u/Jack-Mehoff-696969

My dad just dropped a bombshell on me(21M) yesterday and I’m struggling to decide what I should do next. Currently live in the basement that has a bathroom, kitchen, etc it’s a full apartment and paying $700/m. Yesterday he just dropped a bomb saying he’s going broke and might have to sell the house and I might have to start looking for a place. My plan to move out was to pay my car loan off ($24k) and save $50k before moving out. I currently have $24.5k saved up. My question is should I try to buy a house or rent an apartment for a little while? I think I can swing it if I get a USDA loan and get closing cost covered. I’m just worried because everyone always talks about the hidden cost of a house. I’m handy and can do repairs myself for simple stuff that happens. My current financials.
-24.5k saved up
-Only debt is car loan $24,300 (500/m)
-make $48.66/hr + $75-300 in zone pay depending where I work. I get a raise to $52.40/hr in September, $59.89 next September, and around $80/hr in 2 years when I get my elevator mechanic license.
-take home $1500/week currently
-weekly expenses:
-$100 union dues, $145 Roth IRA, $50 to car maintenance savings, $300-400 credit card bill(pay off weekly) for groceries, gas,tolls,etc
I’m in the Philly metro area so homes around $200-250k are findable

I’m curious if anyone reverse commutes from manayunk and how bad it is. I’m 21 and currently live in South Jersey just over the bridge. I worked for the elevator union in the city and our work area is huge. I can be in center city, next day Atlantic City, Newark Delaware, Longbranch,etc. We cover half of PA,NJ, and DE. I’m torn between getting a house near where I am now or a townhouse in manayunk. There’s nothing to do near me and whenever I drive through manayunk I love the vibe and the commute home is one of the only things holding me back from moving. Not as worried about mornings I leave the house between 4-5am

How can I stop stressing about money? I have no reason to be stressing about money but I always am. I’m 21M make $100k+ and have since 19, no debt other than car loan, max my Roth IRA, have union insurance, live in my dads basement for now, and paying my car off next month. I’m always stressing about money though, I check my credit card every day seeing how much I spent and try to save every penny. I can’t do anything or make plans without thinking how much it’ll cost. It ruins my life, vacations, and even dinners. Main reason I’m posting this is I’m taking my mom out to a nice steakhouse for mothers day today. Whenever I go out to dinner I can’t stop adding everything up in my head and seeing how much it is costing. I want to be able to live in the moment and enjoy life without being so stressed all the time