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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Regretting buying a bigger house in a not so nice area

30 replies

Cashmeresocksandpjs · 20/01/2026 20:51

DH & I weren’t able to afford a house in the town we grew up in so we moved about 20 mins away to a not so nice area but we got a lot more for our money.

We’ve since had a child and now that decisions around schools are looming, I’m starting to massively regret our decision. Every time I walk past the school gates at pick up time, it’s just full of mums in their pajamas puffing away on their vapes and the language I hear from children in the park from this school is shocking ! We spend all our time going back to the town we grew up in for all our toddler classes etc.

I know I sound like an awful snob and I’m going to get flamed for this but i just can’t help but worry for my little one. There’s nothing we can do as we can’t afford to move back so there’s no point to this thread really but I’m just so cross at my past self for choosing the house over area.

OP posts:
PeachOctopus · 20/01/2026 20:58

You can apply to your preferred school and get on the waiting list. Your child might start in the school you don’t like but you will get the place after a child drops out.
This worked for me.

Newyearawaits · 20/01/2026 20:56

Hi OP, as hard as it is, you will need to put your prejudices aside. There will be a range of children from different backgrounds in schools.
Most people I know were unable to buy in the area we grew up in.
All will be OK

Birch101 · 20/01/2026 20:55

Just choose better schools further away,

Cashmeresocksandpjs · 20/01/2026 20:54

@ThejoyofNC the schools are always over subscribed so I don’t think we’d even have chance of being considered

OP posts:
ThejoyofNC · 20/01/2026 20:52

Choose a school 20 minutes away then?