"The main source of expenses is often relationships." An IT specialist told how he bought an apartment in Tbilisi with his salary in three years

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

"I already had an apartment in Minsk. I also bought it entirely with my own funds, without a loan. Now I rent it out, and my parents put the money into a separate piggy bank.

I bought the apartment in Tbilisi not with that rent money, but with my salary over three years.

Part of the finances was simply held in dollars and euros. But most of it I invested in several American ETF funds. Then at some point, I withdrew the money and decided to buy real estate. I chose ETFs on the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and several other individually selected ones with growth stocks and long-term US bonds. All this was through a broker accessible with our passport.

Initially, I didn't have a specific goal: 'buy an apartment for cash.' The goal was simply to save money.

I have a two-bedroom apartment in the city center. It's a secondary dwelling, already ready for living, and cost 145 thousand dollars.

I bargained a lot; I didn't have more money on hand. If the owner hadn't agreed, I would have either taken another option or not bought the apartment at all.

I was very nervous while we were preparing for the deal and concluding it. This is a very responsible decision. I had many doubts and wondered how correct my choice was: wouldn't it be better to leave the money as it is, wouldn't it be better to continue holding it in investments, or wasn't it too risky to buy real estate right now.

I managed to find an option that required absolutely no investment. This was important: I didn't want to do renovations after buying, look for workers, calculate additional expenses, and live with endless touch-ups.

We live there. And, I hope, we will continue to live there. If we have to leave Tbilisi, we will try to rent the apartment to someone we know. Fortunately, there are many of them here.

"I don't need to control myself"

It is often said: the higher the income, the higher the expenses. But that's not exactly true for me. I don't need to specifically control myself. I've been recording everything for more than 10 years.

I use a slightly modified approach from Daniel Kahneman's book "Thinking, Fast and Slow."

In the moment, I usually don't think about expenses. But at the end of the month, when expenses start to rise, I analyze where the increase came from and whether it can be reduced. And no impulsive purchases.

When a planned tech upgrade is approaching, I spend six months reading reviews and thinking if I really need it. Perhaps my principled sobriety also helps save money: I don't consume alcohol even on holidays, although I love non-alcoholic beer.

"The main source of expenses is often relationships"

Looking at my acquaintances, I see that in most cases, the main source of expenses is a woman. For example, my friend spends more money on his feminist wife than on himself and all common mandatory expenses like groceries or rent. That's why he can't start saving.

I'm luckier — my wife is able to provide for herself. She has a steady income. She mostly covers all her desires herself. So I can concentrate on the family's future.

Among my IT friends who date girls with a psychological age older than three years, the problem of buying housing doesn't exist — at least in Eastern Europe. Some, like me, have even solved the housing issue twice: first in Minsk, and then again in emigration.

I have a developer friend compared to whom I look irresponsibly extravagant. He reacts very sharply to any of his wife's suggestions to spend money.

At 35, he has an apartment in Minsk and a house within the city limits — all without parental help. Recently, they had a child, so we've communicated little in the last year, and I still haven't managed to ask how they organize their budget now.

For many years I've seen a demand among girls I know for a "generous man." Lately, it's precisely from such couples that I hear the loudest complaints about supposedly "unaffordable real estate." Those who chose the "frugal" ones are raising children in comfortable conditions, and these problems don't concern them," says Sergey.

The narrator's opinion may not reflect the position of Devby.io or "Nasha Niva"

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