At 19, this week’s Money Diarist bought her first home. It was a very unglamorous $135,000 unit that she lovingly describes as looking like a retirement village. But while her friends were buying cars and spending their money elsewhere, she and her then-boyfriend decided property was the priority. And it changed what came next. They travelled. Lived overseas. Came home. Bought their family home. Went through IVF. Had their beautiful son. Survived a redundancy. Spent years with her husband working away while she essentially solo parented. And through all of it, they kept doing something remarkably unsexy but incredibly effective: living below their means. No flashy cars. No keeping up with the Joneses. No consumer debt. Then, at 41, her husband looked at their offset account and realised something. They didn’t owe anything on their mortgage anymore. Now they’re 42, completely debt-free and earning around $265,000 as a household. She owns part of the marketing agency she works in, they travel regularly and they finally have serious capacity to build wealth. There’s just one tiny problem. They’re terrified of getting it wrong. They’ve spent more than two decades becoming exceptionally good savers. Now they need to work out how to become investors. And I think this is the part of being “good with money” we don’t talk about enough. Because eventually, saving can only take you so far.

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Acknowledgement of Country By Nartarsha Bamblett aka Queen Acknowledgements.

The advice shared on She's On The Money is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances. She's On The Money exists purely for educational purposes and should not be relied upon to make an investment or financial decision. If you do choose to buy a financial product, read the PDS, TMD and obtain appropriate financial advice tailored towards your needs.  Victoria Devine and She's On The Money are authorised representatives of Money Sherpa PTY LTD ABN - 321649 27708,  AFSL - 4451289