by Welcome to our monthly Nuestra Casa Fund (NCF) update! We’re on a mission to save enough before early retirement to fully fund our home purchase. Let’s dive into our progress and the lessons we’ve learned along the way.
The Power of Persistence: Drop by Drop
There’s a Spanish saying that goes, “Gota a gota se llena el”vaso”—drop by drop, the cup will fill. This perfectly encapsulates our approach to saving for our future home. Each paycheck and each percentage saved brings us closer to our dream. It may seem surreal now, but we’re inching towards the day when we’ll hold the keys to our fully-paid home.
October’s Milestone: 80.5% Funded!
October was a landmark month for our NCF goal. We’ve now saved 80.5% of the funds needed for our future home purchase. Yes, you read that right—we’re reversing the typical 20% down, 80% financed model. We’re becoming our own bank, and let me tell you, our customer service is unbeatable!
Here’s a quick look at our year-to-date progress:
| Year-to-date NCF Update | |||
| Month | Percent of Goal Met | Benchmark | Percent Increase Towards 100% |
| January 2017 | 23.9% | 23.9% | Month that we started tracking this goal. |
| February | 25.1% | 26.5% | 1.2% |
| March | 28.5% | 29.2% | 3.4% |
| April | 28.8% | 31.8% | 0.3% |
| May | 30.2% | 34.5% | 1.4% |
| June | 39.1% | 37.1% | 8.9% |
| July | 46.1% | 39.8% | 7% |
| August | 49.1% | 42.4% | 3% |
| September (new target) | 78% | 77.2% | 28.9% |
| October | 80.5% | 79.3% | 2.5% |
Our Secret Formula: FI First, Then Home
You might be wondering how we’re accomplishing in a couple of years what typically takes decades. Here’s our not-so-secret formula:
- Save for financial independence first
- Start saving for a house as you near your FI goal
- Leverage investment gains
- Continue saving diligently
It’s simple, but not always easy. Pay off consumer debt, avoid unnecessary purchases, find affordable rent, and invest wisely.
Looking Ahead: The Goal in Sight
As we edge closer to our goal, our dream home is coming into focus. With each passing month, we’re not just saving money—we’re building the foundation for our future lives. The idea of owning a home outright, without the burden of a mortgage, feels more real than ever.
With December bringing a three-paycheck month (our favorite kind!), we’re excited to potentially get even further ahead of our benchmark. It’s incredible to think that we’re on track to achieve in months what many take years or decades to accomplish.
