 What about the rewards now that it's done, this complete project? I think it's one thing that is very important. When you build a house, it means that you already own the land. So I'm able to run my livestock farming on that same yard without interfering with other people's spaces. So those are some of the rewards, having enough space. Good afternoon. Welcome back to The First Time Homebuyer Show. I'm your host, Estie Klaassen. Thank you to those who are tuning in for The First Time. Welcome back to those who always tune in. That's every Wednesday at 8 p.m. The First Time Homebuyer Show. We have amazing guests to join the show. We talk about generational wealth, financial freedom, what it is to invest in property, and even just investments in general and how we can sustain growing and building our legacy. This evening is no different. Mrs. Spish is with us this evening. Mrs. Spish is a little nervous. No, you're not. No, she's not now. Okay, no, that's fine. Mrs. Spish is with us this evening and we're talking about Mrs. Spish is an author, an investor, even building her own property as we speak, which is amazing. Mrs. Spish, welcome to the show. Thank you, Estie. Thank you for having me. Thank you. I want to jump straight into it, Mrs. Spish. We want to talk about, you know, I just said we talk about generational wealth and financial freedom. And that means something different to everyone. That generational wealth, that thing, looks different to everyone. What does it look like for you? Okay, so generational wealth means that even when I die one day, I'll be able to pass whatever that I had worked for while I was still alive. So with me, I'm creating generational wealth through property, through investing in the stock market, through my livestock farm and a lot of other things. So it means that I'm able, even when I'm dead, I'm able to say that my children are still well taken care of. Exactly. So I wanted to find out because a lot of people, you know, a lot of people, especially in my circles also were choosing to buy land and then build. So what is that process? What has it been like for you? Okay, so for me, it was both exciting and challenging at the same time. Because when we were building, I was still in varsity. Oh, wow. Yeah. So I got married in my second year of varsity. So in my third year, then we started building. So it meant that only my husband was working at that time. So we didn't really have enough funds to fund the whole project. So those were the challenges. But the excitement was on another level, knowing that you're going to be owning a house at such a young age. And it meant a lot for us. And because you were lucky you had someone going through that process with you, right? And a lot of us are either doing it alone or we don't have much help. What is the importance of having that support throughout that process for you? I think it's very important for you to be able to have a support system because number one is your first time building. So you don't know all the processes. You don't know where you should go to get this and that. So with us, our parents were there for us. They were able to support us. I remember when we went to buy the land, my mother-in-law accompanied us to go and buy that land. We inspected the land. Then we bought the land. So it's very important for you to have a backup system or to have a support. Yes. You spoke about the challenges, right? That it was difficult, you know, with regards to funds and because, you know, that's inevitable with a lot of us. That happens. It comes in the way. What about the rewards now that it's done, this complete project? The rewards are rewarding, if I can put it that way. Because now we have our own land, number one. Because I think it's one thing that is very important. When you build a house, it means that you already own the land. So I'm able to run my livestock farming on that land without interfering with other people's spaces. So those are some of the rewards. Having enough space, having a cute garden and doing something that you want to do is. You know, that's also very nice. When you started your process, was there a main goal for you? The main goal was having land. We know that it's very difficult to find land. Now, the main goal was that if we can have this property, we're going to be able to own the land. If we want to venture into other businesses such as farming, we already own the land. So we won't have to pay other people to do things for us. We are able to do things in our own yard. Exactly. You spoke about financial difficulties that come across the way, right? And I think for a lot of first-time home buyers or even first-time investors, it could be a bit challenging when it comes to financial circumstances, especially in our current economy. What would you say is a very, what strategy did you and your partner use at the time to save up enough to have and to reach your main goal, which is having land? Okay, we didn't save. Okay. Yes, we didn't save at that time, which is when we took a loan. Then we decided that as soon as I start working, we're going to be able to pay up that loan. And it's the same thing that we did. So this year, I got a job, I got a substitute post. So we took that whole salary and we paid off the loan. So it means now our house is paid up. Okay, stick. Yeah. Hey, no, you know exactly what you're doing here. Yes, yes. Like, because for me, I just feel like, you know, was there a plan? Like, did you and your partner sit down and say, this is what we're going to do? Was there a plan? And I think especially for young people who are doing this together, who, you know, young partners who have just gotten married and are ready to, because an investment alone is a big thing. Doing it with someone else is another big thing. Yes, of course, you have the support. But what was that like? Like, was there a plan? Hey, there was no plan. You see, when we got married, now we had decided that we're going to go and rent. Okay. So the parents said, no, like, we shouldn't go and rent because renting will, we will be wasting money if we rent. So we sat down and decided that, okay, we might as well just go and buy land. So at least we had the money to buy the land, but the money for building was not paid. Hence we decided to take a loan and just pay the loan off. And I think also what's, you know, listening to your story and how you finally have this piece, because I can see when you talk about having land that you, it's an achievement. Yeah, it's an accomplishment to have this piece of land and you know, with everything that's going on, it's an Africa fighting for land, whatever the case may be, to finally have something that's yours is an amazing accomplishment. And you said you recently just finished. So well done and congratulations on that. On this note of, because you're an author, I'm sitting next to an author. Yes. Tell us about what inspired, before you even tell us what the book is about. I would like to find it from you. Why, why, why write a book? Why not just start a YouTube channel or make an Instagram reel about this thing? Why a book? Okay. So this is what happened. So the more I started helping other people when they were setting up their accounts and investing, it got tiring. So me as a teacher, I needed to come up with an innovative way. You see when you have like so many classes, you can't be writing notes in all these classes. So you need to compile. Maybe you must compile notes, make copies and give it to everyone. So it became tiring. So I decided to be innovative and just compile all the lessons that I've been giving individuals. Then I must just, so I printed the thing out. Then I just started to do it. Yeah. So that was an easy way for you to teach. It was an easy way for me. And what is the book about? The book is about investing in shares, buying shares on easy equity. And then how do you, how do you, I mean, so how do you dive deep into these topics and the different lessons? Can you break up the book first? Like the different lessons that are there? The different lessons, okay. So with investing, we cannot separate savings from investing. So number one, the book will teach you about saving, the different types of saving. Maybe for example, I think there's a part where I wrote that when it comes to investing, you need to sacrifice number one. So it means that if, let's say, let's say you every month, you used to use 350 to do your hay. But now you decided that let me just cut my hay. So you are able now to have an extra 350. So I advise you that you take that 350, then you start investing with it. So I tell you that you don't need thousands and thousands for you to start investing. You can just start investing with whatever money that you have. Then besides savings, then it teaches you about easy equities, how it works, how you can make money from buying shares, you get dividends, you get capital gains and so on. And I think that, you know, a lot of the time we talk about certain lifestyle changes that we have to make in order to save. Like now you gave a perfect example, hair, you know, we don't always need to spend so much money on hair. What lifestyle changes did you make? Did you also cut your hair? I didn't cut my hair, but I bought a weave. You know, but I had to buy a weave. So that I won't, I want to do my every month. Yes. So, yo, there was a lot of estate. Like we have time buying clothes. I used to buy clothes like every month, every month I used to buy clothes, but now I no longer buy clothes. Right. Then we also had to sit down and decide that, okay, now me and my husband, each one of us must be able to save like 10% of our salary every month. Then we can be able to invest that money. Exactly. Then we sold our car. We had two cars. Then we decided to sell one of our cars. So with that, the installment money, we used that money to find our other businesses now. And keep investing. And this is how you will achieve what you mentioned in the beginning of the show, generational wealth. Yes. If you continue doing this. If you continue investing. Exactly. You're a mentor. You're an educator and you help people obtain and reach their goals when it comes to investing and creating general, ooh, general, and creating generational wealth and financial freedom for themselves. So my question to you is, Mrs. Fish, what is the importance of educating other people to do exactly what you're doing? Okay. So you see with, with rich people, I think we have that mentality of saying rich people, they don't share how they got where they are. So now I decided that now that I know of something that can help other people, let me go out there and start sharing this information. So I started sharing the information with my, with my family, and with my close friends. Yeah. Yeah. So it's important so that even other people, I think that the only way we can combat poverty is when we educate each other. So if maybe someone teaches you a skill, that person is planting a seed. You need to go out there and start teaching other people as well so that the world can become a better place. And, you know, because you're living proof of this thing that's worked, you know, investing, buying land. You've done it all. You even now, you know, livestock, you've got the land to continue to start farming. And I think, yeah, my next question is how did taking your own advice and getting into the stream or the different streams of investment, how did that work for you? Okay. Like I can say that what helped me is that I started by educating myself first. So now I don't invest in something that I don't understand. If I don't understand it, no matter how enticing that particular investment is, I don't invest in things that I don't understand. So I started by finding people who are doing the same thing that I want to do. I find them, then maybe I follow them on YouTube. I subscribe on their channels. I follow them on social media just so that I can familiarize myself with all the challenges that come with it. Familiarize myself with all the terms that are used. So educating myself first is what helped me to start whatever that I started. And it's so important to, you know, knowledge is power, I would say this, and doing your own research before even, because especially with the investments because you could end up losing all that money. Yeah, you can lose money. Hey. Yes. Have you invested in what you don't understand? No, no, but I've seen people, I've seen people, I've seen people lose money because they don't take their time to learn about that skill. Yeah. They'd rather pay someone, thousands to do it for them. Then it ends in tears. Then they lose all their money. Yes, then it ends in tears. And you know, what's so important especially, and I'm sure you talk about it in your book, like you said, one of the most important things is savings. How do we save, right? And I speak a lot about financial freedom and financial literacy. And I think it's important for us to, you know, being in the new year, starting off fresh. I want to know from you just before, yeah, before I even ask my question, what is your goal for 2022? 2022, I want to buy a house. Okay. Yes. I just want to buy a house. You just want to buy more property and a house. I need to buy a house in 2022. Like that's my main goal for 2022. Well, 2022 to buy a property. So I've started saving towards that goal. Okay, you see, that's a whole other conversation. Let's talk about that. So for me, right, you've already started saving and you educate people on saving. Let me get to my initial question. Financial literacy. A lot of us as South Africans were not taught this thing. Yeah, even at schools. Even at schools. We hope that our parents plant that seed into us. But in most cases, maybe they can't. Maybe that we don't have the privilege to be taught by parents. So from one woman to another, financial literacy, what is so important about it and the power of teaching it? How does that make you feel? Okay, let me start with the important. Sure. You see when we have money, you will have options. You don't just settle for anything. So money gives you that voice. Money gives you that thing of saying, no, I don't want this. I want that. So I'm sure like, it's a good feeling to know that, okay, I can always opt for option A, not option B, you see? So that is what investing and savings helps you with. You are able to choose whatever you want. If you decide today that it's raining outside, let me, maybe let me go to McDonald's and get a lot of it. You should be able to do that. You should be able to do that. So also it's options. It's about having options. Yeah, it's having different options. And my second part of the question was the importance of it, especially for young South Africans. It's very important because it teaches you to be responsible. It teaches you to be intentional about where your money is going. So don't just wake up and decide to do anything. You already have a plan. You budget, you plan, then you execute. Because saving doesn't mean that you must live a miserable life. You can always have no enjoyment here and there, but within your means. And I think it's so important to set up boundaries for yourself, you know, because we're so quick to wanting to live a life that we see other people live in. And at the end of the day, you're the one that has to deal with the struggles and the trials and tribulations that come with it. You said in your bio that, you know, financial literacy is what you do. It's what you preach. Who taught you financial literacy? Let's start there. Hey, where did that come from? So I have this other friend of mine. She's a doctor, Lisa. So with the ASA, this is what happened. She started working, I think in 2018. Then she didn't buy a car for like two years. So I was interested to find out to her, how is she doing it? So I approached ASA and asked her, what is happening? Why aren't you buying a car? Why aren't you buying a house already? So she referred me to a book that she read Back in Vacity, which is the richest man in Babylon. So that is where I learned most of the stuff, like saving 10% of your salary every month, buying land, buying appreciating assets. Yeah. So besides the book, I also learned from one of my mentors, he teaches a lot about savings and investing. Yeah. And obviously that's when you saw the importance of this thing. And you've seen that these strategies have worked for you. They've worked. Because you're literally, you know real lived experiences is literally what I preach on the daily and to learn from people who have gone through it. Yeah. You know. And so Percy Singo, a guest who has been on the show before. Thank you, Percy, for this moment. What is an important lesson that Percy's taught you? Leave below your means. You must be able to live below your means, no matter how much you have. You must be able to manage that money. You must be able to use that salary as your seed so that you can be able to find your other dreams. So if you are working and you are living from hand to mouth, like you will never have savings. You will never invest in anything. You will always be looking for people to sponsor you. Yeah. Like I think sponsorship is very rare in South Africa. So the only way you're going to be able to sponsor yourself is by using your salary to be able to sponsor your dreams. I feel like that might even be the answer to my next question I'm about to ask you, which is your biggest financial secret. What has like kept you going? And of course, you know, along the road, there's mistakes, there's obstacles that are in the way, but you're still here sitting and you've written a book and you've made it, you know, you've you still got your investments going. So your biggest financial secret. I don't invest in what I don't understand. I don't invest in what I don't understand. I take my time to educate myself about whatever I want to invest in. So I think that's my biggest financial secret. And I invest a lot like almost like 80 percent of my salary goes into savings and investment. Yeah. So yeah, I mean, that's how you could pay off the bond. So that's why we were able to pay off the loan. Exactly. And now that's done. That's behind you. So that's behind. So we are looking forward to vision 2022. There you go. Vision 2022. So and I like that you said that because I think a lot of us what we do is we tend to jump onto a lot of trains even though we don't know where it's going, you know. And that's how we make these mistakes. And so I just wanted to find out from you with regards to mistakes that you've made. I don't even want to know about the mistakes. I think the bigger question is the lessons that you've learned along the way. If there's something you could leave with with our viewers tonight of maybe three important lessons that you've learned with regards to investing. And on your journey to purchasing land investing. I think it goes back to the thing of saying they shouldn't invest in what they don't understand. Definitely. If they want to venture into a particular business, they must take their time. They must find people to mentor them. You don't have to pay a mentor for you to have a mentor. Yeah. You can buy books. Yeah. You can go on YouTube. You can go on Instagram, follow people who are doing what you aspire to be, to understand. Then they must be flexible. They must be flexible to say, okay, I'm only sacrificing for a little while because when you are saving, we won't be saving for the rest of our lives. 30 years from now, I'll be reaping whatever that I planted in 2021 up to 30 years from now. So it doesn't mean that when we are saving, it doesn't mean that we need to suffer. We need to sacrifice so much, but you just sacrifice where you can so that your money in the future, your money will be the one that is working for you. For you. Yeah. Or your assets or your investments are working for you. You know, you make money while you sleep. That is the goal. You know, making money while you sleep. The fact that you started in university, I know there's a lot of students also who tune in to the show and you know, I think the biggest thing is they're asking themselves, how do they start with the resources that they have? How do they just start doing what you're doing? Oh, so I posted something on my WhatsApp last night saying that if you are receiving NSFAS money, you can start by saving like 200 trends every month. Let's say your, your degree is a four year degree. Yeah. So if you save 200 trends every month, at least by the end, by the time you finish your degree, maybe you're going to be having like 8000 trends. So you'll be able to use that 8000 trends to look for a job. If you are called for an interview, then you're going to be able to use that 8000 trends to go and attend that particular interview. So it's all about using the resources that you already have. We are not saying save money that you don't have. We are saying with the money that you already have, you must take out a portion of that money and save it so that you're going to be able to, to find your dreams or to start saving or to start investing. Exactly. On the show, we always talk about your five year or your 10 year goal, right? And I know that you said in the new year, you want to buy property. Is your plan to build a property portfolio with a whole lot of property investments? Is that where you see your investments going as well? Yes, I think the goal is having three properties before 30. Oh, wow. How long do we have? Like six years from now. Six years from now. So I think it's possible. In fact, it's possible. I know it's possible. So three properties before 30 is the goal. I love how you said I know it's possible because literally I feel like we've been filled with, especially from our guests, talking about manifestations and just manifesting vision board. Tell us about your vision board, Mrs. Fish. Is there a convertible on there? Is there a Mercedes? Is there? I also have it on my wallpaper. Oh, really? Yes. I have it. It's here. Oh, wow. Yes. So every time when I press my phone, I know that's what you see. Yes. That's what I see. Oh, wow. So my goals are just popping up every day when I wake up in the morning. Okay. Thank you, Jesus. When I open my phone. And farming is a big one for you because it's a new journey for you. So with regards to mentoring and getting into a whole new, that's a whole different property, not even property, investment strategy, livestock farming, right? And of course, yes, you've got the privilege and you've got the land. But what is what is that start of investing into livestock and farming? What has that been like for you? Okay. So my dad was a farmer named. So at home, like we have very huge land. So used to have like, in fact, we still have cattle. We have goats, chickens, and we used to have pigs. So I sat down and when I was reading the Bible, I learned that most of the gifts that a person will have is connected to who gave birth to that person. Right. So I drew something and I was like, okay, so my dad was a farmer. My grandfather left us with a very huge land and it means that there's something that can come out. Of course. So I was teaching grade 12s. So I had extra money for the Saturday classes. Then I started saving that money. I didn't want to save it myself. So I'd send that money to my mother every month and I told her, I want to start this thing and I know it's possible. So when I please keep that money for me. So that's how everything started. Exactly. That's it by saving. And already, I think, you know, generational wealth was already designed for you. You just had to follow in those. I think so. You know what I mean? It was there for you, which is amazing. And I think that a lot of people, if we do have these resources, whether it's our fathers or grandfathers that have left something for us, I think it's amazing that you're actually following through and taking those opportunities because a lot of people, we don't. You know, we get things left to us and we're just like, we don't want to do this. We don't see the power in this. You, yes, you used to give some money to your mom and then obviously she would keep that for you so that you could reach your goals and achieve your goals when you needed that money. Now, a lot of us, we don't have, there are obviously many ways to save and you chose to do that method, right? And some of us have other methods like putting the money under the mattress or you know, under the, your underwear and the cupboard. You know, we all keep our stash in very weird places. I can't even, you know what? For me, right now the best place is the bank. That's what I used to keep it in my cupboard. But it was just so hard. Let me tell you the story about when I used to keep it in my cupboard. So, you know, this is back at home in Cape Town and I used to keep money under my cupboard and hope that I would always tell myself, forget about it. Like we all do that, like when you find a 200 grand in a pair of jeans and you're like, huh. You know, and that's what the feeling I wanted when I used to save my money in my cupboard but that wouldn't work for me. So, you know, as much as we all have our different methods why did you, what would you say is the best, the best method to save? Okay, for now, if you are, if you are a beginner I'd say you need to use your bank but you need to separate your money. Now use Kepitec. So when you go to your Kepitec app, you press explore then you're gonna have something that is written for savings plan. So currently I have savings for my mom's kitchen. I have tides. I have e-book sales, the e-book that I sell. Then I forgot the last one. So every time when someone buys the book I just transfer the money straight to the e-book sales. Every time when I get paid I transfer the money to my mom's kitchen. So you can be able to just use your bank for now. Then the more you learn, the more you educate yourself you'll see that okay, maybe the interest is too little. Then you can just venture into the stock market. And I like that you said you break it up because we're all saving for different things. So my question is financially if there is someone who is alone but wants to go on the journey that you've been on how do they with no support how can they start making and going on that journey of investing? Okay, so I'm assuming that you are talking about financial support. Yes. Okay, so number one, now I'm a teacher. But for me it wasn't enough. The salary that I'm earning wasn't enough. So I had to find out the things that I'm good at. So the first thing that you need to do is to find out what are you good at? What are your gifts? What are your talents? Then you use those gifts and talents to be able to generate more money to create another income stream. So let's say you are a singer or something. Maybe you are a good MC. You can just maybe your friend is getting married. You can just offer your services there. Then more people are going to see you. Then who knows? Maybe you will start getting bookings. But my sisters, my friends don't want to pay me. I offer myself all the time. But it's the platform. People are seeing you there. And then they'll say, oh, where did you get that one? Then you start getting bookings. So you need to find out your talents, your gifts. Use those so that you can create more income streams. And now I use mine. I teach every day. So that is what I use now. I teach people. Then I'm able to make money out of it. And that's I think the best piece of advice that I want to take from the show is that, you know, if, yes, let's say, you know, a lot of students, we do our degree, we graduate. And then we stay in this nine to five. And I think it's so important that we look outside of that. Yes, please. Yes, please guys. And find different opportunities. So thank you, Mrs. Mesh, for joining us and for giving this amazing advice. And I just hope that everyone who's watching actually takes and learns from this because I think it's absolutely amazing that you came and shared your experience with us. Yes, thank you. Thank you so much to our viewers at home. Thank you so much for joining in. We are live every Wednesday night at 8 p.m. Take care and stay safe. Happy New Year.