Saving or building, which is more sensible?

Hello everyone.

A short introduction about me:

I’m Alex, originally from Lower Bavaria, and currently living in Baden-Württemberg near the Swiss border (for about 5 years). I’m 25 years old, trained as a concrete and reinforced concrete builder, then completed my technician degree in construction and have been working as a construction manager for 5 years. During this time, I worked about 1.5 years as a construction manager in residential construction (mainly house building). So I bring some craftsmanship skills as well as an understanding of house construction.

Current situation:

I currently live with my girlfriend, 22 years old, at my grandmother’s house. She is doing her second apprenticeship right now and also studying part-time. About 5 years ago, I completely renovated the attic apartment and invested about 20K. I don’t pay rent or utilities. If you want to put it that way, I pay with my labor, like chopping wood for two households (own forest available), shopping, running errands, etc.

Financial situation:

As I said, I work as a construction manager and earn about €2,000 net. Last year, I was able to save about €1,710 on average per month. My equity currently amounts to about €180,000 and is increasing. Land is available.

Now to my big question, SAVE OR BUILD?

My goal for about 4 years now is to build my dream house by the time I’m 30. If I add everything up, I’ll have about €290,000 available at the start of construction. My girlfriend, no idea, I think about €50,000. Planned construction costs are somewhere around €450,000. Construction costs for a proper house with a basement were about €390,000 turnkey including incidental construction costs (excluding landscaping) about 2 years ago when I was still working in house building. Now the crux: when I look at today’s inflation and construction cost developments, it makes me sick. So the question is whether I should already build turnkey or just use my equity to build the shell.

Problems from my point of view with turnkey building:

No desire. High financial risk. Overload at work (an average of 50 hours a week, sometimes 60 or more in peak times).

Problems from my point of view with the shell construction:

Where do you start and where do you stop? Obviously, shell, roof, windows, and planning for electrical, sanitary, etc. must all be done. But you should consider in planning that technology progresses quickly in many trades, and what is planned and laid in terms of pipes can’t easily be changed. Furthermore, there are trades you pay twice for, like scaffolding, etc. What about damage and vandalism? I could list many more points.

I would be very grateful for your assessment and answers. Of course, I’m always available for questions.

Finally, I still have the question:

Many starters here in the forum state a net income of 3, 4, 5, or even 6,000 €. Guys, what kind of jobs do you have? My income is laughable, and I’m not standing behind an assembly line or anything like that.

Best regards, Alex

Hi Alex, why don't you work in [CH] as a day commuter? There's massively more money there than €2000 net in your job. Then in a few years, when the construction boom calms down again and the companies have more time for the customer (and therefore more care than now), you can pay for everything in cash. That's much nicer, isn't it?

Many thread starters here in the forum state a net income of 3, 4, 5, or even 6,000 €. Guys, what kind of jobs do you have? My income is ridiculous and I’m not standing behind an assembly line or anything like that.

I wonder about that. One point is: you earn more at a desk or in large companies... depending on the industry... Point 2: age also plays a role. You are at the beginning of your career. Point 3: tax class... men have the big black number at the bottom right, the woman cries inwardly.

I currently live with my grandma and my girlfriend, 22 years old, in the house. She is currently doing her second vocational training and studying on the side.

Wait until your girlfriend finishes her studies. Who knows where her job will take her. Maybe you want to follow along. And your grandma will thank you (incidentally).

Alex. Pay attention to the words. Property contains immobile, motionless, inside. Therefore: 1) Where will we/I live in case of separation? Permanently. 2) If an answer can be given, buy a plot of land there. 3) Then keep your feet still and think carefully about who should build what when. With your profession and your connections, an after-work construction project Do it yourself is possible and possibly manageable entirely without credit. My two cents. Karsten

For the first 1.5 years I was a cross-border commuter in Switzerland. They burned me out.
And if you calculate everything, you ultimately earn €300 more in my sector and then I have zero free time left. It's not worth it to me.


My girlfriend works at the most well-known company for paints (they also produce plasters, insulation, etc.) and the headquarters is nearby. Because of that, I don’t think she wants to leave.

Regarding earnings. She earns more than I do once the apprenticeship is completed, with 7.5 hours a day, no costs and time pressure, stress, or overtime, etc.
It’s not about how much you earn, but how much you can save =)

I think my grandma is quite glad that I live in the house. Furthermore, the house has three floors with a stairwell. Grandma is downstairs, the middle floor is rented out, and I’m upstairs.

I have the property. I don’t need to buy it.
Furthermore, you can’t just buy a piece of land in our area. There are selection criteria like, for example, if you have family, what your income is, whether you work in Germany or Switzerland, etc. It’s almost impossible for me to acquire a plot of land.
The house will be paid for by me alone. So no stress in case of separation.

Feet still?
When I look at Germany at the moment, I don’t see anything good.
One point I forgot above.
What if the money dies (to put it bluntly), then more money is lost than many will ever have in their lives, and I start from zero. And the dream of owning a house by 30 is gone.