Washer, dryer, dishwasher, stove, oven, water heater. That is six major appliances. Your model suggests that they are worth $750 a piece, which is reasonable. 6 * $750 = $4,500 to replace all of them. $4,500 / (5 * 12) = $75/month to replace every single one of those every 5 years. So, that leaves $125/month for all other maintenance. In the six months since purchasing my house, I have spent a grand total of $325 at Home Depot. Of which, $200 was for luxury nice-to-haves (a fancy towel bar, a fan upgrade, and a TV mount). I do not know what other homeowners spend, but that is my domestic burn rate. Consider that the value of my home has increased about $10,000 in those six months, and renters pay my mortgage, I think I am ahead of the game.