A young worker who wants to travel as well as save money on her mortgage cuts back on essential groceries and buys heavily discounted food close to the due date to finance her lifestyle.
Ange Touch, 25, recently moved from Melbourne to Brisbane and works from home in a marketing job.
Amid the cost of living crisis, she wants to save for a mortgage and still travel – something she has done successfully so far, having been to Europe this past year.
She now plans to visit Japan, Cambodia and Thailand by New Year’s Eve, and hopes to see more of Southeast Asia and the United States in the coming years.
But to achieve this difficult goal, she has cut back on grocery shopping to build up her savings.
“Like many others, I have had to make a number of adjustments in response to the rising cost of living,” she told Daily Mail Australia.
‘Groceries, shopping and going out are areas I have cut back on as the money doesn’t seem to stretch as far as it used to.
“We’re all feeling it in our own way, but I’ve had to prioritize certain expenses over others during these difficult times.”
A work-from-home professional has revealed she is cutting back on essential shopping so she can save for a mortgage payment and travel
She now also buys fruit and private label products at a discount.
“I’m definitely going for an odd group and lowering the quality of the fruits and vegetables I use in cooking,” she said.
‘I also don’t spend much on pre-packaged snacks and food, because they are always more expensive.
“I’ve noticed that I’m much more likely to go for private label items and only buy things on sale – at least 40 percent off unless absolutely necessary – and even go for products close to their expiration dates for the deep discount.”
She also buys meat and seafood in bulk and keeps more of it in the freezer.
“I prioritize buying the best quality in things like meat and seafood, so I just focus on buying things in bulk to save money and freezing it,” she said.
Ms. Touch has also cut back on restaurants and gym classes.
“I’ve gotten smarter about grocery shopping: prepping meals for the week and limiting how much I eat out,” she said.
‘I’m also paying more attention to social activities and how often I spend money on things like festivals, fitness classes and other outings.’
Her goal is to buy a house in Melbourne’s southeast with a 20 percent mortgage deposit and she has invested her savings in a Stockspot account to boost her returns.
“I aspire to be a homeowner within a few years,” she said.
“Definitely a house, I would love to have a backyard.”
She wants to both buy a house and still travel, having recently spent six weeks in Europe and a week in Cambodia
‘While I continue to prioritize traveling and exploring new places, my savings will ultimately be used for a home deposit.
“For me it’s about finding a home I love, not just fulfilling the traditional Australian dream of owning property.”
Melbourne’s south-east is still affordable. Frankston North has an average house price of less than $600,000, which is achievable for the average, full-time worker with a salary of $100,000.
This is significantly cheaper than a comparable Brisbane suburb such as Caboolture, which is the midpoint at $726,735.
Property values in Melbourne have fallen in the past year due to the state government’s $975 investor tax, but in Brisbane values have risen 24 per cent thanks to strong interstate migration.
Ms Touch isn’t too concerned about entering the market without a 20 per cent mortgage deposit to avoid lender mortgage insurance, and sees the potential of subsidies for the first home buyer.
Her goal is to buy a house in Melbourne’s south-east with a 20 percent mortgage deposit and she has invested her savings in a Stockspot account to boost her returns.
“No set time frame, maybe in the next few years, but not rushed at all,” she said.
The professional said she hoped to achieve her goals without completely depriving herself of life’s luxuries.
“My advice is to find a balance between saving and spending so that you maintain a healthy relationship with your finances,” she said.
“Save as much as you can, especially if you’re working toward a goal like a vacation or a home deposit.
‘But don’t deprive yourself either: if you can afford something you want, go for it.
“After all, you worked hard for your money and it’s up to you how you spend it.”