From pizzas to a first home

Stuff reports:

A man who was told he’d “go nowhere” working for a pizza chain has just bought his first home at the age of 24 – without using his KiwiSaver.

James Batchelor, who lives in Auckland, recently purchased his first home in New Plymouth for $616,000.

Go James.

He bought the house without any financial help from his parents.

And, he didn’t use a cent of his KiwiSaver, despite having about $58k stashed away after contributing 10% of his earnings since he started work in 2017 as a 17-year-old delivery driver at Domino’s Pizza.

So by 24 he has $58,000 in KiwiSaver and around $240,000 in general savings. Amazing.

Batchelor said while he never dreaded going to work, the 80 to 100 hour work weeks meant he had to sacrifice spending time with friends.

“You must be willing to make sacrifices with the idea that your sacrifices today will provide a better tomorrow.”

Hard work pays off.

In 2022, Batchelor took a new role as an auditor in the Dominos’ head office, and in 2023 he became a regional manager, managing 54 stores from Auckland to Kerikeri and in Napier and New Plymouth.

Batchelor has continued with the saving philosophy he adopted when he was 17, putting more than $1000 per week into his savings.

Amazing at such a young age.