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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask is a 5bed house is a waste in these circumstances

160 replies

Chickenshwarmamarma · 04/10/2025 18:49

Young couple who have 2dc half the time (and no plans for any more!)…5bed house…is it a waste? YABU=yes ridiculous YANBU=no, each to their own.

OP posts:
BournardTourney · 04/10/2025 18:57

People make the mistake of only buying enough space for what they need but that leaves no room to spread out as circumstances change. Just because they are listed as bedrooms, they don’t have to stay that way. A library? A screening room? An upstairs dining room?

BubblesandBows · 04/10/2025 18:56

I have a five bedroomed house and there’s me and two children during the week and DH at weekends. The fifth bedroom acts as a drying room for clothes and no one sleeps in the fourth bedroom but the kids do watch tv in there on the bed. We have plenty space downstairs and they have a playroom as well as us having a living room and a dining room and conservatory. Nice big garden for the children and a double garage for storage! For us it’s not a waste x

Donotpanicoknowpanic · 04/10/2025 18:54

Someone sounds jealous 👀

It's up to them what they spend their money on

If they want it...go for it

It's not up to someone else to say what people can or can't do with there lives

Their decision

Their responsibility

DaisyChain505 · 04/10/2025 18:54

Chickenshwarmamarma · 04/10/2025 18:53

Yes they can I presume. Said they will never move again.

Well then it’s not a waste.

It’s not as if they’ve been given a house by the council that could be used by a bigger family.

It’s their home, they’ve bought it and if they’re happy, they’re happy.

DarkTreesWhisper · 04/10/2025 18:54

Buy what you can afford. My friend had a 5 bed house and her 5th bedroom was the laundry room for drying clean clothes and she had her ironing board up permanently in there.

A house can be an investment in terms of increase in value when you choose to downsize.

Chickenshwarmamarma · 04/10/2025 18:53

DaisyChain505 · 04/10/2025 18:52

It’s all relative.

Can they afford it?

Are they making sacrifices else where in life financially because they have a big mortgage etc for the house?

Is it somewhere they see themselves staying for a long time?

It’s a personal choice. Some people prioritise where they live and what their home brings them over things like cars and holidays.

Edited

Yes they can I presume. Said they will never move again.

OP posts:
DaisyChain505 · 04/10/2025 18:52

It’s all relative.

Can they afford it?

Are they making sacrifices else where in life financially because they have a big mortgage etc for the house?

Is it somewhere they see themselves staying for a long time?

It’s a personal choice. Some people prioritise where they live and what their home brings them over things like cars and holidays.

Chickenshwarmamarma · 04/10/2025 18:51

TickyandTacky · 04/10/2025 18:51

Depends. Both home working and regular overnight guests, not unreasonable.

No only one wfh two days a week max. No visitors overnight…

OP posts:
RabbitsEatPancakes · 04/10/2025 18:51

Waste of what? Money? If you can afford it and you like it then it's fine even if you've no kids.

Could easily have 1 room as a dressing room, 1 as a hobby room, a study and one as a spare.

TickyandTacky · 04/10/2025 18:51

Depends. Both home working and regular overnight guests, not unreasonable.

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