1985 - 33 yrs old - $60,000 for house and land (built that year)...

1985 - 33 yrs old - $60,000 for house and land (built that year) - 98 sq m house with 35 sq m garage - breeze way in between. 15.5% home loan capped - others paid up to 17.5%. Had the land and saved 30% of the cost to build the house, before building the house. That is about half of total cost of the house and land saved/owned before building.

In 1985 I worked half the year and on the dole the other half. Wife worked 12-15 hrs/week part time.
Had second hand Ford Cortina and 100cc motor bike.
The half of the year I worked, went to the pub each 3rd Friday and had 5 pots of beer. Brewed my own beer.
Hardly ever went to the pub - Friday Sat or Sun. (and Mon to Thurs if you were wondering).
Went out for dinner about 2-3 times a year. Didn't buy takeaway food (didn't live near the shops).
Holidayed twice a year in a 6'x8' tent for 4 days and 10 days - Noosa and Burleigh Hds.
No mobile phones, foxtel, netflick, kayo etc in those days. What money we didn't spend "we saved".
Paid off our home loan in 5-6 yrs. Grew a lot of vegetables and went fishing.

Could go on - but yeah we had it pretty easy in those days.

My mother sold 300 acres to subdividers in 2007 for a couple of $m and I retired at 55.
I worked for very very little money from 1980 until 1985 on my mother's land - sugar cane and small brahman stud. Alway said working hard all your life (when you worked) and be good to your mother.
Hope this hasn't bored too many people.