How do you know that the excess water consumption was due to excessive use of washer rather than other habits like extra-long showers, leaving the tap open in the kitchen the entire time while cooking, etc. 

@Marquel Butler Not a lot of options here unless you qualify for DPA (downpayment assistance), local housing assistance grant, or gift funds from a close family memberKeep in mind though that with a DPA or grant, they usually have additional restrictions on top of FHA restrictions, namely a longer period of residence (some grants require habitation for 2 years) or repayment (if it is not a grant) at a potentially higher rate than FHA loan.

Financially speaking, I had to start saving every penny I could, so my spending habits changed as well and I became very frugal.

I wouldn't necessarily make a habit of it. 

Get in the habit of maintaining your properties and you'll get less maintenance calls. 

Yes, money can provide future freedom and I think we can all look at our own personal habits to see how we are spending time and resources.

Different people certainly can have different sensitivities.It IS the LL responsibility to provide a safe, habitable residence, but the Tenant must give proper notice of a problem.

Asking a lot of questions to gain the best understanding of the situation at hand is vital. 

You will also need to install cabinetry and countertops, and you may want to consider adding a small stove or oven if you plan to do more extensive cooking in the space.Finishes: Finally, you will need to finish the interior of the garage to make it suitable for habitation.

You will not learn it all in a week, a month, or a year... they key is to make educating yourself a habit that you do not skimp out on.