Getting a foot on the property ladder is a huge achievement, especially this day in age. Properties are now more expensive and mortgage providers demand a higher deposit and a better credit score than ever before.
So managing to secure your first home is a massive deal in your adult life, and is one of the best things you can do to set yourself up for a secure financial future. This is because once you own property it will continue to grow in value year on year, plus you can borrow against it if needed using sites like homeequitylineof.credit. These can give you a better rate, and allow you to free up cash when you need it. But how can you go about saving for your deposit in the first place? Here are a few ideas.
See if There’s Any Help Available
Depending on the country and area you live and your circumstances, you might be entitled to some kind of help when it comes to buying a home. Some schemes such as these listed on citizensinformation for example allow people to pay a smaller deposit, two or three percent instead of the usual five to ten. Others have schemes for first-time homebuyers, so it’s worth seeing exactly what kind of help there is out there when it comes to buying a house.
Sort Your Budget
When you’re saving for a big purchase like a house, it makes sense to tighten the belt elsewhere with your finances. The best way to do this is plan your spending, create a budget and stick with it. Anything you have leftover then can then go towards saving for your deposit and isn’t being wasted. Those morning coffee runs, a magazine and a snack a few times a week or a weekend takeaway might not seem that expensive, but they can all add up. So budgeting carefully and then keeping to this is a smart move. Anything you have left after paying your essential bills and other budgeted expenses could be transferred into a savings account and it will quickly add up.
Boost Your Income
Another way to quickly increase those savings is to earn more money. You could take on an extra shift at work for a few months or do some overtime. You could take on a temporary part-time evening job, or even do some work from home. If you sign up to a freelancing site like these highlighted on entrepreneur.com you have the ability to work with it still being flexible. While each piece will have a deadline, you can still control your workflow as you can choose the amount of projects you take on. Every time you have a payout transfer this straight into your house deposit savings account.
Sell What You Don’t Need
Finally, selling what you don’t need is the perfect excuse to declutter while making a bit of extra money. Whether it’s clothes, games, electronics, mobile phones, jewelry- if they’re sitting in cupboards gathering dust why not get rid of them and use the money towards your new house. You could sell on Facebook, through Craigslist, on eBay or even hold a yard sale. Each thing sold will add up to a nice chunk of money that will go to better use for your deposit.
