Saving for a house - it's possible

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Saving for a house - it's possible

3News NZ

Kat Hetaraka's house in Otahuhu

Kat Hetaraka's house in Otahuhu

Owning your own home may seem like a distant dream to many of you, particularly in Auckland.

And we've seen first hand families struggling to make it week to week, let alone put aside savings.

But we've met a young woman who has shown us it is possible - even without any help from the Government, or indeed a handout in this year's budget.

Kat Hetaraka has saved $10,000 in six months.

With her other savings, it's enough for a deposit on a house.

Anna Burns-Francis went with her as she picked up the keys.

NOTE: In response to the feedback posted on this story, Campbell Live has decided to explain Kat's finances further. Firstly, the budget shown on screen is only a sample of some of the costs Kat budgets for. They are accurate, and have been checked. Her ex partner's child support contribution goes towards full time daycare - which is why the figure on screen is only $125, that's Kat's half. Kat's minimum saving was $250 a week - most weeks she put away much more. As explained briefly in the story, Kat previously owned a house with her ex partner. They split up, the house was sold and the profit was divided (after legal costs). This left Kat with the remaining money needed to get a 5% deposit for the house. It was a significant amount less than the $10,000 she saved in six months. We still think that's an incredible achievement, even for someone earning an above-average wage.

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Comments

3/06/2012 5:56:01 p.m.

Me wrote:

This is BS! Who the hell gets 65k? If your lucky the average person might make 35-45k. Not to mention she had absolutely no other costs. What about - gas? Wofs/rego's? I thought it would be inspirational but turned out to be a crock.

2/06/2012 6:22:56 a.m.

M wrote:

This dos not add up to me, firstly a bank gives her a $340k mortgage on a $10k deposit (%3.4)and that onto of her outgoings????????....that has to be the most generous or irresponsible bank in NZ. Sorry Campbell live but this seems more like a "story" or there is more we are not being told here about this womans case.

1/06/2012 10:17:33 p.m.

Solo Dad wrote:

Good to see other people get ahead. I'm in a similar position to this lady, except for one thing: I don't get working for families tax credits, instead I have to pay roughly 15% of my income towards child support, even though I have my daughter roughly 30% of the time during the week. The sad irony is that if I didn't have to pay CS, I could afford to own my house which would eventually go to my daughter. I work full time in a fairly tough professional job; I'm studying towards a Masters degree which I'm paying off myself; and I invest a lot of time with my 11 year old daughter as I want to be a visible father to her. Last week, my landlord advised me that he intends to put the rent up $50 per week. I will probably have to wait until my daughter turns 19 (that's when CS payments cease) before I can even save towards my own house like this lady. I don't come from a rich family, in fact my father has been unemployed most of his life. However, I am determined to get into my own place even if it sometimes feels like I am more disadvantaged than most.

28/05/2012 3:25:17 p.m.

billy bow wrote:

I freeze framed the budget she had on the page and its fantasy mate. No car runnning costs in there at all let alone having to fix or service it. Nothing on clothes, entertainment, one of bills etc. The Food bill is dream land too, once you have added in cleaning products,prsonal health product etc she would have 70 dollars left for food???? Must have money from other sources or it just doesn't add up

26/05/2012 7:40:57 p.m.

MEL wrote:

Disappointed when I watched this, she earns heaps and had money from a previous sale??? $10,000 deposit for a $300,000-400,000 budget, are you kidding us? That's more like a deposit for a $100,000-200,000 budget. Yeah, I also thought it would be an inspirational story - but I ended up annoyed. Was the item attempting to insult minimum wage workers? ... okay, maybe not sure whether the intention was bad but the result was an unsuitable subject, please show us someone more realistic, thanks & great show, always good to get everyone thinking...talking... ;D

25/05/2012 2:47:53 p.m.

dave wrote:

well done to her. Too mnay people waste money. Interesting to see that she does not really need her working for families money so puts it in her daughters savings account. It should go back to the people who earnt it. the tax payer

25/05/2012 1:13:10 p.m.

Eden wrote:

Yes get 340,000 dollars in debt you're successfull?

25/05/2012 12:14:18 p.m.

Scott wrote:

Firstly, $65K a year, is not your typical solo mum. And one figure that was not mentioned was Child Support, how much a week is she getting out of that? If he's on same money, that could be another $150 a week on top!

25/05/2012 9:09:34 a.m.

Heather wrote:

I have to say, yes impressive, but she is earning A LOT of money! I've been proud of putting aside $20 a week for a house because that's all there is, nothing is wasted, I always stick to budget and that's all there is. AND I happen to know $20 a week toward a house would be a dream for a lot of people.

25/05/2012 8:58:42 a.m.

Tracey wrote:

Whats irritating about this story is thats its not honest about how much her house deposit was, she had money from a previous house sale - that COMPLETELY contradicts the whole purpose of the story - ie that she saved for the house. 10k is no way enough for a house deposit on a 350k property, so the majority of the deposit came from that previous sales profit - well most ppl can afford a house if they've profited from another one first. Me and my husband are about to have our first baby so our income will reduce to about what she is earning, and with a 30k deposit we would still only be able to afford propertys under 250k which in auckland limits you to the crap suburbs or an apartment. And as a side note i am great with money, save way more than she is to get us our deposit, and we're prudent with our weekly expenses and will continue to be that way to ensure we can live on one salary while i raise the kids. Would be nice to see a story where the facts haven't been twisted or sugar coated.