Which house/lifestyle would you choose

ilovemynewjumper · 2023-02-14T10:48:58+00:00

This is for a family of four, one boy one girl. We own a few bikes between us which is relevant (storage issue). Before anyone says anything, I know this is a lovely dilemma to have, and I'm enormously grateful for everything I already have in my life! Just wondering what others would do. Option 1: current house. Three bedrooms (two reasonable doubles, one very small double/large single). Terraced. No garage. No spare room. Laundry has to be dried in sitting room. But also: we can live mortgage free giving us a few hundred extra a month to have a really comfortable lifestyle, nicer holidays, not have to worry where the money will come from for new boiler etc, and also put something aside to cover university costs in due course. Option 2: Move house to one like ours but end of terrace. Four bedrooms. Garage. Bigger garden. Similar size rooms to current house, same area. Will have to keep mortgage and savings massively decreased. Basically option 1 is better lifestyle, option 2 is bigger house.

Lcb123 · 14/02/2023 10:51

It's very personal so sure you'll get differing opinions. I'd go option 1, I would love to be in that position - if you are all happy with the set up. Just gives you all so much freedom.

ohlalalalalalalalala · 14/02/2023 10:56

I think we have chosen option one in our similar scenario

Toooldformarketing · 14/02/2023 11:05

Option 1 is the dream!

Bigger house = bigger stresses and worries.

Do you have space for a condensing tumble in the kitchen?

We had a tiny tumble and stored it under the stairs. We would get it out on Saturdays (it was very light to carry!), stick the hose out the window and do a "small thing" wash. Basically undies and kids clothes. It took the pressure off airers in the living room etc.

Just an idea. Can appreciate there might not be enough space though

Do you have a garden / courtyard? We have a bike store (tiny shed!) X

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 14/02/2023 11:08

I would move.

EverlastingRose · 14/02/2023 11:10

How old are your kids?

Original poster

ilovemynewjumper · 14/02/2023 11:12

EverlastingRose · 14/02/2023 11:10

How old are your kids?

Primary age

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Original poster

ilovemynewjumper · 14/02/2023 11:14

Toooldformarketing · 14/02/2023 11:05

Option 1 is the dream!

Bigger house = bigger stresses and worries.

Do you have space for a condensing tumble in the kitchen?

We had a tiny tumble and stored it under the stairs. We would get it out on Saturdays (it was very light to carry!), stick the hose out the window and do a "small thing" wash. Basically undies and kids clothes. It took the pressure off airers in the living room etc.

Just an idea. Can appreciate there might not be enough space though

Do you have a garden / courtyard? We have a bike store (tiny shed!) X

Thanks. I left out some details to keep it simple - we already have a small utility area with tumble dryer and we would make sure the new house had the same.

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TheDuchessOfMN · 14/02/2023 11:18

I would choose option 1. Life sounds nice and comfortable.

There’s no point in paying extra for a spare bedroom and a garage, at the expense of your quality of life.

CatOnTheChair · 14/02/2023 11:34

How much more is the bigger house?
I'd move, I think. But then our nearest family is 150miles away, so we need somewhere for people to stay.

Original poster

ilovemynewjumper · 14/02/2023 11:37

CatOnTheChair · 14/02/2023 11:34

How much more is the bigger house?
I'd move, I think. But then our nearest family is 150miles away, so we need somewhere for people to stay.

I live in the southeast, so the difference between 3 bed house without garage and 4 bed house with garage is about 120-150k, or more if you also want a bigger garden or bigger room sizes etc.

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Original poster

ilovemynewjumper · 14/02/2023 11:39

CatOnTheChair · 14/02/2023 11:34

How much more is the bigger house?
I'd move, I think. But then our nearest family is 150miles away, so we need somewhere for people to stay.

Most of our family are pretty local, so we don't regularly have guests staying over. But it would be nice to have the option.

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AnotherCountryMummy · 14/02/2023 11:45

What would the spare bedroom be used for? If its just the occasional guest then I'd take option 1 and be mortgage free. Think of all the money you'll save.

Houses come and go, you could try it for a few years and if the house is proving too small, you can use your savings to put a deposit on a bigger one. Especially with interest rates as they are right now.

If you go for option 2 then it would be very very hard to ever downsize with a young family, if you regret it.

Good luck!

Original poster

ilovemynewjumper · 14/02/2023 11:48

AnotherCountryMummy · 14/02/2023 11:45

What would the spare bedroom be used for? If its just the occasional guest then I'd take option 1 and be mortgage free. Think of all the money you'll save.

Houses come and go, you could try it for a few years and if the house is proving too small, you can use your savings to put a deposit on a bigger one. Especially with interest rates as they are right now.

If you go for option 2 then it would be very very hard to ever downsize with a young family, if you regret it.

Good luck!

Spare bedroom would be very occasional guests and somewhere to put the drying laundry.

I grew up in a house with a (good size) spare room and so I think that has set a kind of standard for me. My OH didn't and is less fussed.

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Original poster

ilovemynewjumper · 14/02/2023 11:49

Also I take your point about it being difficult to ever downsize once you've got the bigger place. Whereas if we stay where we are then moving is always a potential option.

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ÉireannachÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ · 14/02/2023 11:53

Option 1

ChateauMargaux · 14/02/2023 11:55

What percentage of your income will be used for your mortgage and how old will you and your children be when it is paid off?

I would move..

onestarrynight · 14/02/2023 11:56

Could you do a loft conversion in your current house for an extra room?

And can you get one of those ceiling mounted drying racks in the utility area or bathroom to keep the laundry out of the sitting room in winter (presumably you use the garden in summer anyway)?

CountryMusicHottie · 14/02/2023 11:57

I’d stay with option 1.

The extra money that option 1 leaves you would give you a much nicer life than a bit of a bigger house in the same area. Option 2 would have to offer much more for it to seem more appealing than being mortgage free and being really comfortable financially.

catherinewales · 14/02/2023 11:57

It is very personal to you. It depends how much the house makes you unhappy. I have the same size family as you and roughly same age. I think with more space you accumulate more crap. My garage is full of stuff that we may use one day. Although my spare room is the husbands office as he wfh. I would love to be comfortable with money but if that meant a smaller house I don't think I would cope. We was lucky our 1st home we got a really good deal on a big house but it didn't come without it's problems and only now 15 years in are we feeling on top of them.

Original poster

ilovemynewjumper · 14/02/2023 11:58

ChateauMargaux · 14/02/2023 11:55

What percentage of your income will be used for your mortgage and how old will you and your children be when it is paid off?

I would move..

Our mortgage is small at the moment. We might have to increase it to move, and it probably/possibly wouldn't be paid off till the kids are adults. Whereas if we stayed where we are we could probably pay off very soon.

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Paigle · 14/02/2023 11:59

In your circs I would think about moving for a garage or more indoor or outdoor space or a better layout but not just for a spare bedroom upstairs. Would this allow you to split the difference on the price increase? Being mortgage free is a huge plus though so I would be cautious.

takethedevilledeggs · 14/02/2023 12:00

I wouldn't buy a bigger house for laundry. You shouldn't dry it in the house anyway really unless you're using a dehumidifier.

That aside, think about how the house will work when your kids are teens. Is there enough Soave for them to game, see mates, study and for you to all have your own spaces?

If it'll work for teen kids then I wouldn't move. I like having a guest room/office but equally some really don't like house guests and you're in an ideal position to say no.

quietnightmare · 14/02/2023 12:01

Easy Option 1

Original poster

ilovemynewjumper · 14/02/2023 12:01

catherinewales · 14/02/2023 11:57

It is very personal to you. It depends how much the house makes you unhappy. I have the same size family as you and roughly same age. I think with more space you accumulate more crap. My garage is full of stuff that we may use one day. Although my spare room is the husbands office as he wfh. I would love to be comfortable with money but if that meant a smaller house I don't think I would cope. We was lucky our 1st home we got a really good deal on a big house but it didn't come without it's problems and only now 15 years in are we feeling on top of them.

We would definitely accumulate more stuff if we had a bigger house!

We can definitely cope with life in this current house. We have an office too (too small to be a bedroom but good for wfh) and a utility room. I didn't mention that in original message as we would make sure the new house also had those things, but perhaps it made this house sound smaller than it is. But things would feel more comfortable with a garage and spare room too.

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Original poster

ilovemynewjumper · 14/02/2023 12:06

Thanks for your thoughts everyone. I think this house would be fine for teenagers.

I am erring towards option 1 but reviewing the situation once the kids are at secondary school.

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