How To Afford A Home

Whether you own, are looking to buy or hope to in the future, it is a little daunting for many right now. Waiting to see what will happen as house prices are coming down, the cost of living going up, rent still unaffordable, interest rates increasing, all of it.

While prices are coming down in many areas, they are not at affordable levels yet.

Yes, we know interest rates hit 17% for previous generations but the data also shows that was for a short period of time on homes that cost significantly less AND wages, cost of living etc was completely different.

​It is harder now and research from KPMG shows it.

So how can you afford a home?

​How to cope when interest rates keep rising​

​NestPath has some suggestions and shows you some of the help available in this article.

​How to use your home to pay your mortgage outlines ways to make money from the actual house such as renting out a room.

​Tips for first home buyers

​Is it possible to correctly predict and time your first home purchase?​

​How to make your dream home a reality on a budget​

​All about your credit score​

​How to save for a house deposit (this is an older article)

​How to save on housing​

Other Housing Expenses

Aside from the mortgage or rent, you have electricity, water, rates if you own, insurance (home and contents), setting up or maintaining the garden, maintaining or upgrading the home if you own, making the home your own if you rent etc.

It adds up fast and the bills keep coming.

Here are a few tips:
1. Check what rebates you are eligible for to replace items to make your home more efficient. They vary state by state. Check what is available along with other help here.
2. Make sure your concession card is added to your bills to get relevant discounts.
3. Go over these 17 tips to reduce the cost of electricity and these 19 tips to keep cool this summer.
4. Compare your insurance and check what you are actually covered for to make sure if the worst happens, you will be ok.
5. With gardening, learn what grows well in your area, look at what can be grown from a cutting, check for free plants on Facebook etc. You could start with these things to grow to save money.

Our Meal Plan

I went really boring with our meals this week. I made a huge batch of slow cooker bolognese then divided it into portions for the freezer.

Another was a batch of Mexican beans.

I cooked the vegetables I got cheap at the markets and put them in separate containers.

Now, we can do bolognese, minestrone, burritos, rice bowls, quesadillas, whatever we feel like and I don't have to think about cooking much.

Usually I try to do a different meal each week but right now I am tired. So tired from planning, shopping and cooking. I don't even want to deal with meal kits or deliveries or anything.

I do not want to have to think about food!
​​
For bolognese, I do not measure anything. Here is what I did:​
Fry 1 or 2 diced onions with 1 head of garlic (crushed) and some ginger (approx 2cm size), until the onion is soft.
Add 2kg mince and brown. You can do this in batches.
Add cups of whatever sad veggies you need to use e.g. 1 diced capsicum, 1 or 2 grated carrots, 1 grated zucchini, some spinach, whatever you have.
Add 2 tins tomatoes, rosemary and thyme (mine grows in my garden) or Italian herbs to taste, 2 tablespoons tomato paste or more, salt and pepper to taste, 1 bay leaf.
1 cup red wine (you can use stock but we much prefer red wine), some stock cubes or powder, 1/2tsp cinnamon.
Slow cook for 6 hours on low.
The great thing about dishes like this is you get to do it how you prefer and to your own tastes. Want more spice? Add chilli!

Recommended Book

​The Australian Guide to Buying Your First Home: How to Increase Your Income, Manage Your Mortgage and Get Debt-Free by Robbo Roper is so useful for Aussies but lots of the advice can be applied to other countries.

He is the Aussie Mortgage Guy on socials too.

Discounts For You!

​Get all the freebies and discounts here.

The Thrifty Issue Community

For more and to connect with others check out The Thrifty Issue Facebook group, Facebook page, Instagram, Pinterest.​