A little later than scheduled but I’m pleased to say, I have crossed off the first item from my goals list. Monday 2 March marks three weeks of homeownership, as also confirmed by my first mortgage repayment being deducted today. My original completion date was 6 January but eventually sealing the deal on 10 February wasn’t too far off.

Of the five items on my goals list, this is the one that showed the most promise coming into 2020 and I am beyond relieved to have seen it through to the end. It was a lengthy process with setbacks along the way and to be honest, at times it felt incredibly overwhelming. I like to make informed choices, which often requires me to delve into depths of research to ensure I’ve explored all possible options. At points, I had neither the strength nor the inclination to be so incessantly thorough and at the end of the day, this wasn’t a life or death situation. I took guidance where I could, sought answers when I couldn’t and am now super happy with my new homeowner status.

Strangely enough, I haven’t felt compelled to shout about it (says she, now broadcasting it on her semi-anonymous blog). I told my closest family members immediately and have slowly trickled the news a little wider. Many people in my circle still don’t know though. Of course, I am incredibly proud of my achievement. Qualifying for a mortgage is a challenge in itself, not only in saving for the deposit but also ensuring I was consistently performing well at work to make the salary climbs so I could prove myself eligible. I acknowledge that I’m very lucky to able to be in this position and having not said anything for the duration of the process, announcing it now feels a bit like boasting, which is definitely not my style.

It’s been a long time in the making and as well as the relief of it all coming together, I feel like I’ve gained more headspace to deal with the other items on my list. With one less thing to think about, I’m finding myself with more energy and optimism to tackle the other areas of my life. I haven’t quite figured out which one’s next to be ticked off but I’m all fired up for the challenge.

One down, four to go!