GETTING on the property ladder as a young millennial is all about managing your budget, saving scrupulously and being given a £85,000 deposit. Here’s my tips:
Get a job for a little bit
Friends of your wealthy, influential parents will queue up to give you little ‘jobs’ so you can earn ‘money’. It’s hard slogging away three days a week but it means you’re paying your own way symbolically, though you spend all of it and more.
Live at one of your family homes
It was a tough decision, but I sacrificed having my own space to set myself up in the granny flat of our Sevenoaks home. I had my own bedroom, en-suite, kitchen-diner and living room, so it was pretty brutal. But it was worth it for the independence.
No more than four breaks a year
Heartbreaking, right? Saying no to weekends in Florence, mini-breaks in Madrid, that girls’ trip to Dubai. It’s a real challenge to limit yourself. But if you’re serious about home ownership then you have no choice. That fortnight in Cape Town will be all the more special.
Cut your spending
Only three brunches a week, only 15 Ubers a week, and never agree to the fifth gram. It’s all about finding smart solutions.
Tell your parents you’ve done all that and ask for a house
Once you’ve proved to yourself you deserve a house, just ask for one. They’ll recognise your achievement and reward you with a three-bed duplex in Pimlico. I’m so proud of what I’ve achieved, and I want to encourage everyone to never give up and to have rich parents.
