This is what it feels like to have a 4-year-old, a new baby and $236 in the bank.

In 2007 my husband and I slowly lost every single cent we’d ever earned. The process took about two-and-a-half years. At first his business started to fail due to the GFC. We had to cut back, then when things didn’t improve the home we’d used as security for the business was foreclosed, our car was repossessed and we were destitute.

I can’t quite describe what it feels like to have a four-year-old, a new baby and $236 in our bank account, with thousands of dollars of bills and no assets.

We survived it. My husband was forced to declare personal bankruptcy from which he was discharged in 2012 and now we are starting over, except now I’m 38, he’s 49 and we have three children.

It’s a real shit fight.

Just as an FYI, you should know that this post is sponsored by Bank Of Queensland. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100% authentic and written in their own words.

We cling to the belief that real happiness is being happy, healthy and together. In reality, not owning a home or even an investment property feels like crap. We are debt free, but so what? We own nothing and thanks to the over-inflated price of property, new lending restrictions and stamp duty (which was meant to be abolished after the GST was introduced) we are in an impossible position.

And yet all our friends have been slowly building wealth and security for over a decade.

I was asked to visit BOQ which is the Bank of Queensland. As you can probably imagine I’ve had my fill of banks and their regulations, credit checks, criteria for loans and perky welcomes (until they realise you don’t have a pot to piss in and show you the door). Still, I’d heard only good things about BOQ. Could they be the fantasy bank that would actually help me re-enter the property market?

I sat down with Anthony Walker and Drew Clegg at the Penrith branch and threw my situation at them like a challenge. Sort of like, “Hi guys, here’s a real doosey. Now, let’s see if you’re as good as you think you are.”

Well, they bloody well did it. With these 5 words, I loved them both, equally and with complete and utter devotion…

“We can definitely help you”.

I left their branch with two solid options for buying a home in 12 months time. The same advice they gave me would also help current home owners to invest in property. Building wealth is complicated but it isn’t just the domain of the rich. We can do it too, with the right advice.

I also learned a stack of mind-blowing facts such as:

• Did you know you can arrange your life and income protection through your super from your super contributions?
• Did you know if you buy land and build a house stamp duty is a fraction of what it would be on an existing home?
• Did you know BOQ has the most ridiculously reasonable interest rate I’ve ever been offered (being post-bankruptcy and all)?
• Did you know a small amount of credit card debt isn’t the be all and end all of your financial freedom?

They told me about the Clear Path home loan which offers a surprisingly competitive interest rate, lower than any we’d been offered so far. In fact it offers 100% mortgage offset (yay!), split loans (so we can purchase land first and build later) and flexible repayment options (double yay!).

This is the first time in five years that I’ve dared to believe I may one day be a home owner again.

No matter what your financial situation, there is a way to build wealth because what’s the point of working our butts off if we don’t get to relax in our retirement, surrounded by grandkids, awaiting our next luxury cruise?

Or whatever your retirement dream is.

Just before I left I asked Drew if he loves his job and he said he does, but not all the time.

“What don’t you like about it?”

“Saying no to people,” he said.

Sigh…

Now, instead of avoiding renovation shows, real estate agencies, for sale signs and any dreams involving living in my own home I am planning to create a fantasy board to stick in our room so we can remain focused on our goals. I plan to include a picture of a beautiful home on a quiet street, a little dog, happy, smiling, clean children playing in the front yard and one of those recliner lounges on the front veranda so I can drink coffee while enjoying and surveying my little piece of the world.

Take the time to have a meeting. If they weren’t scared off by my messy situation, then they won’t be scared off by anything. They consider it a challenge. And saying no is the last thing they want to do.

What financial goals would you like to meet this year?