By Jessica Anstice
A Kooweerup woman is volunteering her time and and sharing her experience to help young people take their first steps onto the property ladder.
In a group she created on Facebook, Cait Benton reveals how she managed to purchase her first home at just 20-years-old.
“I remember when I did it so many people around me were so confused how I had managed to achieve it at such a young age,” she said.
“I had been saving since my first job basically, but that is what made me realise I wanted to try help make a difference where I can.
“I love how my own story helps motivate people too, to show them it definitely is possible.”
About eight weeks ago she created the online forum, ‘Craving a Saving’, to help show people it is possible to buy a house, specifically at a young age.
“I decided to start the group because I wanted to help make a positive difference in people’s lives when it came to saving and being able to purchase their first home,” she explained.
“I was aware that finances was not something we were overly taught at school and so felt it was important to try and help people where I could and coach them on how such big goals can be within reach if we are educated on it.”
The purpose of the not-for-profit group is to help educate people of all ages on how to save, and ultimately buy a first home.
Whether they have $1 in saving, or $100,000, the now 24-year-old said the group was created to help make a positive difference in people’s lives.
Ms Benton offers advice on how to go about buying a first home, but the main aim of the group is to educate first home buyers on everything property and finance related around it.
“It can be overwhelming even learning where to start when wanting to purchase property, not knowing how much to save, how to save it, how to get the loan, how all the government grants work and more,” she said.
“So that is why I created this group to help people with all those things.”
With over 3000 members in the group, Ms Benton said the amount of positive feedback she has received has been amazing.
“From 18-year-olds messaging me thanking them for explaining it in such a clear and understanding way, all the way to 55-year-olds messaging me the same thing,” she said.
“People are just loving that I am breaking it all down and walking them through it in a clear, fun and educational way.
“Also, they are loving the lame mum jokes I put in there, but also probably my one-year-old being star of the show in some videos.”
