When I bought my first house in 2007, it was back in the day of 100% mortgages!!! So when prices dipped (after years of just going up) it was a bit of a wake up call.
To be honest it kicked me into gear to save, rather than just waiting for prices to increase.
Getting a tenant wasn’t my initial plan but her money just went into my savings pot. It was at this time that I realised that money could buy freedom and not just stuff. Once you start saving it becomes addictive. I then worked hard in my job so got promotions, which meant more salary but all the time I saved hard. I always knew my first house was a stop gap, I had it for 6 years and I looked after it but didn’t spend silly money on taps!
My now house was a lucky buy, it had been rented out and landlord wanted rid of it so I got a good price! It is special, I have land and it’s detached but the main thing was I had the money ready when I found what I wanted.
I am still working on over paying the mortgage, I think it is partly why influencers bug me, the ridiculous costs of some of their items and the pressure it puts on people to have show homes is utterly ridiculous. I despise and despair of people being influenced into debt when actually it doesn’t bring joy!