>> I probably could've just taken a job at a bank or some big tech co in Amsterdam and afforded the same or even nicer a year or two later.
Yes, but now you know how to fully renovate a previously-deemed-uninhabitable house.
Many, especially people that make large $ in tech may disagree, but I find this to be extremely valuable knowledge & experience. Tangent, but I experience second hand humiliation & embarrassment when I see an adult paying hundreds into thousands of dollars for something that can be fixed in well under an hour with basic tools.
Yes, but now you know how to fully renovate a previously-deemed-uninhabitable house.
Many, especially people that make large $ in tech may disagree, but I find this to be extremely valuable knowledge & experience. Tangent, but I experience second hand humiliation & embarrassment when I see an adult paying hundreds into thousands of dollars for something that can be fixed in well under an hour with basic tools.