Rachel's Story
I grew up living in a Caravan in the South East of England. My family couldn’t afford a car and my father didn’t have a car licence anyway, so our mode of transport was initially a motorcycle.
As I reflect on my childhood I remember that the family was always short of money, despite the fact that my father always put money aside as long term savings – which wasn’t worth much by the time it was redeemed. He was eccentric and pessimistic but well liked. My mother, although partially disabled following an aneruism and then meningitis when I was just 3 years old, had great strength of character and provided the optimistic balance to their marriage.
In a word, I would describe my parents and my upbringing as ‘different’ and throughout my childhood and adolescence, I yearned to achieve a level of ‘normality’.
Once upon a time, I dreamed of being ‘normal’, owning my own house, having a wonderful husband to care for me and support me, and perhaps a couple of beautiful children to top off the fairy tale.
When I was 17, I was eager to leave the confines of the Caravan and move out into the big wide world – and into a real house! As part of this escape, I married quite young and although it wasn’t a good match, it was a very good learning experience, that has strengthened my character as well as my compassion for others.
Although my fantasy wasn’t quite complete, by the time I reached 40 I was working hard, but quite content with life. I felt ‘normal’ with a loving partner, a beautiful loving daughter, two wonderful step-kids, a great career – and a lovely 4-bedroom house (with a large mortgage!)
What more could I want? Well, it wasn’t that I wanted more, but that I didn’t want less. The ‘What-If’ scenarios became scary….what if I lost my job, or wanted to leave my job, what if I didn’t have the money to keep the house when I retired…..?
So in the year 2000, my partner John, and I decided it was time to start planning for our retirement. We confirmed that our employer contributions to Superannuation would not give us enough to live on, even if we both worked until we were 65 or even 70.
We decided to purchase an Investment Property – not surprising that I would want to invest in a house after living in a Caravan of course. But the decision was not so much based on emotion, but rather on logic and a need for a secure form of investment.
John and I purchased just one property in 2000 and by 2005 had managed to purchase a total of 75 properties – and we still hold 70 of them. We specialise in buying and holding positively geared properties, so that the investments pay for themselves.
Our investment strategy allowed John to leave work in 2002, and I then ‘retired’ in 2004 – twenty years earlier than I had ever dreamed!
Although ‘retired’ I like to be busy and love to talk over coffee and lunch and work towards further goals and dreams. As part of my goals to travel more, learn more and earn more, I have some other business interests in addition to the Real Estate Investing, including being a Co-Presenter and Director of 'Property Women' - a business providing Property Investing workshops for women.
I have achieved a lot of my goals because I was moving away from my fear of poverty. Now I am re-focussing on moving towards abundance and prosperity.
I love to inspire others to reach their potential and to avoid being one of the ‘normal’ people who will potentially retire with insufficient money to do the things they want to do. I'm enjoying the challenges and the rewards, as I move towards my own ultimate potential…Join my Mailing List today and be inspired to achieve more in your own life too!