Realizing a Dream
I never wanted to rely on meeting a man to fulfill my dream of home ownership. Once I hit 30 and after years of share housing I returned home to Mum and Dad’s (big thank you) so I could save for a house deposit which I did in 2 years.
I paid them a minimal board ($50/week) and this included many luxuries which you take for granted when you’re out on your own e.g. home cooked meals, Internet, a warm house, cleaning etc.
Being young I still wanted to save money without looking drab. I had my Mum cut my hair and do bottle coloring myself; also in the beauty department I learnt how to tint my eye lashes myself. This usually costs $20 every 6-8 weeks. I buy the $20 kit from Priceline and this lasts at least two years, saving $320. I shaved my legs instead of getting expensive waxing. No gym membership for me, put on the sneakers and head out the door with the dog for a walk and met more of my neighbours or listened to talking books on my iPod. In that vein libraries are a great source of borrowing books and DVDs instead of buying or renting them and you give them back so you don’t clutter up your house, a win win.
So I didn’t feel like I was missing out on the 'pub scene' I found a part-time job on Friday and Saturday nights at the local pub where my friends usually hung out. I’m not one for budgeting well but I got into my head simple reminders, e.g. so I didn’t feel like I was missing out on the daily caffeine fix at work I bought my favourite instant coffee (ALDI brand) and had that at work. One $3 jar lasts 6 - 8weeks instead of $3.50/day. That alone saved $820 a year!
After 2 years I bought myself a cute little house, not in the most fashionable suburb but a great private sale buy for $250,000. Two years later I bought an investment unit in the inner city for $300,000, sold my cute little house for a great profit $400,000 (yes it was boom time) and bought in a suburb which I love.
I hear people say the property market is too hard to get into but you must make priorities. Do you need the latest big screen TV and perhaps you can’t buy a big five bedroom house in Toorak or North Sydney first off but you have to start small and work from there.
I now hang around with likeminded people who mainly want to save but mostly in a sustainable way for the earth (which is usually cheaper to).
We don’t need to have the latest iPhone to think we are great. We find joy in nature, gardening and animals instead of the latest shallow Hollywood blockbuster or Gucci fashion statement. I still have the saving bug so I can pay off my mortgage ASAP. My Mum loves craft so makes cards for me to give to people and also repairs my clothes.
When my dad visits we usually have a fix-it session instead of calling a local tradie. I have learnt the best veggies to grow that take little input for big output: potatoes – never need to reseed, pumpkins and zucchinis – produce over and over again all summer, lettuce and tomatoes – easy to grow, strawberries – continually give berries, onions and garlic – very easy to grow and keep.
I now breed and sell guineas pigs, chickens and rare ducks. This brings in income while doing something I love. Backyard chickens are very popular at the moment and sell like hot cakes. Guinea pigs mow and fertilize my lawn for free. They take very little input for great output!
Now that I have my house in a suburb I love and an investment property if I feel like I’m deprived I remind myself of what I have and what the person I am envious of has (usually a renter!).
Victoria Sheehy
I paid them a minimal board ($50/week) and this included many luxuries which you take for granted when you’re out on your own e.g. home cooked meals, Internet, a warm house, cleaning etc.
Being young I still wanted to save money without looking drab. I had my Mum cut my hair and do bottle coloring myself; also in the beauty department I learnt how to tint my eye lashes myself. This usually costs $20 every 6-8 weeks. I buy the $20 kit from Priceline and this lasts at least two years, saving $320. I shaved my legs instead of getting expensive waxing. No gym membership for me, put on the sneakers and head out the door with the dog for a walk and met more of my neighbours or listened to talking books on my iPod. In that vein libraries are a great source of borrowing books and DVDs instead of buying or renting them and you give them back so you don’t clutter up your house, a win win.
So I didn’t feel like I was missing out on the 'pub scene' I found a part-time job on Friday and Saturday nights at the local pub where my friends usually hung out. I’m not one for budgeting well but I got into my head simple reminders, e.g. so I didn’t feel like I was missing out on the daily caffeine fix at work I bought my favourite instant coffee (ALDI brand) and had that at work. One $3 jar lasts 6 - 8weeks instead of $3.50/day. That alone saved $820 a year!
After 2 years I bought myself a cute little house, not in the most fashionable suburb but a great private sale buy for $250,000. Two years later I bought an investment unit in the inner city for $300,000, sold my cute little house for a great profit $400,000 (yes it was boom time) and bought in a suburb which I love.
I hear people say the property market is too hard to get into but you must make priorities. Do you need the latest big screen TV and perhaps you can’t buy a big five bedroom house in Toorak or North Sydney first off but you have to start small and work from there.
I now hang around with likeminded people who mainly want to save but mostly in a sustainable way for the earth (which is usually cheaper to).
We don’t need to have the latest iPhone to think we are great. We find joy in nature, gardening and animals instead of the latest shallow Hollywood blockbuster or Gucci fashion statement. I still have the saving bug so I can pay off my mortgage ASAP. My Mum loves craft so makes cards for me to give to people and also repairs my clothes.
When my dad visits we usually have a fix-it session instead of calling a local tradie. I have learnt the best veggies to grow that take little input for big output: potatoes – never need to reseed, pumpkins and zucchinis – produce over and over again all summer, lettuce and tomatoes – easy to grow, strawberries – continually give berries, onions and garlic – very easy to grow and keep.
I now breed and sell guineas pigs, chickens and rare ducks. This brings in income while doing something I love. Backyard chickens are very popular at the moment and sell like hot cakes. Guinea pigs mow and fertilize my lawn for free. They take very little input for great output!
Now that I have my house in a suburb I love and an investment property if I feel like I’m deprived I remind myself of what I have and what the person I am envious of has (usually a renter!).
Victoria Sheehy