A thrifty couple who saved a deposit of 50,000 pounds (approx. US$70,000) during the lockdown using some very detailed spreadsheets are celebrating buying their first home. Louise and Mike Zanier were left disappointed after they were forced to pull out of a house sale when their mortgage lender stopped accepting 5 percent deposits at the beginning of 2020—stating the 17,000 pounds (approx. US$23,500) they had saved wasn’t enough. However, the determined pair from Northfleet, Kent, England, decided to make the most out of lockdown restrictions: they focused on how to save. “At the time it felt like the end of the world,” said content manager, Louise. “Then lockdown happened and our entire lifestyle was forced to change. We realized if we made the most of the situation, we could still achieve our dream of buying a home.” Louise, 30, decided to draw upon tips she learned during a work placement with a money-saving …