What would you prefer out a more comfortable lifestyle or a dream home

[Lardlizard]

So for example a three bed house in a very nice area with a nice garden that and Enough money to be able to have several holidays a year, weekends away days out meal out etc
And just being able to relax about money

Or say a five bed house in the same area, and enough money for one holiday a year
But you would generally have to be a lot tighter about money

Definitely the first option. A nice house, yes, but a huge house that costs a fortune and doesn't allow you to do anything else - definitely not!

Do You need 5 bedrooms? My point of view would always be the more affordable option. Surely its an obvious choice. I would rather spend money giving my children a good childhood, than worrying about finances.

The first option for me too, it's big enough and I don't want anything more.

We thought we wanted option 2, but now are in the 1 situation and don't want to change it.

Well we sort of have option 2 but it's a slightly smaller house. Option 1 wouldn't work for us with ages and number of children.
Unless you need all the bedrooms go for option 1.

Sorry should have said for 4 people

Depends on how big your family is - if you have 4/5/6 children the bigger house would be much more suitable. 1 or 2 then lots of bedrooms don't really matter.

Cross post! as long as you don't think you would outgrow it any time soon house 1 sounds like the best option.

Defiantly first option. We moved from a standard type 4 bed Victorian semi, to a 6 bed (wreck needed doing up) with attached barns, so more than doubled our space.

We love it when it’s full of people, parties, Christmas etc, but most of the time we rattle around, I don’t go in half the bedrooms, it costs a fortune to heat and I feel like I never get on top of the cleaning ( 5 toilets 😳).
Both my children are hopefully going to uni this year so then it will be me and DH just using a few rooms, it feels a bit mad and wasteful and unnecessary.
If I had lots of local family it might be different but it just the 4 of us.
We will probably sell next year, I don’t think I’ll ever live in a house this big again.

Do you need the extra space? And it depends the sort of holidays.

For 4 people, a 3 bed house is sufficient, no guest room (but whatever, too bad for the guests), but depends on if you need the extra bedrooms for an elderly family member to move in or a home office because one of you works from home.

But it also depends on the sort of luxuries you have in mind. I wouldn't need more than one big holiday a year, and two weekends away would be plenty. I'd rather put that money into something that will give some returns one day than spending it on 4 holidays a year and expensive meals out every weekend. I guess it depends what sort of spending you have in mind whether it would balance again having more space (and also whether you need the space or just want it).

We're looking to buy soon and want a 4-5 bedroom (there are 4 of us) as we need room for an office (dh and I both work from home) and we need land and outbuildings for commercial space for dh's business. So putting money into a house instead of comforts makes sense (it will make us more money and make life more comfortable down the road), but I don't know that I'd do it just because.

Without a doubt option 1. It still a nice house. Life's for enjoying.

First option for street

*for sure

I suspect Im a little older than the op, however, I have had my dream home, large period 4 beds, large garden, performance car, nice area, you get the picture - it cost us all we earned every single month!, we were never able to save, old age is creeping up, so, when last dd had left, we sold, sold everything!, we kept a few sentimental items and went to a 2 bed apartment, I renovated, decorated, bought new ultra modern furniture and we love it - It feels like we have lifted a huge burden, our lifestyle is great and we are putting money into our pensions that would never have been possible otherwise.

I guess what I'm trying to get to is that life moves on and its a really good idea to decide what is important to you for your health, wellbeing and finances at given points in your life.

Lifestyle, easy.

First option every time . Enjoy your life , it’s only bricks !

I'd go for the middle ground and aim for a 4 bed. Having a guest bedroom/office is really useful, especially if you can work at home some of the time.

Though I suppose it depends on the ages of your kids. If they are almost about to leave home, then the smaller house is the better option.

Option 1. Two extra bedrooms would not be enough to give up several holidays a year for. If the three bedroom house was in a rough area I’d think differently but in the same area, definitely option 1.

The first one sounds the best to me, got to enjoy life while we can so extra money to enjoy life and plus u still get to have a nice house.

1st option 100%

First option always. I have absolutely no desire for a large home anyway, requires too much upkeep and as a single mum of one it would just be wasted space. A 2 up 2 down is fine for me.

Can't see the point in having more rooms than necessary. Its just more cleaning that needs to be done.

Definitely option one.

Option 1 sounds like the best of both worlds.

Having said that, I live about an hours drive from family and it is handy to have a spare room they can sleep in when visiting.