Your Income Should not Define Your Dreams
Andie* was divorced at 28 with two little children ages 6 and 4, her own parents were completely worried. Even if the father regularly sent in child support, she was financially vulnerable. She spent the next 12 years working odd jobs so that she can provide with the essentials. Now, she and her kids managed to live decently in an apartment she bought in Coquitlam, with no plans to remarry. During those times, she was able to secure her retirement savings, emergency funds and some amount tucked in somewhere so that she can send her children to college. She must then be a business woman or a doctor or something? Nope! She is a school teacher and also knocked it out of the park as a storybook writer.
When asked how she was able to save and buy her own property, she explained said two things:
Look beyond
“Your current income should not define your dreams. If you are to blame money not to get that house you fell in love with, well guess again! Somebody will find that house and take it. That goes the same with having custody of my children. If I was scared because I was jobless, less educated woman, then somebody will take my kids away.” she says. That holds true with personal dreams. Don’t let your current situation constrain you. “Sometimes it’s all about ego”, she ads. The love of yourself (to achieve something) is a very powerful motivator. You look beyond the limitations of the present and work your way out no matter how rough the situation gets...it’s called perseverance.
How did she do it? That leads to the second thought
Educate yourself
Andie know nothing about handling finances. But she immersed herself with information on how to live with her means. In the early days of her single-parenthood, she rented an apartment 30 minutes away from work. Luckily her mother pitched in to look after the kids. She also took par-time jobs that most college students hate. Then she added units in Education that qualified her to salary increase. With her first children’s book published with good royalty sent quarterly, she was able to set enough funds for retirement and college. Now that her savings established she rekindled her dream: get a property under her name.
Again, education plays a major role. She went into digging: not of properties for sale, but for an real estate agent she can trust. She had read a lot about fraudulently-appraised properties, scams and other mistakes of buying a property, and she is not to fall unto one. Getting a real professional, be it a doctor, an agent or a lawyer will genuinely help with your goals, especially if investing is involved. “Trust is priceless... better spend for somebody trustworthy rather than get somebody for free then scam you afterwards”
She then made a point to the agent that she wants a simple condo near her work: no frizz amenities. This saved her a thousands of dollars by trimming off features she will not use. “Why have a jacuzzi when everybody else in the condo building uses it? And besides I will be paying for it monthly when I only seldom get the chance to use it!” Well, people have different opinion about spending on luxury, but this woman wants to get what her hard-earned money is worth.
This might sound like a script from those rags to riches movies. But the idea remains the same: There are real-life Andies, Jobs or Zuckerbergs out there who made it. When will your turn be?