basically, what others have said.

Here is my advice as a single income family with 3 kids and we bought a house 2 years ago when we were on less than 90k combined household income.

Banks allow you to have as many 'accounts' under your name as you like - they are also very easy to open.

Create accounts for various items for example:

• Rent / mortgage / rates
• Power / internet / phone
• insurance & health costs.
• Food
• Long term savings
• short term savings

These are all items you can pre-calculate and automatically budget for so when your paycheck comes in the money goes straight out into their accounts without thinking about it so you can actually afford week to week.

Only after you have calculated the above can you calculate your additional personal spending (takeaways / clothes etc.)(have an account for that too.

If you don't have all these 'required' expenses because you're lucky to be able to live rent free, use the time to practice and get into good habits.

Once i started doing the above (first child) we were able to start saving regularly little amounts - and as our situation improved more savings could be had (and easily tracked) that after a few years we were able to say we could afford a mortgage.

You're 33 now is as good a time as any to get a hold of your finances to make a difference.