This 30-year-old saves $3,000 a month so she can buy a home

In this month's Money Diaries column, PR manager Jennifer discusses the sacrifices involved to save up for her first property.

- Cheryl Chan

I remember learning in school how it was important to save money. My parents would say the same, but the need for it only sank in when I started thinking about buying my first property a few years ago. On the cusp of turning 30, I started thinking about the mainstream milestones that I had yet to achieve.

Owning a property was it for me. More recently, rental prices have been on the rise - spiking 30-50 percent - which has given me further motivation to get my own place quickly.

I didn't really have a specific property in mind, but thought that a resale HDB flat would be the most realistic. After speaking with friends, I gathered that you'd need to spend nearly $80K-$100K on renovation work - which was another factor to keep in mind.

I started reading local websites and blogs, did the math, and realised how far off I was.

Spending $30 on brunch suddenly didn't seem so fun anymore. I still want to enjoy life and hang out with friends, but I've become a more conscious spender these days. I used to travel three to five times a year, but now, I only plan to if I have the extra cash, or if it's to spend quality time with family.

My goals are to simultaneously save (or make) more to afford my first property, and to build an emergency fund.