Hardware stores make money, which in turn manufacturers make money.The list goes on. 

That's 6 months more of your Dentist's income, in LA, through your wallet!

Some of that was to price shop for materials between the two, but a lot was to compare different material selection/choices such as flooring, tile, hardware, lighting, etc.

Keep a tight grip on your wallet and your emotions in check.

Maybe consider leaving your wallet at home if you do not have much money.

I guess your really going to need BIGGER POCKETS.P.S You still owe me for that time you didn't bring your wallet to lunch.

I've been working in Tualatin for over 2 years now as a Hardware engineering at Lam Research and will soon be starting a career with Daimler Trucks North America.I have been saving a good chunk of my pay and been sheepishly investing in robo advisors and safe index funds.

Ultimately we ended up moving to Redding in the summer of 2010 and this added about a year to our shopping process since we now needed to learn a new town.After running numbers every which way on my excel sheet I decided that if we could buy a multi family for $50k/door or less the building would meet my desired results of making double payments on it's mortgage w/out me having to pull out my wallet, or it would pay the mortgage and pay me an equal payment in terms of cash-flow (at least given the rents in my area this quick rule would give me a fairly accurate filter).In 2011 we got an accepted offer of $194k on a 4-plex in Redding CA  and were able to rent the units for $685/mo. while living in one of the units.

That means that even though they've much smaller wallet share than my rent they go behind me in getting paid.

A valuable lesson here is even if you loose your wallet at home or wherever always file a police report and or cancel any credit cards you may have.