Twenty-six days. That is how long a young mom has to save as much money as she possibly can before she closes on her family’s next home, and the house itself is going to need a lot of love.
Creator Ellie, who posts as @our.cash.build, is 24 years old, stays home with three kids and is on a mission to save $150,000 so her family can renovate their 1970s home “without having to go into any debt.”
“We Noticed Mold On Almost All Of The Cabinets”
She and her family visited the home the day before she filmed this video, and she is upfront about what they found. “It is going to need a lot of work,” she says.
There is mold on almost all of the cabinets. The house has what she calls a “gross and musty smell.” The roof needs work, and the windows need to be replaced. And that, she says, is only what they can see from the surface.
“Let’s just say we’re going to have a run for our money,” she says.
So Why Buy A House That Needs So Much?
She expects the question, so she answers it herself. First, she says, they are getting what she thinks is a pretty good deal on the home.
Second, it is in a really good area. The neighborhood is “so beautiful,” and the property sits on two acres. She is already picturing her kids playing outside.
Her Plan To Hustle The Money Together
This is day three of the savings challenge. She says she does side hustles online while the kids are not around, including Amazon reviews and TikTok, and she hopes to get her account monetized so the views can help pay for the savings goal.
Here is the twist. Any engagement on the video decides how much she puts away the next day. Based on the previous day’s engagement, she says she is adding $338 into the savings fund.
The rules are spelled out. For every like and comment on the video she adds $0.10. For every share she adds $0.25. For every like on the most-liked comment, she adds $1.
She even explains a shortcut. If you do not want to actually share the video, tapping the share button and then copy link counts as a share. “Do your worst,” she says, “because I’m going to need some motivation.”
What To Know Before You Buy A Fixer Upper
Her story is a good reminder that a house with mold, a tired roof and old windows is a big project. Plenty of buyers take on a fixer upper for the lower price and the location, and some come out well ahead. But the costs can climb fast.
Roofs, windows and moisture problems are some of the most expensive parts of a home. The roof keeps water out, windows affect your heating and cooling bills, and moisture problems can spread if the cause is not fixed.
Smart Steps For A Renovation Fund
- Get a professional home inspection before closing, and ask the inspector about moisture, the roof and the age of the windows.
- Collect several written quotes from licensed contractors for each big job.
- Rank the work. Anything that affects safety, structure or water comes first, and cosmetic updates come last.
- Add a cushion of extra money on top of the estimates, because older homes often hold surprises behind the walls.
Mold deserves special care. The Environmental Protection Agency advises that mold growth should be cleaned up and the moisture problem behind it fixed, since mold can return if the damp remains. A large area is usually a job for professionals.
Her challenge is also a lesson in urgency. With a closing date on the calendar, every day counts, and she is turning each one into a chance to move the savings number forward.
That kind of deadline can be motivating for any big purchase. Write the date down, set a daily or weekly savings target, and check your progress often so you stay on pace.
Do The Math Before You Fall For The Land
Two acres and a beautiful neighborhood are real selling points. Land and location are the two things you cannot change about a home, while cabinets, windows and roofs can all be replaced over time.
Still, a purchase price that looks like a bargain should be compared against the full cost of the repairs. Add the price of the house, the expected renovation costs and the cost of living elsewhere while work is underway, and see whether the total still beats a move-in-ready home nearby.
Ask about permits as well. Many repairs, such as a new roof or window replacements, can require permits in your town, and the process takes time that can affect your schedule and your budget.
Living in the house during demolition is hard with small children, so consider timing and where the family will stay while the worst of the work is done.
Her goal is ambitious and the clock is ticking. With 26 days until closing, @our.cash.build is betting that a few cents at a time, a lot of hustle and a bit of help from her followers can build the cash to renovate without borrowing.