If your only 403b contributions are through one employer, payroll should automatically stop at the maximum. Just make sure you don't save at a rate too high that you max early and miss out on match if there isn't a true up provision.

If you're at a single employer for the entire year, most payrolls will cut off their employees automatically at the max.

Speak to your HR for confirmation.

At first blush you don't seem to have enough to qualify but you are right there are a lot of programs out there.

I would see if they have a, "first time home buyer program" for your specific state/local.

https://www.hud.gov/states

look up the WARN act for your state. Depending on timing, you may be part of the mass layoff group and entitled to the same treatment as the larger group.

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I don't really do much since I keep things updated throughout the year. My regular monthly or bimonthly "maintenance" is:

• update share totals in my spreadsheet for all investments - I have it fetch quotes, so it stays pretty accurate even if I forget to update share totals
• double check to make sure bills are being paid on time
• check FICO score and report (I use Experian app)
• review and categorize transactions in my PF app
• transfer HSA funds into my Fidelity HSA (I do this about 4x/year)

But there are a few things I do approximately yearly:

• checking all of my credit cards to make sure I have spent something on them - I don't want them getting closed from inactivity, and I have a bunch
• review yearly average spending across categories (I do this once or twice in the middle of the year too), and set goals for next year
• look at auto and home insurance premiums to decide if I should shop around - I'll be looking for both before April
• change password on important accounts
• gather estimates from my wife for taxes so I have a feel for what that should look like (I model taxes in my spreadsheet)

I’d recommend a first time homebuyers course like this one from Fannie Mae to get you started and help you learn about what goes into qualifying! The first time homebuyer subreddit is also super helpful. House hacking/renting rooms can be a great way to get started but it isn’t risk free, so making sure you have enough cash to cover emergencies after closing is critical.

The new provision taking place in 2024 allows 529 accounts that have been opened for at least 15 years to convert to roth so just opening the account and funding it minus the last 5 years is well worth it imo in both furthering a degree and doubling as a 35k roth vehicle which depending on your age can be more beneficial the younger you are.

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/student-loans/best-529-plans/#the_best_overall_529_plans_section

We are not young, almost 42 and almost 48.

They probably did let you go right before your anniversary date. Unfortunately that is how it works and that is why they put those dates in there.

My wife was let go the day before her two year anniversary date from a job (when two years was the magic number for things vesting).

When they look to downsize, I can basically guarantee you they are looking at the list of people who are about to vest and picking from that list.

It comes down to what is most important to you. You may have the opportunity to make more but at what cost to the life that you have grown accustomed? Being remote, having the ability to step away, these are things that are hard to put a price on? Additionally, if you believe in the company, the profit sharing should have the ability to allow for continued growth.

I would recommend reading the richest man in Babylon.

5k is pretty nice every money extra money.

I would learn of ways to invest is in ways that have the best tax advantages on returns.

Your loan to value is not great (down payment Vs house price cost). Also, not sure what the implications are if you were to tell your mortgage advisors you intend to let out a room. Plus you will be entering a while other space in terms of getting electrical and gas certification etc if I'm not mistaken.

Just being brutally honest. You will absolutely not be approved for even a 240k mortgage making 34k and only 10 down.

You need to double your cash for down payment, closing, and emergency fund, then cut your purchase price budget by at least half of the low end. Even then you will possibly need additional earned income.

Are you wanting to invest for retirement or for some other goal?

if for retirement, open a Roth IRA at Fidelity, Schwab, or Vanguard. You can open online. Pick a Target Date Retirement Fund that’s close to the year you turn 65 as your investment. Send your money to new account. You can put up to $6000 a year in IRA, as long as you have income earned from employment.

I bond, is at 6%. You can only do a max of 10k/yr. Which means you can get 20k in the next 2 weeks. There are rules to it, so look it up.

Broad market index funds. If it goes to zero, the world has ended and money doesn't matter. Not saying it won't lose value at times, but takes out all single company risk.

Are you employed? Does your employer offer a 401k? Do you want to save this money for retirement or a shorter-term goal?

This seems tight from a budget standpoint. Best advice I can have for you is don’t have any other debt.

Where are you? How old? What do you have for savings now?

These all make a difference.

There a flowchart in the Personal Finance Wiki..

https://reddit.com/r/personalfinance/w/index

If you're currently employed, open up a Roth IRA. There is a book you can borrow from your local library. The Little Book of Common Sense Investing by John Bogle. This book was written for beginner investors emphasizing investing in broad market ETFs like VTI or VOO for their simplicity. Just set it and forget it even during market corrections until you retire. Broad market ETFs for the win.

Vanguard auto contributions into VTSAX in a taxable brokerage or roth ira Or Fidelity into FZROX in a taxable brokerage or roth ira

Your only option would be if your break the lease cost would be cheaper overall for you. It’s about 5000 in savings so if you break the lease penalty is like 3000 then it would save you money overall so you’d have leverage. But if the break the lease is 6000 the. You have no leverage.

I rolled over a 401k at fidelity to an IRA. Investments stayed the same.

I later rolled an IRA from another brokerage firm into the fidelity one and same thing, investments stayed the same. Same with some taxable accounts I consolidated to my fidelity taxable account.

I initiated the transfers from fidelity and they handled any of the backend work with the other firms.

You can negotiate in 10 mo. Or you can break your lease if there's an early termination clause. Otherwise stop price comparing after you've already made the purchase, it can only make you unhappy