To not make my departure "rude," here is one final word. I have read more in the last few days than anything else. Still, what you mostly find here are "experiences" or "speculations." In very few threads it states: A solid house cost sum xy, a prefab house sum z. Instead, it’s always would, could, and might. Also, due to the different expectations of home builders, a direct comparison is very difficult, which is why I asked here for a direct comparison.
I never claimed that we can properly roof an entire house. I rather meant that the monthly financial cushion we have left later on might be smaller, because we can repair almost everything ourselves. The houses in my family haven’t seen any craftsmen for years either.
On the subject of consumption behavior: very modest. We don’t know vacations and no, we don’t miss anything either. My goal since youth has been to own a house, my priorities are clearly set. My car is 21 years old, cost €4000 seven years ago, and is maintained exclusively by myself. I would buy such an older car in that price range again anytime. My phone is three years old. I fundamentally don’t care for branded clothes, special pieces are wished for on birthdays, and if that’s not possible, an H&M sweater will do. I can hardly understand how you live, but I know how I live and where my priorities lie. I simply grew up without, what you probably consider normal, a “luxury life” with the newest cars, the latest phone model, extensive yearly vacations, and Adidas clothing from head to toe. Instead, I know a life in sand and mud piles, in gravel heaps, I know how to help myself, and a life with family cohesion where it wasn’t strangers who built up the garage, but the whole family pitched in. And imagine this: We all survived it without choking on our own envy because of the neighbor’s car or vacation.
I studied, but apparently work in a "lower" position than I might be capable of due to where I live. With a one to one and a half hour commute, I could have a higher salary on my paycheck. But it doesn’t pay off with the fuel and maintenance costs. My boyfriend didn’t study but had to make up for things like a driver’s license, car purchase (also 20 years old), and other basics from the salary of his first working years, which I virtually inherited from my parents.
In summary, just imagine, we are the little handyman family next door from 20 years ago. Something like that.