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Tim Dower: Home ownership is about so much more than money

Author
Tim Dower,
Publish Date
Tue, 16 Apr 2019, 8:28AM
Because owning your own home is about so much more than trying to make money. Photo / Getty Images.

Tim Dower: Home ownership is about so much more than money

Author
Tim Dower,
Publish Date
Tue, 16 Apr 2019, 8:28AM

Now, as we've just been hearing, NZ Super may have to be reworked to take account of the growing number of people who will be renting in their retirement.

Home ownership rates have been falling -it really is out of the reach of a lot of people and that's a major worry.

Because owning your own home is about so much more than trying to make money. It's about intangible stuff like security, being able to stay as long as you like, the right to paint the lounge when you want to and whatever colour you feel like.

For me, buying a house was never about trying to make money, it was always about that other stuff.

But it's also a form of compulsory savings. Bashing away at that mortgage month after month, year after year.

At the beginning you're thinking jeez, I've only paid off 20 bucks and the bank has just swallowed all the rest in interest...is this worth it?

Right now, the way the Super works is based on the assumption people own their own homes.

And as fewer of us do, something has to change.

Of course, when you start your working life the last thing you want to think about is retirement, it's donkey's years away.

But anyone who's near the end of their working life will tell you it goes very quickly.

If you're lucky, you will meet someone who gives you some good advice about saving.

Compound interest, time in the markets, and about paying yourself first.

If you're lucky, you will find an employer who matches your KiwiSaver contribution.

And if you're smart, you will frontload what you put into savings.

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