Urope Bhatti

For a lot of Gen Z, big milestones like buying a home can feel out of reach. The cost of living is high, the job market is competitive, and even after getting a degree, it’s not always easy to get started. I graduated from university in 2024 and have been figuring out my next steps while trying to make smart financial decisions for the future.

Right now, I work part-time in hospitality while building a side hustle to bring in extra income. It’s not where I see myself long-term, but it gives me flexibility while I explore my options. Eventually, I’d like to move into a corporate role and one day start a business of my own.

I started thinking seriously about money when I turned 18 and accessed my OneFamily Child Trust Fund.  As part of the scheme, I received £500 of government vouchers for this account and by the time I withdrew it, it had grown to around £2,200.

It made me think about how I could use this money to get ahead, which led me to opening a OneFamily Lifetime ISA. After learning about the 25% government bonus, it felt like the obvious choice to set one up, so I invested all my Child Trust Fund and topped it up with my salary to reach the annual maximum limit.

Since opening my account in 2022, I’ve contributed the full £4,000 allowance each year, totalling £16,000. With the bonus and investment growth, I now have around £23,000 saved.

To put away this much, I’ve had to be quite disciplined with tracking my spending, saving wherever I could, and finding ways to increase my income so I could consistently contribute this amount each year.

I chose a stocks & shares lifetime ISA with a more adventurous investment option to give my savings the best chance to grow over time. The government bonus makes a huge difference, it really motivates me to keep going.

Living at home has helped reduce costs, but it hasn’t been without responsibility. As the oldest child, I’ve been supporting my parents alongside my studies and part-time work, so saving consistently has taken focus.