How to Own Your First Home Sooner

 It seems that the dream of buying your own home has gotten further out of reach for most young people over the last ten years. While there are still ways that you can secure your own place, it may take a bit of creativity to be able to get there while you are still young. The following are just some of the ways you can have your own home sooner.

Start Saving Early

The sooner you start saving, the sooner you will be able to move into your own place, no matter what kid of home you are looking for. Once you decide you want a house, start putting aside as much money each week as you can, so that you will have a larger chunk of money to play with. Having some decent savings may mean you won’t have to borrow so much money, if any at all.

Kit Homes

Most people think that buying a home has to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, though this isn’t necessarily the case. Whether you are looking for a 2-bedroom place or something a bit larger, kit homes are significantly cheaper than regular houses, making them extremely attractive options. Buying a rel="dofollow" kit home will likely mean you are spending an amount closer to what you can actually afford, and saving lots of money on mortgage repayments too.

Buy With Someone

If you are eager to move into a home of your own though can’t afford it just yet, it may be worth teaming up with a friend who is also looking at buying property. Combining your money will make it far easier to be able to afford a place, and it can be relatively simple sub-dividing a house so that the two of you have your own sections.  This is a great way to have a friend as your immediate neighbour as well as put a stop to the endless paying of rent.

Get Creative

Often people will have enough money for land but not a house, making their first home so close yet so far. If you are willing to get creative, you can turn this situation to your advantage and buy land that is vacant and start building your own structures on it. For example, a lot of people have begun improvising and making homes for themselves out of shipping containers, which while only costing a few thousand dollars, can actually provide quite a decent living space. Windows and doors can be made and for a very small amount of money, a great little liveable space can be created. You will still need approval from the local council to live in it, though this is a fabulous option for people who want to slowly save for a bigger and better place, while living in a cool creation and saving money on rent at the same time.

Win One

It definitely does happen, but the chances of you winning a house are quite slim, though unless you are in the draws, it’s true that you are no chance at all. It’s not the most solid plan for getting a house, though if you want to support the charities anyway, it may be worthwhile getting a ticket in the house lotteries every now and again, as you never know, you might just win it!

A Table Lamp

I saw this table lamp at a souvenir store in my city.   A beautiful one that can attract every visitor who comes to the store.

Making Better Use of a Spare Room

Is your spare room going to waste? Are you just using it store all your unwanted things? The good news is that it doesn’t have to be a place where you store everything from old text books to sporting equipment. It doesn’t take a lot of effort – or money - to turn it into something more useable and practical. Here are some ideas to make better use of it.

Turn it into a home office

If you work from home, need somewhere for the kids to do their homework or just a place to keep your computer and household paperwork, the spare room is just crying out to be converted into a home office.

It doesn’t take much to do and it doesn’t have to cost the earth. Look at adding a sturdy desk that can fit a computer while leaving yourself room to work. Get a good chair that is comfortable and supportive. Add a filing cabinet for important documents and some other storage, such as a cupboard or shelving, and you are well on your way to creating the perfect work space.

Just remember to check if there are plenty of powerpoints and other connections, such as a phone point for a modem.

Kids’ playroom

Tired of the kids making a mess in the lounge room and family room? Then take it out of sight by creating a kids’ playroom in the wasted spare bedroom. It also provides the perfect opportunity to take some of the toys out of their bedrooms that contribute to the clutter.

Adding a television (and the inevitable gaming systems that go with them) can also add a solution when it comes to arguments over the TV remote.

Throw in a couple of bean bags, some simple storage for their toys and you have an escape that kids of all ages will love. You can even add a cheap sofa bed which comes in handy when you have visitors stay overnight.

Craft room

If you love to sew, knit, scrapbook or do anything else creative then the spare room can become a haven. Adding a simple table can provide a platform for a sewing machine, while some simple storage solutions such as cupboards provide the perfect place to keep all of your materials.

By keeping the floor clear of clutter you also give yourself plenty of room to spread out while working rather than taking up space in high traffic areas of the home. Using the spare room as a craft room also means you can close the door on a half-finished project and come back to it later without fear of it being disturbed.

Home gym

There is no need to pay expensive gym membership if you have a spare room at home. It is easy to turn into your own personal home gym, especially if you already have some of the equipment. You don’t have to be a gym junkie to make the most of it either – adding an exercise bike and/or a treadmill is more than enough. It gives you a place to exercise in private and whenever you want.

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A Gorilla's Portrait

Captured by my husband during our visit to the Ragunan Zoo (Jakarta, Indonesia).  Amazing critter indeed.

The Weekend in Black and White