Today, I have a guest post featured on Making Sense of Cents. Below is a snippet, but please click on over to read the whole post.
I was one of those weird kids that couldn’t wait to graduate from college. I’ve always had a long-term focus and viewed college as a stepping stone. One day during my freshman year, I remember walking to class with a friend saying that I couldn’t wait to graduate and start making some money. My friend turned to me with an incredulous look and confessed he planned to live it up while he could.
On a Mission
Needless to say, I probably didn’t enjoy college as much as others did. I had too strong of a focus on life after college to ensure that I’d reach the life goals that I had set up for myself. I wanted to obtain a good job, get married, buy a house and fill it up with some kiddos.
Of course, what actually ended up happening did not follow the order that I had envisioned. But, I can honestly say I love the way things turned out.
I graduated from college in three years and right after the dotcom bubble burst. As I’m sure you know, there weren’t a ton of jobs floating around at the time. But I obtained one at an insurance company and was making a decent salary.
My Gracious Parents
Fortunately, I was able to live at home with my parents. Even better, they didn’t charge me rent. I convinced them that if I lived at home that I could take the money that I would have paid towards rent and apply it towards the down payment for a house.
They agreed that this was a good plan. I started to save up money as quickly as possible. Within two years, I was able to accumulate $80,000 for a down payment and started to look for houses in my price range.
I quickly learned that the housing market had exploded since I went to college. My parents’ house, which they had bought five years earlier, was now worth three times what they had paid. There I thought I had a great, sizeable down payment to put into a luxury home, and then reality hit me.
I just read your story and loved it! 🙂
Ms. Frugal Asian Finance recently posted…3 Frugal Wins & 2 Frugal Fails – Aug 23
Thanks for stopping by!!! Glad you enjoyed the article 🙂
Yes, I very much enjoyed your article and the tips you provided!
Glad you enjoyed it Belle!!!
Congrats on the MSOC feature! Heading over to read it now. 🙂
Mrs. Picky Pincher recently posted…Mkay, what is up with our side hustle obsession?
Thanks I was really pumped for the opportunity to guest post 🙂
Nice feature and good read!
FIbythecommonguy recently posted…DIY Fence Build
Thanks!!! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Thanks for sharing your story. Finding employment opportunities in the late 90’s was more difficult than today. My parents also gave me some help and guidance. Not having a mortgage frees up lots of money every month.
Dave recently posted…London on a Budget: Part 2
Thanks for sharing Dave!!! The job market has definitely had some bumps over the past couple of years. I can’t even imagine being able to find a dream job out of college like some people do today.
I clicked, I came back, I’m not sure when bloggers started doing this but I sorta like it…it’s very polite. We’re saying hi to both bloggers haha.
Lily @ The Frugal Gene recently posted…The Dying Middle Class – “Two American Families” (PBS Frontline) – Film For The Weekend
Thanks for reading Lily!!! Glad you enjoyed the set up 🙂
Awesome article. I left a message on the MSOC blog.
Jeff @ Maximum Cents recently posted…Path to FIRE: Overtime At Full Time Job or Side Hustle?
Thanks Jeff!!! Appreciate it!!!
Awesome feature!
Grace recently posted…7 Five Dollar (And Under) Makeup Products You’ll Wish You Found About Sooner
Thanks Grace!!!
Just read your post. Great going!
Thanks Tim!!! Appreciate it!!!