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Only R$ 160 in the Account and the Dream of Leaving Rent: With limited resources and not enough money to pay for labor, a woman in Belo Horizonte decided to learn civil construction, face the uneven terrain, and advance the work to achieve her own home.
A woman builds a house alone to leave the rent! The dream of owning a home still weighs heavily on many people in Brazil. In 2022, more than one-fifth of Brazilian households were rented, according to data from the National Household Sample Survey by IBGE.
In Belo Horizonte, Gleice Oliveira found a different way to leave the rent. She got her hands dirty and built the house where she lives by herself, in the neighborhood of Dom Silvério, in the Northeast region of the capital.
The story gained traction because the construction started with little money. Four years ago, she had only R$ 160 in her account and decided she would learn everything necessary to build her own house.
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Woman Who Built Her House Alone Works as aSecretary and Shares Her Construction Routine on Social Media
Gleice Oliveira, 34 years old, the woman who built her house alone, works as asecretary and shares her construction routine on social media. The decision came when she realized she wouldn’t be able to pay for labor to manage the project in the way she needed.
As a result, the construction began to depend on direct learning, physical effort, and planning with whatever was available. The goal was clear: to leave the rent and build with her own hands.
She reports that she had to look for resources wherever she could. To keep buying materials, she sold clothes and even a gold bracelet that she had saved.
What Changes in Practice for Those Who Want to Leave Rent
The story highlights an important point: when income doesn’t cover all costs, the solution may require tough choices and changes in routine. In her case, the alternative was to invest time in learning and doing part of the work alone.
This means facing tasks that normally fall to professionals. It also involves dealing with mistakes, successes, and a slower pace, always limited by the budget.
The construction progressed gradually, with a constant focus on keeping the project moving, even without large sums of money available at once.
How She Learned Civil Construction in Practice
To understand the basics, Gleice started watching videos on YouTube and observing engineers’ explanations on topics such as foundation. The learning was applied right away, with adjustments made day by day.
Additionally, neighbors who work in the field helped with simple guidance, like the correct way to hold a sledgehammer. This practical exchange helped turn theory into execution.
She states that the biggest difficulties arose because of the terrain since the lot wasn’t flat, which required more attention at the beginning of the construction.
Machismo on the Construction Site Became a Constant Obstacle
Even with the construction progressing, prejudice appeared along the way. Gleice says women are discriminated against in various areas, and civil construction is no exception.
She secured a job as a bricklayer’s assistant on works for the City of Belo Horizonte, but faced resistance for being a woman and doubts about her capabilities.
The situation changed when people close to her emphasized that she was already building her own house, practically demonstrating that she could handle the heavy work.
What Stage Is the House In and What Still Needs to Be Completed
Even living on the site, the house was still under construction. She explained that two basements are ready and that the ground floor is nearly completed.
The plan is to continue with the structure and, later on, set up a gym on the upper part of the house. The work continues at a feasible pace, following the incoming money and materials.
The continuity of the project depends on keeping the focus on the next steps, with the same logic of progressing little by little.
Woman Builds House Alone, but to Achieve the Dream of Leaving Rent, She Had to Give Up Some Desires
Building requires consistency and care, especially when each step depends on the monthly budget. Gleice claims that she had to give up leisure and travel to maintain her goal.
She mentions that she started working with recycling and received leftover construction materials, which helped keep the work going.
“I stopped going out, traveling, and enjoying life a bit more to achieve this goal. I also started working with recycling, and then the recycling folks gave me some extra construction materials,” she says.
Despite proudly facing her own achievement, Gleice shares that she had to give up many things for the dream to become a reality.
For those who also share the desire of having their own home, Gleice has a valuable lesson: “Never give up on your dreams, stay constant, slowly but surely, but never stop. Everything I do, I do like this, little by little. Everything step by step until I get where I want,” she concluded.
Gleice’s story in Belo Horizonte shows how the pursuit of homeownership can require courage, learning, and sacrifices, especially when money is short. She started with R$ 160 and turned her own effort into construction.
And you, would you have the courage to learn from scratch about civil construction and start a project to leave the rent? If this incredible story about willpower, financial challenges, and even prejudice at work caught your attention, share this article and leave a comment. Your opinion may inspire others.
Parabéns! Fico com muita vontade de fazer o mesmo mas falta atitude.
Mulher corajosa,fibra,exemplo para outros.
Não desistiu no primeiro impecilho, foi adiante,e com certeza não faltou os preguiçosos, para desinsentivar.
Vai em frente, você nasceu para vencer.P
PARABÉNS, que Deus a abençoe
Linda história que Jesus abençoe sua inteligência