Priorities when children are young ?

[Heswall]

Our house is now at an acceptable level of decor and basics, we have a new safe kitchen and a good bathroom now. That's taken 5 years to achieve along with decorating throughout.
In that time though because the house was in such poor condition we've barely touched the mortgage or had a holiday.
It's like painting the forth bridge and now my list of things to do seems never ending, we need an extension and the garden needs doing along with two bedrooms needing redecorating and the study plastering.
So my question is at point would you think bugger it and just pay off some of the mortgage, have holidays and give yourself a break ?

It's clear we aren't moving house any time soon. The extension seems unachievable without a windfall of some type, I'm half thinking instead of saving for it, we'll just go out every weekend instead and be out as much as possible.

What do you think ?

[Alphafemale]

Life can be short, have a lovely time and go on holiday and do whatever makes you happiest. The children will appreciate time with you more than they'll appreciate an extension tbh.

[minipie]

As long as everything is functional and safe, I'd say leave it while the DC are young.

Your needs will change anyway as they get older, for example what garden you choose for toddler DCs could be quite different from what you want for older DCs.

And if you use the money to pay off mortgage then you will be saving on interest and will actually have more money overall.

[cestlavielife]

ask youself, when your chidlren look back on their childhood what will their memories be?

happy holidays and time with parents, many hours getting muddy in the wild garden.... or the lovely extension, marvellous topiary, and bautifully plastered study?

[Heswall]

You see equally I do wonder whether they would be embarrassed to bring friend back to a home that needs doors replacing, a living room stuffed full to the rafters and not enough storage. I've actually had people comment they don't know how we all squash in there which makes me reluctant to invite people over until the house is done.
I just don't want them to be ashamed of our home

[cestlavielife]

i know the problem but currently renting and hoping to get ie buy somewhere bigger... have to sell a property joint owned with exP!

but you could buy a decent well built dry garden shed and store some necessary stuff in there... sort out stuff....buy decent shelving/floor to ceiling storage etc. put kids in cabin beds with storage underneath.

that is different to decorating... how many rooms and how many people living there? what age kids ?

[Heswall]

We have a shed complete with dead fox in it ATM nightmare it's more the day to day piles of toys and paperwork that needs a home iyswim

[Vickles]

Leave the study, and leave the bedrooms... if they are your kid's bedroom.. think of changing the duvet covers and curtains. There's always loads of lovely used stuff on Ebay, like last year's next homeware for kids. Kids do not care about aged painted walls.

If money is an issue, leave the extension.. get the space that you do have straight first.

Believe me, kids never notice things like doors replacing. Just sort out the things that really need doing.. and you will get the sense of being in control again.

Ikea have the most brilliant storage ideas... go and have a walk around there, and see what you can sort for your lounge. We use these from Ikea...

www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/70103085/

And we've put the rattan baskets inside them - and they're rammed with toys. Move alot of the clutter that you feel is taking over your lounge, and put it upstairs in your bedroom or the study. Get underbed storage boxes, again, Ikea do these.

Prioritise the spaces that are more important to you.. and have a good clear out... do you really need all these things?

I've got 3 kids... and never is the entire house sorted! If the downstairs is looking presentable, that's because the upstairs is a poop hole!

I feel like I'm winning if I'm on top of the downstairs living space (lounge and kitchen/diner) and the washing!

Spend some time on your house, and get the storage issue sorted. Them spend a bit of money of getting some nice things, again, Ikea is fab. And get some nice vintage canvases from next, like these...

www.next.co.uk/shop/category-wallart-department-homeware-24?&isort=price&cnt=24

And, you will feel more in love with your house. xx