An unlikely home-buying story is making the rounds in Australia after one man proved that small, consistent habits can add up to something life changing. Damian Gordon, a 36-year-old from the Central Coast of New South Wales, spent years picking up discarded cans and bottles from beaches, parks, and public spaces. What started as a simple way to earn a little extra money slowly became a long-term routine that shaped his weekends and, eventually, his future.
Gordon began in 2017 through Return and Earn, Australia’s container deposit program that pays 10 cents for each eligible can or bottle. At first, it was just pocket money, the kind you might use for small treats or a night out. But as he kept showing up, the numbers climbed and the bags piled up. By 2024, he had collected more than 450,000 containers and earned about 46,000 Australian dollars, roughly 25,990 euros, enough to put down a deposit on a two-bedroom home.
“I didn’t even notice how much it had added up,” he told ABC News, explaining that the money sat in his bank account until he was ready to use it. When the right place came along, he made a successful offer and finally got the keys. He calls the house a “little old fisherman’s shack,” a modest seaside spot that feels like a personal reward for patience and persistence. You can watch it on YouTube here.
A big part of his haul came from volunteering at music festivals, where the volume of drink containers can be staggering. For Gordon, those weekends were like a recycling jackpot, letting him gather thousands of cans in just a few days. The job came with unexpected perks too, including run-ins with well-known acts like The Presets and Sneaky Sound System while he worked near the stages.
He also stumbled on abandoned camping gear, decorative string lights, and even enough non-perishable food to last for weeks. Even with the money, Gordon says the deeper point is what the habit represents. He grew up visiting thrift stores with his mother, and that early exposure to reusing and repairing shaped how he sees waste today.
Some of his home is furnished with refurbished pieces he picked up during clean-ups, a reminder that sustainability can be creative as well as practical. He’s openly frustrated by how disposable modern life can be, especially after big events that leave mountains of usable items behind. Now that he’s a homeowner with a mortgage, Gordon hasn’t stopped collecting, saying it’s part of who he is, not something he did only to reach a financial target.
Would you ever try saving toward a goal through a small habit like this, or do you think it only works in very specific circumstances? Share your thoughts in the comments.
