'I've been an avid saver ever since my paper round at 14 - now I've bought my own £139,000 home'
In recent years it has become increasingly tough for first-time buyers to get a foot on the property ladder, especially for those who are doing it alone. Relying solely on one income and one pot of savings means that getting a mortgage and a good enough deposit together can often feel like an impossible task for solo buyers.
"I’ve been an avid saver since I was young. When I was about 14 I had a paper round and I didn’t stop doing that until I was in the first year of college," Sarah, who is now a journalist, told the Manchester Evening News. “I was fortunate enough to live with my mum and dad up until I bought my first house. I started looking to get on the property ladder when I was about 24," Sarah said.
"The house prices around there are obviously high because it's a more desirable area. I couldn't afford to offer anything more than more than £145,000, so the more I was getting turned down on these houses it pushed me to look elsewhere. "I wanted somewhere where I could completely do up the kitchen and bathroom, paint the walls and put new flooring in everywhere.""They turned me down because they wanted more, so in the end I just asked them what they would accept. They said £141,000 which was a no brainer as it was an extra grand which was nothing in terms of the mortgage," she explained.
"I didn't get a mortgage broker because I feel that I’m quite savvy with my money. I'm big on Martin Lewis so I used his mortgage calculator tool and I looked on there to find the best mortgage deal for me. "I bought whatever I needed from wherever was cheapest, whether that was Screwfix, B&Q or Toolstation, even if it was cheaper by pennies I didn't care because they all add up.
Describing her interior style, Sarah said: "It's very simplistic and minimalist, I like a lot of light colours and earthy tones. I just like to try and keep the space as light and airy as possible. "I want to get a nice mantlepiece and then an electric log burner to give it the look of a log burner without the £2,000 price tag."
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