Martha Collins, a 24-year-old from Liverpool, bought her first home with her partner Harry at age 23 and now hopes to be mortgage-free by her early 40s. The couple purchased a £137,500 terraced house in January 2025 with a £130,625 mortgage.
How the App Works
Martha discovered Sprive, a free mortgage app, while browsing TikTok. The app offers cashback on purchases from brands like Morrisons, Costa Coffee, Primark, and Uber, which can be directly applied to mortgage overpayments. Users select a brand, enter the shopping amount, and receive a voucher after payment. Rewards are credited within hours, allowing one-tap transfers to lenders.
"I think what we love about Sprive is the overpayment. It's not coming directly out of your bank," Martha told the Mirror. "You're just making it back in cashback."
Progress So Far
Martha and Harry have overpaid more than £800, including £712 from weekly prize draws. They expect to save around £30,000 in interest and be mortgage-free by their early 40s. "I'm very conscious that we do have this 40-year-long mortgage, which seems like we're never going to be able to pay it off," Martha added.
The couple, who met at a house party eight years ago, initially thought overpayments were impossible due to renovation costs. Martha manages finances with a meticulous spreadsheet and shares her journey on Instagram and TikTok at @marthcollinshome.
Financial Background
Martha credits her parents for financial awareness. The couple lived at her mother's house, paying for groceries and bills, to save for a deposit. Neither has student loans: Martha did an apprenticeship, and Harry went straight into work. "I think we've got to acknowledge that we are in a lucky position not to have debt from university," she explained.
Challenges for Young Buyers
Government data shows 11.5% of first-time buyers are now 45 or older, nearly triple the figure from five years ago. Almost one in three opt for mortgages of 35 years or more, with two-thirds expected to still pay into their 60s. Martha advises others to "strip it down to the basics and look at where your money actually is going."
When asked about her first purchase after being mortgage-free, Martha laughed: "A holiday. I need a holiday."
