Did I do the right thing?

[sluggy]

Me and my mate are both 24, single and have similar well paid jobs. A few months ago I decided to get a mortgage and buy my own place where I'm now living. Most of the money I now earn goes to pay my mortgage and I've spent a bit of cash doing the place up so I cant afford to go out as much I used to or buy the latest gadgets and stuff. My mate still lives with his parents and I know that he dosn't pay them that much. He's out every weekend and has the latest mobile and a decent car and he's always taking the micky out of me cos I can't afford things like that anymore.. If I'm honest I miss spending my cash on the things I used to and I'm begining to become a bit of a recluse cos i can no longer afford to do the same things as my mate.. I'm really regretting buying my own pad now.. Was I right or wrong?

[fine,thanks]

go back to your parents if the new property is too much ? ie cake and eat it,

[B00]

Ahhh, but guess where you're mate will be wanting to kip when his parent's get naffed off by him taking the pi$$?

Good on you, you're on your own two feet, whereas he is still living at home like a teen. At 24 that's just bordering on sad in his case.

[gina32]

maybe he is jealous !!!

[4getmenot]

No you haven�t, this mate of yours has no right to say this to you and he will be the one with no money when he starts renting because he went out and never saved a deposit and when he�s older he will have nothing to show for it. You did the right thing. xx

[cazzz1975]

in the big scheme of things its better to have your own property, by the time he gets around to a mortgage, you will be looking for your second home and it will be something your mate will not be able to afford!!!

[beryllium]

Congrats on your first purchase :)

Do you have a spare room to rent out? that'll bring in a bit extra :)

And don't ever forget.... that once your front door is closed that is your space.

Your mate? his opinion is not your business.

B. xxx

[clinkclunk]

Taking into account the current climate i think you did the best thing buying when you could - you may find it even more difficult in the future to get on the property ladder. He's jealous. I've got friends who are always on about how i've given myself too much responsibility and how carefree they are - no, they're either stuck at home or living in a rented dump.
Good on ya sluggy

[EngTeach]

You are 100% correct in doing what you did. Good for you. I have a situation close to yours, only my friends are all married and have double incomes coming in, they have new cars, bigger homes and fabulous vacations 2 times a year . I have a 10year old toyota, travel once every 10 years or so as I am single and have my own home with a hefty mortgage. I too do not go out as much as my disposable income is limited. At times it gets depressing, but I am doing on one salary what they could never do without their spouses' income. Stay the course, you'll be better off in the end.

[Whickerman]

You're totally right to do what you did. It'll take between 4 and 6 years for you to get properly back on your feet when you take on a mortgage, but then you'll be bloody glad, i promise.

[theonlyone]

Stick with it as you can do as you want in your own home , if you can't manage get a lodger I did to keep my home . I also had students from a language school as they are out all day and only had to do the basics for them , just breakfast , and laundry , so that could give you some "chill out cash " , things are always hard to start with but will get better , believe me it will.

[nuoyg]

Well done on owning your own home - what's cool about the latest mobile -when you have your name in bricks and motar!! I also think it's understandable to feel how you are as you've gone from being a bit carefree with the old cash to having to think about it a bit more - it takes a bit of getting used to. It's so hard to get on the property ladder in this day and age and you've done it by yourself, brilliant. Fast forward a few years and your mate is still at home with his parents - I can guarantee he'll be looking at you green with envy - meanwhile all the time you're climbing up the old property ladder. I would imagine a part of him is even a little jealous perhaps now - it would only be natural.

Although you may not have as much money to go out it doesn't mean you can't have a giggle. So you don't feel recluseful and resentful - why don't you have a point of one night a week having the lads over, get in a few beers, playstation it up....it'll soon go from ''my cool mobile phone''...to ''lets get round to sluggys''.

Also when the mobile phone guru gives it the old billy big, if it was me I'd just shrug and answer non plussed ''these things don't really bother me nowadays, not now I've got my place, I prefer to concentrate on that''...if you answer in that kind of fashion a few times then he probabaly will give up on saying it.

I'm a few years older than you and know that you roll on a few years and having the latest mobile (for example) will not be important. Your mates will also start getting themselves on the property ladder and will have that 'first year struggle' and you'll find you'll start to do things at each others houses more. Meanwhile, you'll be a little ahead of them and probabaly will be a bit more comfortable with money and they'll be thinking ''wish I bought back then''.

Alternatively if you have a spare room could you rent it to a mate?

Sorry I've rambled - well done

[taliesin238]

Im 30 now and i sssoo wish i got myself on the property ladder!! Im still living with my parents and have no property of my own!! In a few years time when you have your feet well and truly on the ground (and you will) who will be the one with the biggest estate?? you, or your mate who sells out on gadgets that loses their gimmicky qualities by the minute???

[sleepy1]

you can bring women home to your own place he has to take them home to hes parents home ... yes you did do right thing .