I feel financially insecure at 40 despite owning multiple properties

Reading the “I have property in abundance but I never feel rich” story shared by reader Tuyet Nhung, I deeply empathize with Tuyet Nhung’s thoughts. I feel like only those who are in this situation can understand why we feel this way.

My husband and I also once invested all our money in buying real estate. The only difference is that we did not take out loans. When I was young, any extra money I had went into buying land. Now, in my forties, I have a house, a car, and several plots of land in Ho Chi Minh City worth tens of billions of dong (VND1 billion = US$39,330).

However, my savings are not substantial. After the Covid-19 pandemic, both my husband and I faced difficulties and significant declines in income. Recently, we decided to rethink our investment strategy for the future. After weighing the pros and cons, we decided to sell one plot of land and divide the proceeds into three parts.

We intend to use one portion to construct a house for university students to rent. The other portion will be used to purchase another rental property in a convenient location. This passive income will provide us with a steady amount of money. The final part will be kept for emergencies, which will give us some peace of mind.

Although I feel a bit like I am missing out as land’s value is still increasing, my life has been more comfortable and secure after making the decision. In life, it is crucial to know when you have already strived enough. After years of hard work, we should also reward ourselves with something.

At least at this age, we are still young and healthy enough to travel and explore. Spending money on such activities can sometimes be more meaningful than just investing in land and watching it grow over time.

Should we have spent our money differently?

Reader Pham Trang

*This opinion was translated into English with the assistance of AI. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.