What does ‘quality of life’ mean to you?

[BuffaloCauliflower]

DH and I are talking about moving to a different part of the country, it’s not too far from where we are but would be quite a different environment and a big move and change for us. It’s partly driven by house prices but also lifestyle, and we’ve been having conversations about ‘a better quality of life’, but it feels like such an abstract concept and I’m struggling to separate it from the house price aspect (which is no small thing, smaller mortgage payments will certainly have repercussions for our life overall)

I’m interested, what does ‘a better quality of life’ mean to you? Help me out of my brain fog!

-Savings in the bank for a rainy day
-Enough money to fund the lifestyle I want to live

• Job security

-Ability to comfortably pay my bills -Good work life balance -Strong support network -Good Physical & mental health

I’ve been struggling a bit with this recently. Financially we have a good quality of life because we both have good jobs and have choices but we are also working too many hours and are stressed out, not eating well etc. I have a dilemma as to whether everyone would be happier if i was a sahm bit longer-term I don’t think it would be right for me.

No physical or mental health issues
Good work life balance
Hardly children
Outdoor space
Access to woodland/beach or somewhere
Enough money to not be worried about it

*Healthy children!

We made an opposite choice for similar reasons and decided to stay where we are in a smaller flat rather than move further out for a bigger property, garden etc.

Our quality of life calculations included

• having a short commute to work
• great public transport links & everything in easy walking distance
• better schools
• staying close to family and friends

For me a better quality of life means less stress so I want to be comfortable enough to not think about money too much but not earning 6 figures if that comes with high stress, reduced time.

Similar to sleepyhead our home is smaller than I would like but it's very convenient for work, common, tube, family & school so the overall benefits to quality of life are high. When the dc are older we will move to a bigger home in a outer zone.

Fun. How much you enjoy the day to day, and feel able to make the most of it, rather than everything being an act of preparation for a day that never comes. If that makes sense.

Being somewhere that allows spontaneous joy and freedom when not working.
Working less hours.
No worries about money.
No worries about safety or security.
Happy family.

-not having to worry about money
-having lots of spare time to do hobbies and just relax
-living in a beautiful, quiet place with no hassle, noise, antisocial behaviour
-enjoying my work
-having lots of weekends away & holidays

At the moment, my idea of quality of life would be long day in the office, tube carriages packed full of people, exhausted every night and at the weekend and not enough hours in the day

For me quality of life means....
-more time to spent with family and/or do things I enjoy
-a comfortable home I feel safe and happy in (even if it isn’t the poshest)

• financial security (not excess but enough to feel all my needs could be met if I had a sudden expense)
• simple life without complications and unnecessary stress (eg no long daily commute, no toxic stress from jobs etc)

I think for me knowing why I want and I enjoy is important. It is all too easy to get dragged into thinking about what is desirable socially or to compare yourself to others.

It means freedom to me
To go where I want , do what I want and see whom I want

My family being healthy and happy
Having time to spend with my family on fun things
Having no money worries
Having plenty of space at home for all of us to just be
Eating great quality, nutritious food
Good education and opportunities for my children
Having lots of fun things on the go and to look forward to

That's my definition today.

Should health ever be compromised I would trade all of the above to be healthy.

Access to green spaces whether they be a park with lots of trees, a forest or a walk by a lake.

Neighbours that don't piss me off too much

Good coffee shop.

Ah yea @CaribGrackle green spaces is a good one. My house is a shit hole but I love that we have beautiful country side walks on our door steps. When I’ve spent time in cities I realise how important access to that quiet, green spaces is.

Being happy and content.

This will be different for everyone.

I am happy to have enough so I am warm, fed, clothed and clean. Some music or books and a cat or two.
I am not happy with other humans, expectations, holidays or fancy cars and gadgets.
Big houses, space, shopping, celebrating, careers, celeb culture all leave me cold.

@Kroptopbelly

Being somewhere that allows spontaneous joy and freedom when not working. Working less hours. No worries about money. No worries about safety or security. Happy family.

This.

For me it's being comfortable and content.

We could move house to a bigger one. But if we don't we will be mortgage free in under a decade.

We've got savings. And enough coming in to not worry about spending extras here and there.

We have amazing friends in the village. The kids also. Can't put a price on this.

I work part time. I could work full time and take on responsibility at work but I'm not sure it's worth the hassle or stress. I don't need to do it to survive.

As a result we are more relaxed. I've never been a huge spender, we don't do posh holidays but staying in a less posh house has meant we can stay in nice cottages, eat out every night and just enjoy life.

We are never going to be wealthy on our salaries but we are definitely comfortable and that brings so much security.

I'm not sure I want to be living in a big house but having to work so many hours on not there much other than to sleep. And worry about paying for it/other things.

Oh and yes, green spaces on the doorstep.

Quality of life:

House I feel happy and comfortable in.
Job I enjoy that doesn't take up all the hours god sends.
Family that I get on with and enjoy being with.
Enough money to pay all the bills and have a few treats now and again.
Live in an area where just going about the activities of daily life isn't stressful. I've lived in London and found the crowds and pollution and traffic horrendous. Just getting from A to B was a trial as you were doing it with a million other people.

Fresh air
Outdoor space
Time to myself
Time and energy to enjoy my children, and raise them the way I want
Not worrying about day to day expenses
Good food
Freedom to travel
Genuine friendships
Strong, supportive family network
Loving partner

Not: gadgets/stuff/status/keeping up with the Joneses

Somewhere quiet, green, minimal traffic, amenities, places to eat out and leisure activities not too far away. Beach and/or parks/woodland/moors/river walks within easy reach.

Somewhere with not too many social or transport problems and not too far away from friends and family.

A good balance of work/home life with plenty of free time.

Enough money with income and savings to feel comfortable, secure and to enjoy some activities, some holidays/weekends away. Time for relaxation.

Generally feeling content. No huge salaries or big houses needed to achieve this, just finding a level at which you are happy to settle.

[I have all this...apart from living where there is too much traffic! But it's not awful and I don't want to be isolated].

First and foremost is to have your health, eat well, exercise and feel mentally well however you achieve it.

For us a good quality of life is having time with our family rather than jobs with presenteeism and long commutes.

Work to live not live to work.

Hence DH didn't accept a flash high powered London job back in the day as our quality of life as a family wouldn't have been good.