I bought my first home at 21 after being the ‘naughty kid’ at school and held back a year – here’s how
A SUCCESSFUL young woman who bought her first home at 21 says she struggled at school and was the “naughty kid” in class.
Laura Abraham was held back a year before realising that studying hard could help her make money in the future.
However, this didn’t happen until a “turbulent” period after her dad’s death when she was 10 caused her to be held back a year.
“I was so embarrassed to be held back a year,” Laura said.
“But I went from the naughty kid in school to the teacher’s pet. I wanted to be able to control my environment.”
This resulted in her leaving school with As and A*s before nabbing a job after college fixing computers for the NHS.
“For me I was super-keen to get a job”, she said. “And to feel in control of my life.”
Instead of paying £9,000 for university, she used that money to pay for a deposit on her house which is now a profitable asset.
By the age of 21, after working at a bank, Laura had saved enough cash to buy her first home which she now lets out to renters.
Her first purchase – a two-bed end-terrace with a garden in Cardiff‘s Pentwyn suburb – was the moment she realised that dream.
Now aged 27, Laura’s living in Barry Island with her partner.
“My only life goal was to own my own slice of the world,” she added.
The passive income from her first home allowed Laura to leave her job and pursue her business, The Grown-Up School.
“No matter what age you are growing up is scary,” she said.
“One minute you’re having fun in school – the next you’re expected to understand everything from tax and mortgages to healthcare and politics.”
Her business teaches people how to look after their money, career, wellbeing, relationships, home, and more.
It offers 100 “grown-up lessons” online and is a free online educational resource.
Laura also developed a side hustle where she coached individuals and helps them rebuild their CVs.
Now Laura delivers life skills lessons to a range of people and not just kids.
The biggest barrier to success is confidence she said.
“The environment you’re brought up in has a huge impact too,” she said.
“You’re not taught [life skills] at school and the onus is on parents. It creates a generational cycle of life skills poverty.”