Ramit Sethi shares a script to shut down people who judge you for renting: "When I ran the numbers, I realized that buying doesn't make sense for me." The phrase "for me" makes it personal and hard to argue against, though family members may still push back.
You rent, why not just buy? Anyone notice a trend here? Everyone looks at you like you're crazy. You rent, why don't you just buy it? I got to tell you all something. People stopped saying this to me. They stopped saying it to me once I had I Will Teach You to Be Rich and they knew, oh, this guy's— they just thought this guy's a fucking weirdo. But for most people who don't have this kind of stuff, they just think you're stupid. Like, what is wrong with you? Why would you not buy and accrue equity? Don't take it personally. And you can use this little script that I came up with. I would say, you know what, when I ran the numbers, I realized that buying doesn't make sense for me. Notice the phrase I used at the end. That is very intentional. I tested it. For me. When I say for me, it's very difficult to argue with, and that will quietly shut down some of the comments unless it's from your mom or dad, in which case prepare to spend the next 55 years arguing with them.
