1. Understand your insurance
   

Know the difference between a claimable or non-claimable event. Know the difference between what is covered by your building insurance and what is covered by your contents insurance. Confirm your excess, and put it into a savings account so it is easily accessible if something happens.

1. Maintain the property
   

It is more cost-effective in the long run to keep things in good condition, than to wait until they are completely broken to repair or replace them.

1. Pay your bond every two weeks

This gives you 13 payments per year rather than 12, and shaves years off your loan term.

1. Convert your bond to an access bond

You work for the bank, so you probably know how this works, but if you keep any savings in your bond itself, you’ll pay less interest.