How long have you been saving equity for your house?

In 2009 I moved out of my parents' home into a rental apartment, in 2013 I financed a condominium (5 years old) for €155,000 with €30,000 of equity on my own and also listed alone in the land register. It was advertised on Tuesday, viewed on Thursday, bought on Friday. Even by the standards of the time, it was a bargain and corresponded to what the previous owner paid for the apartment when new in 2008. You have to be lucky. Married in 2016, paid off the apartment by 2020 at age 35 (all in cost about €186,000, thanks to high interest rates back in 2013, made 5% special repayments every year), since then savings rate > €5000 per month. A house is currently not an option for us, the apartment has a market value of > €250,000, accordingly house prices have also risen. Without Corona, we would probably be having quite a good time on vacation now, but instead a few thousand flow into the portfolio...

I find it totally interesting and respect how early some have already bought and/or saved so disciplinedly for the house construction :-) I was/am rather the impulsive type, under 30 I wouldn’t have thought of any of this at all :-D

Was it already decided for you a long time ago that you wanted to have a house and did you save accordingly?

I did not save, only earned.

Or did the desire come later?

As a beginner salary earner, I had different thoughts than worrying about the question of ownership or rent.

Have you always been thrifty and saved up

or did you tend to spend with both hands in the past?

Neither: I earned, paid my fixed costs, and now and then treated myself and bought something. But not in excess and carefully considered. As a result, the account grew, rounded sums were parked in the savings book every few months, sometimes investments over 2-5 years.

Did you deliberately set aside a certain amount every month

If a piece of furniture or a car had to be paid for, then from the account, but only if at least 1/3 of the purchase price was still left.
The idea of ownership came later with moving in together with my partner.
It practically came about by itself.

I don’t believe in strict saving over the long term because it makes you lose focus on life itself.
Self-denial or hardship—that’s what life is too short and valuable for.
In my opinion, there must always be a good feeling about life—the strict saving would be, for me, an unpleasant restriction.

I am not in favor of strict saving in the long run because it causes one to lose the focus of life itself. Life is too short and valuable for mortification or hardship. In my opinion, there must be a continuous good feeling of life - strict saving would be an unpleasant restriction for me.

It clicked quite late for us too - but since then we've been saving about 60% of our income and living happier (!) than before, when we spent everything. Collect memories, not things. :)

Did not really save either, earning well and investing very well was the key to success. It is always better to let the money work for you.