Paulina Gammon and her husband Stanley achieved the remarkable feat of purchasing their first home at just 19 years old, with no financial assistance from family. Now aged 21, the couple from Derby are sharing their story to inspire other young people aiming to get onto the property ladder.
How They Saved £20,000 in Seven Months
The couple managed to save £20,000 in just seven months by living with their parents and keeping expenses to a minimum. Paulina, a cabin crew member, and Stanley, an aircraft engineer, each earned £1,800 per month. They saved between £1,000 and £1,500 each month toward their deposit.
Paulina paid only £100 in rent to her parents, while Stanley contributed £170. They avoided nights out, eating out, and holidays, cutting back on unnecessary spending. By bringing packed lunches to work and reducing ready meals, they saved an additional £60 each per month.
Achieving the Dream
In June 2024, the couple placed an offer of £169,000 on a three-bedroom, three-bathroom home in Derby. Their deposit of £16,900 was covered by their savings, along with solicitor fees and mortgage advisor costs. They moved into their home in September 2024, just as Paulina was three months pregnant with their first child.
Paulina admitted that people were skeptical about their ability to buy a home so young. 'Nobody believed us at the start and assumed our parents must have helped us. Even the estate agents and solicitors were in shock,' she said.
Managing Mortgage Payments
The couple now pays £1,100 per month toward their mortgage. Initially, they opted for a shorter term with higher payments, unaware that Paulina was pregnant. During maternity leave, her income dropped to £700 per month, but she supplemented their earnings through her TikTok account @paulina.gammon.
Paulina encourages other young people to save aggressively while living at home. 'If you're still living at home, save as much money as you can, because once you move out, and the older you get, the more bills you have,' she advised.
The couple's story demonstrates that with discipline and sacrifice, homeownership is achievable even without parental financial support.
