I believe that building your own house helps in developing character and brings great satisfaction after a few years. I know this because I've been living in a house built by my father 23 years ago.

I can still remember how our interior walls were unpolished and unpainted, our floor was made of marble, our roof had no ceiling thereby exposing the electrical wires, and our stairs had no railings. The fixtures were all borrowed from my father's office. I know it because it had his office's name printed in them. Its like living in an almost condemed building.

Now, its vey different. Our interior walls have been polished and were painted. Our roof now has a painted ceiling. Our second floor now has rooms, one of which has an aircondition unit. Our lot is now fenced and gated. The idea is not affluence but of managing one's finances and surmounting challenges in order to have a humble residence worthy to be regarded as your own.