I’m not going to live miserably while waiting for permission to start my life way.
Because here’s the truth no one says out loud:
The world is running a race that feels increasingly unwinnable. Prices go up, expectations rise, timelines stay the same. You’re told to grind, but also to enjoy your youth. To save, but also to “romanticize your life.” To want stability, but not complain when it’s out of reach.
So instead of chasing a version of success that currently feels rigged, I started building something sustainable. Something slower. Something that actually feels like mine.
I stopped measuring my worth by what I don’t own.
I started measuring it by how my days feel.
Do I wake up anxious or intentional?
Am I building skills that compound?
Does my life feel aligned or am I just surviving it?
Being “gorgeous” isn’t about aesthetics (though yes, a good outfit helps). It’s about choosing softness without giving up ambition. It’s about opting out of burnout culture while still wanting more. It’s about realizing that stability doesn’t only come from property, it comes from systems, skills, relationships, and self-trust.
I’m creating a life where I don’t rush just because everyone else is sprinting, I invest in myself before I invest in walls , and I prioritize freedom, creativity, and sustainability over optics.
And honestly? That feels revolutionary.
I don’t want a life that looks impressive but feels fragile. I want one that holds me.
So if I can’t afford a house right now, I’ll afford peace.
I’ll afford health.
I’ll afford joy.
I’ll afford to be well-dressed, well-rested, and well-aligned.
And maybe one day, the house will come.
But even if it doesn’t come when I expected, I’ll already be living a life that feels rich.
Not behind.
Not late.
Just… intentional.