The world is full of 'what-ifs' where finances are concerned

Financial regrets. I’ve had a few. The biggest? Not buying a house 10 years ago.

- TALIA LODERICK

Why? Well, for a start, I was employed. And getting a mortgage is a lot more straightforward when you’re employed versus selfemployed, as I am now.

What’s more, property prices were more affordable 10 years ago. The average UK house price in August 2014 was a smidge under £192,000. Average price now, according to the latest published data from the Office of National Statistics? £285,000. That’s a 48 per cent increase in 10 years.

Ten years ago, I could have afforded to buy the two-bed terraced home I have happily rented for the past decade. Now? Not a chance! As I weigh up my current homeowner options, and see that what a two-bed terrace used to go for will barely stretch to a one-bed flat in the same area, it’s hard not to regret not prioritising buying a home 10 years ago.

I’m not the only one kicking their past self. I asked people to share their financial regrets with me on Instagram and homeownership came out top. “Not buying a house when I was younger and actually did have savings” was one, and “renting instead of buying a house earlier in life” was another.