Don't be so quick to upgrade the "stuff" you have - cars, phones, computers, etc. You don't realize it and won't admit it but you're playing the "keeping up with the Joneses" game. Your pay increases are better suited to be dumped into entire stock market index funds (VTSAX for example) and left alone. You might just end up in your 40's as financially independent or at least be looking at not needing employment by your 50's.
Occasional upgrades are fine and necessary sometimes but try to outright purchase them, especially cars - start small with what you can fully purchase and save until you can fully purchase the next one.
When you consider buying a house realize you likely need to own that home for 7 years before you reach a break-even point (first years are lot of interest payments). Home ownership has many additional costs people neglect to think through when buying - all the mechanical systems are yours to maintain, the appliances, the upkeep like lawn, paint, pests, HOA dues, property taxes, etc. At least in the last 6-7 years the amount of mortgage interest + taxes hasn't broken the US Standard Deduction for my household so the advantage of lowering your federal income taxes may not be there either.
Occasional upgrades are fine and necessary sometimes but try to outright purchase them, especially cars - start small with what you can fully purchase and save until you can fully purchase the next one.
When you consider buying a house realize you likely need to own that home for 7 years before you reach a break-even point (first years are lot of interest payments). Home ownership has many additional costs people neglect to think through when buying - all the mechanical systems are yours to maintain, the appliances, the upkeep like lawn, paint, pests, HOA dues, property taxes, etc. At least in the last 6-7 years the amount of mortgage interest + taxes hasn't broken the US Standard Deduction for my household so the advantage of lowering your federal income taxes may not be there either.