To build a house for yourself or for your parents first?

In a typical life of an average Ugandan, we have families and dependents who sometimes could be your own parents that put everything on hold to see that you have a future that befits.

Some of our parents could not afford decent housing, while others sold everything valuable to see us through school and support us to responsible adulthood.

It is therefore just right to think about rewarding parents when one gets at the ‘top’. But how much consideration is placed in this kind of rewarding?

Here is a scenario where you have accumulated some savings to build a house, and your parents are still in the ramshackle or makeshift house, would you build the house for yourself or your parents?

First, it would depend on the relationship you have with your parents, if indeed they supported you all through then there would be a consideration. However, for some cases where children have made it on their own while parents deserted them, the closeness remains biological and in most cases, one should make a decision where the parents come after.

According to certain experts, the gender of the children also gives a number of answers in this situation. These claim that girl children tend to care more for their parents than their boy siblings.

“Girls will build a house for their parents if they had the resources, while boys will care about themselves first. This could be logical because boys want to start families, while girls remain their parents’ children for quite long.”

Edgar Kyeba, on social media, says it is hard to break the cycle of poverty when all we do is continue looking backward.

“That's why the cycle of poverty carries on with us in Africa. We are expected to correct parent's failures and our kids are expected to correct our failures. Then it becomes a chain.”

https://nilepost.co.ug/2020/07/19/to-pay-shs300000-a-month-for-rent-or-build-a-small-house-of-shs1-5m/

According to Kyeba, it is important that when one gets resources, they should better themselves, it is then that they will be able to look forward and prepare for a future where no one has to look down to pick them up.

Phillip Mugoya argues and claims that in most cases what belongs to the parents belongs to the children, therefore; “Build for them and you also will inherit it, and your children shall do the same for you. Make it a tradition and she how beautiful it is to have children.”

According to Kanfitiye Florence, the problem with African families is to always put the effort into the past rather than the future.

“The parents had their time to build their homes and make a comfortable home for you as a child to grow in, and as you grow you build your own home so your children can have a place to call home in future but if you go back and start building for your parents who had their own time to building theirs by the time u reach that stage of building your own house the finances might not be all that favorable and so the vicious cycle of starts with you again demanding your children to build for you a house.”

“If the finances are favoring it's better you build yours first and if money remains you build for your parents too but if they have a roof over their head already my dear go ahead and invest for your future, just give your parents any support like food medical because they had their own time to do their investments.”

https://nilepost.co.ug/2020/08/02/for-shs47m-you-can-build-a-three-bedroomed-house-with-basic-finishes/

Nile Post has been publishing articles on how one can build with less financing, this is where we can strike a balance.

Here is our verdict

Between Shs47m and 50m if with a margin of error in estimates, it is very possible to complete a house with basic finish with a kitchen and piped water in the house.

Also, did you know that for Shs1.5million, it is possible to put up an enclosed structure enough to accommodate you and you bid rent bye-bye?

So by following the following steps, one would be able to achieve a balance between their house and their parent's house;

1 Start small:

Under such a circumstance where u have savings, do not entirely move to obtain a big house of your dreams. Start small, by achieving a small comfortable house and splash the reminder on your parents' house. Parents do not need a mansion, they can be happier in a self-contained cozy house, and so will you.

2. Build inclusively

When you chose to build for yourself, find a plan that has a wing where you are able to house your parents comfortably so that if your parents are not the type that are rigid, then they can move with you to your new place as you slowly plan for their new house.

3. What about renovation?

You could entirely leave out the issue of building a new house for your parents and choose to make a few fine touches here and there. For example, you can decide to build bathrooms and toilets inside the house, change the roofing, windows, and doors and repaint.

You can also do away with the cement flow and put tiles or just make extreme furniture makeover.

The power of renovation has the capacity to completely turn around a house to something very new.

4. No need for pressure

Some times we pressurize ourselves with making people happy yet those people understand our situations. Your parents are looking for your happiness first and they will be happier seeing you in a better place than themselves.

So much pressure to make them happy in a very short period of time may have diverse effects. Who knows? you could start stealing money from your bosses just to achieve your parents' dreams. No need, take it slow and everything will fall in line.

5. Take one room at a time

Yes, if you insist on your parents' house you can take on one room at a time. Start with the masters' bedroom ( one room self-contained) and then keep on expanding until they have sufficient room.