How to Pay Your Mortgage Off in 10 Years: Serina Bird’s new book hopes to inspire resilience

Posted on 28 July, 2023

Writing a book wasn’t on my 2023 plan. In fact, I wasn’t sure if I would do much more work on writing and podcasting at all.

But then, Lesley Williams from Major Street Publishers called. Lesley contacted me out of the blue in mid-February and asked if I would like to write a book about paying off a mortgage.

I said yes and sent her through some ideas for things that could go in the book. We had a Zoom chat the next day (a Friday). By then she had looked over my chapter outline and added a few ideas of her own. That formed the nucleus of the book.

The brief was simple: write 30,000 words in two months. (In the end, the book ended up being a bit over double that and it took a little longer, but most was done by ANZAC Day).

This is not normal, but I understood the urgency to get the book out quickly: so many people were hurting with mortgage stress and needed this book.

I remember the Friday that we had the book discussion well.  It was the first day of the Multicultural Festival, and I wandered through the stalls wondering how the heck I was going to write a book so quickly.

I remember that in front of Canberra Centre, there was a fabulous East Timorese band performing a version of a Bob Marley song. “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright”, the lead singer crooned over and over.

I felt like the refrain of ‘Everything’s Gonna Be Alright’ really resonated for me in writing this book, and I hope it resonates for people reading this book as well.

There is so much stress right now.

People are exhausted from bushfires, pandemics, floods, isolation and uncertainty. And now they have uncertainty about interest rate rises as well!

Until recently, Canberra had the highest rentals in the country (recently pipped by Sydney), and we also have some of the highest mortgages in the country. We also have high rates of homelessness, often hidden through couch surfing.

We might feel overwhelmed, but I know that many of us are resilient and will find a way through. My book has tips and hacks that people can choose to use on their journey.

I’m acutely aware of the intergenerational wars and sensitivities around housing affordability, especially for first homeowners. It is tough. It is forcing people to make hard choices. I wanted to create a book that was practical, inspiring and useful—but that also showed empathy.

I didn’t want a preachy book that talked down to people or implied that housing stress was their fault. I’m grateful for the skilful work of the book’s editor, Lauren Mitchell, in assuring the book has a joyful and accessible tone.

What can readers expect?

The book contains a series of mindset and finance hacks, and early feedback is that many people find these useful and inspiring. Many parents are buying it for their kids.

There are several chapters on frugal hacks, including new frugalista tips on cleaning and travel. (I trialled all the cleaning tips myself—just like studying for a big test, spring cleaning is a great form of writing distraction). And finally, the book provides advice on what to do when shit happens, how to take a (frugal) break, and what to do once your mortgage has paid off.

A huge inspiration for my book is the late Martha Gardner. She provided down-to-earth and homely advice to many Australians, that helped them deal with tough economic times. I think a key message she shared was resilience, and I hope that many of my readers will connect with that central theme in my book as well. Yes, it’s not an easy time for many. I hear you. But I also know that most people will make it through. You’ve got this!

This is one of the recipes I’ve included in the cleaning chapter of the book. It’s for homemade dishwashing tablets.

With the cost of dishwasher tablets rising, it makes sense to make them yourself. And it’s not just about the cost to your wallet—many tablets are covered with synthetic polymer polyvinyl alcohol products, however, not all PVA breaks down totally, with some of it becoming micro-plastics.

The good news is that you can make your own dishwasher tablets simply and easily using ingredients you can find in the supermarket aisle. Plus it’s easy and even fun. Try it and see!

Homemade Dishwashing Tablets

Ingredients

1 cup bicarbonate of soda
1 cup Lectric washing soda
¼ cup Epsom salts (or cooking salt)
¼ cup Citric acid
½ tablespoon dishwashing liquid
Orange or white vinegar (or plain white vinegar)

Method

1. Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl.
2. Add in the dishwashing liquid and then gradually stir in the vinegar, around half a teaspoon at a time. The mixture will fizz as you add in the vinegar: this is normal.
3. Once the mixture is crumbly and wet, spoon into a plastic or silicon icetray.
4. Press down firmly and allow to harden overnight.

Pop out, and then store in a dry, airtight container and use one per wash as you would with commercial dishwashing tablets.

Photography: Akka Ballenger