Looking after your Home

Your home is your sanctuary; a place of pride, a place to relax, rest your head and decorate however you might like. It’s also a place where it is your responsibility to clean, take care of and maintain. Whether you rent or own your own home, these costs will often be the greatest expense you pay, so it is important to understand how to best look after your home.

Home Ownership

Buying a home is a massive step in your life and probably the biggest expense/investment you will make with your money. There are many steps on the path to home ownership and lots of rules and regulations from the government and financial institutions who will fund the home loan. It is important to understand all of the requirements, make sure you have a enough money saved for a deposit and other home related costs, like legal fees, application fees, real estate agents, inspections and insurance to name a few – not to mention furniture and homewares when you finally get into your home! Indigenous Business Australia offers lots of information sessions and online resources for Indigenous Australians who are thinking about buying a home, they also have a home loan program to assist mob who might not be able to get a loan approval from a mainstream lender. You can also find lots of information online about buying a home from the government and financial institutions.

Renting

Where to go for information and your rights about renting a house in WA.

Cooking and Shopping

Good nutrition is essential to looking after yourself and feeling well. Whether you are cooking for just one person or for the whole family it is important to plan out what healthy meals you will make, write a list, work out your budget and head to the shops. Sometimes it can be hard to get fresh fruits and vegetables, or they can be very expensive at times, fresh produce can be replaced with frozen, and they are just as healthy. Shopping at farmers markets, local farms and produce stores can also help to save money and give you better quality products. Buying pantry and Non-perishable items in bulk when they are on special can also help to save money. Planning meals ahead and following a recipe can help you to avoid waste and enjoy different cuisines. Cooking together with friends and family is a good way to bond and be social. You can cook healthy meals inside in the kitchen using fancy gadgets, in the yard or at a park on the bbq or even on the campfire over the coals – whatever you prefer and have access to, it all works out the same. If you are having trouble affording or accessing food, you can get help from Food bank and other local community organisations.

Gardening

Maintenance and Cleaning

Helpful information to help you look after your home maintenance and cleaning.