We started our search with a simple conversation in the car one day about what we would really like in our dream first house. Lots of ideas were thrown out; walk-in wardrobe, garden, bar and even balcony got a mention. We were daydreaming, but it forged an image of what we could see ourselves living in.

Steve’s mum recommended that we both individually write down what we each wanted out of our first house and then number them in order of importance. We decided that this was a good idea and nervously revealed the results to each other, happy with the results as we were fairly aligned. There were some differences, but our biggest importance were pretty points much the same; an investment for the future, in a nice area near our family and friends, but also something we could afford and still have a life! I’d really recommend this list comparison to anyone looking to buy their first house, even if it is on your own as it is easier to be clear on your own opinion and boundaries as well as really understanding the other person’s needs if you are buying with someone else. It means you look for a property that fills your needs, and you can check criteria off against your list when you find somewhere you like. Importance might even change as you start looking, for instance a walk in wardrobe became more of a house with good storage!

With our joint list of requirements memorised, we started to look at the money side of things. Between you and I, we had both been browsing estate agents websites for a while and Zoopla had become my favourite in-commute activity and I had the wish list of properties to prove it. So I was dying find out what we could realistically afford as first time buyers.

Steve was recommended a broker through his sister and we contacted them. We found that a broker made the whole process less hassle that contacting banks ourselves and meant we could get advice on our mortgage as well as other parts of the buying process. When we had any questions, we could ask our broker who was particularly helpful through the process. Initially, we used the broker to give us an idea of what we could borrow and therefore an idea of the type of properties and areas we could look at. Brokers can access special rates and know the industry better than most first time buyers, so working with them means you can adapt offers on properties accordingly. For instance, we flirted with the idea of a 35 year mortgage to give us more spending power and the broker was able to find us a mortgage to cover what we wanted to borrow based on our salaries. If anyone would like a recommendation of a good broker, do get in touch; our broker runs a referral draw to get both of our mortgages paid for six months (up to £1,000) if we win!

After speaking to our broker, he worked out what we could borrow and advised us on what we could afford to offer on properties. This gave us the upper limit on the price when running online searches. I also signed us up to estate agents in person to build up a rapport and be the first to know about new properties. More on estate agents next time!

Image | Jesse Vermeulen via Unsplash.com

When I left university I managed to save up some cash to get me through any period of unemployment. I was fortunate enough to get a job pretty quickly, and so the money had a new meaning; investment in my future. I decided to save so that one day I could buy a property. I didn’t plan my savings but made sure that my bank balance never hit zero. This meant each month I added a bit more to the pot, although I was never sure exactly how much. Looking back I could have made a budget and saved much quicker, but I didn’t want to be strict on myself. I wanted to enjoy being in London in my first job, so I didn’t hold back.

Slowly, money built up and I started to dream about what I might be able to buy. As often the case is in the current economy, I soon realised I probably couldn't buy on my own. This being said, I kept on saving in the hope that eventually I’d win the lottery or get an insane salary so I could make the purchase.

However, things took anther route; I met Stephen at the end of 2013, and by March 2016 we made the decision to start looking to buy a house together. We concentrated our saving efforts, and through the research that also led me to writing this blog, we got a sense of what we could get for our money.

I have to admit that although I meant to, I didn't start this blog immediately. It was so frustrating not being able to find something relatable to help guide us through buying out first home. However, I kept notes on every step taken so far, and will share posts on these as well as what's to come.

First up I'll be writing about how we decided on what property to look for, as well as our investigation into getting a dreaded mortgage - which was a 'first-time buyer' grey area for us.


One of the types of posts I will be making on this blog are tips and tricks on how I've managed to stick to a budget while trying to save up. This one is for anyone that likes eating out as much as I do! Many will have heard of Tastecard, or similar restaurant discount cards that can get you two for one or 50% off your meals.


I was sceptical at first, thinking it was a ploy to spend more money rather than save. Although when I sat down to work out the following, I was surprised by the savings on offer. Now that I have one, I also use there app to find restaurants nearby, especially if I am somewhere new and I can filter my results by the day of the week (offers are not always valid seven days a week), the type of offer and how many people can benefit from the offer. The downside is that not every restaurant accepts Tastecard so you could argue that it limits your options, although it's never been an issue for me.

When I was looking at buying a card, I managed to find a promotion by signing up to their newsletter. This got me an Avoca 7 tablet and the card for £29.99. If you can't find an offer like this, make sure to try their £1 card which last for 90 days and makes a donation to charity!


A quick and easy way of working out if Tastecard is for you is to do some maths. Ask yourself how many times you go out to eat in a month on average. Then take your favourite restaurant, check Tastecard offer discounts there on the day you would go and google the price of your favourite meal; for instance, £15 for a starter and main course. 

Multiply the number of times you'd eat out per month by 12, to get your annual cost. Then divide the total by half.


Example:


I eat out 3 times a month, therefore 36 times a year and my favourite meal costs £15.50. So in a year I would spend £558. The promotion I found meant my Tastecard with p&p was £34.98.The cost of a year of eating out plus the cost of the Tastecard would be 50% of £558 plus £34.98, which equals £313.98. That's £244.02 over the year.

Remember that the discount can be applied on 2-10 people's meals, not just one. So if you always eat with a friend or your partner, you'll be saving them money which is always good for a first time buyer who might need a favour with the painting!


To note, I am not in anyway associated or affiliated with Tastecard, this is my genuine opinion and I am not being paid for this post.

Image | Glen Carrie via Unsplash.com