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Original poster

Which house/lifestyle would you choose

65 replies

ilovemynewjumper · 14/02/2023 10:48

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.

OP posts:
winterpastasalad · 14/02/2023 12:07

House 1 without a doubt. Use the extra money to go on trips/holidays as this will benefit your dc more. Moving house for the benefit of a room for the clothes horse is madness.

WinterFoxes · 14/02/2023 12:08

Does option 1 have a tiny front garden where you could create a bike store or is it door directly onto the street?

A good size single as third bed is fine. Buy a high bed with storage and desk underneath it.

Sounds like you'd have a lovely life.

bussteward · 14/02/2023 12:10

It really depends on so many factors! Whether you WFH or ever intend to, how are your pensions and would the move impact them, is there space in current house for the kids to live at home when at uni or come back after (if that’s a thing you’re willing to support them in), would hiding the laundry in the spare room improve your MH (I loathe clutter and this would be wonderful for me — space is everything!), would you use the spare room for hobbies such as art or sewing, gym equipment, would staying in current house mean retiring earlier… Etc etc!

I’d make a mahoosive pro con list. But personally I’d go for the bigger house with side access and bike storage: you’re losing the lifestyle of spare money but gaining the lifestyle of lots of other things, and incomes can increase to compensate for the mortgage.

Original poster
ilovemynewjumper · 14/02/2023 12:13

Thanks everyone, you are really helping me. Part of my issue is that I grew up in a bigger house and I have that stuck in my head as the standard. Like - and I know this is bonkers - that it's not really respectable to have laundry hanging everywhere and if I was a proper adult I wouldn't.

But I know we're in an amazing financial position with the current house, I really do.

OP posts:
Chasedbythechaser · 14/02/2023 12:14

Id choose whichever house has the better secondary school catchment?

Original poster
ilovemynewjumper · 14/02/2023 12:14

bussteward · 14/02/2023 12:10

It really depends on so many factors! Whether you WFH or ever intend to, how are your pensions and would the move impact them, is there space in current house for the kids to live at home when at uni or come back after (if that’s a thing you’re willing to support them in), would hiding the laundry in the spare room improve your MH (I loathe clutter and this would be wonderful for me — space is everything!), would you use the spare room for hobbies such as art or sewing, gym equipment, would staying in current house mean retiring earlier… Etc etc!

I’d make a mahoosive pro con list. But personally I’d go for the bigger house with side access and bike storage: you’re losing the lifestyle of spare money but gaining the lifestyle of lots of other things, and incomes can increase to compensate for the mortgage.

YES to the laundry being clutter that's bad for my MH! That's totally it.

OP posts:
Original poster
ilovemynewjumper · 14/02/2023 12:14

Chasedbythechaser · 14/02/2023 12:14

Id choose whichever house has the better secondary school catchment?

They'd be the same - we'd only be moving within a half mile radius as we want the kids to stay at the same primary.

OP posts:
Actionstations · 14/02/2023 12:17

Option 2 is the better lifestyle to me. I'd rather have a comfortable homelife with enough space than a cramped, crowded home and extra cash.

Chasedbythechaser · 14/02/2023 12:17

ilovemynewjumper · 14/02/2023 12:14

They'd be the same - we'd only be moving within a half mile radius as we want the kids to stay at the same primary.

Show quote history

Ah ok. Well then I’d stay where you are really.

Hang out the laundry during the summer.

I have a four bed and even using the tumble dryer, still use a clothes horse.

Toooldformarketing · 14/02/2023 12:18

Do you have good neighbours?

Sometimes we don't realise how lovely our lives are until we move and have shite neighbours :(

This happened to me in 2020. I picked a better house (semi) in a better area. Next door were horrid and they eventually moved out. Then the house became a HMO and it was even worse.

I couldn't believe it. Our mortgage was higher, our garden was lovely and yet it was tainted by next door. We sold 6 months later. X

Original poster
ilovemynewjumper · 14/02/2023 12:20

Toooldformarketing · 14/02/2023 12:18

Do you have good neighbours?

Sometimes we don't realise how lovely our lives are until we move and have shite neighbours :(

This happened to me in 2020. I picked a better house (semi) in a better area. Next door were horrid and they eventually moved out. Then the house became a HMO and it was even worse.

I couldn't believe it. Our mortgage was higher, our garden was lovely and yet it was tainted by next door. We sold 6 months later. X

Yeah we have great neighbours, we're really lucky. Not just immediate neighbours either, the whole street has a good vibe to it.

OP posts:
drivinmecrazy · 14/02/2023 12:20

I'd probably go for option two. Based on my own experience two primary aged children vs two teenage/early twenties children we need all the space we can get.
We chose option one but deeply regretting it now we have a graduate and a 17 yo at home

Englishash · 14/02/2023 12:22

Option 1 and start saving for a bigger place in time

Toooldformarketing · 14/02/2023 12:24

Yeah we have great neighbours, we're really lucky. Not just immediate neighbours either, the whole street has a good vibe to it

You've already hit the jackpot x

CottonSock · 14/02/2023 12:26

Extend to loft. I now dry all washing up there in a corner, have a work from home desk, a spare bed and a extra bathroom. Cost was 50k including decorating, carpets etc.

Original poster
ilovemynewjumper · 14/02/2023 12:28

CottonSock · 14/02/2023 12:26

Extend to loft. I now dry all washing up there in a corner, have a work from home desk, a spare bed and a extra bathroom. Cost was 50k including decorating, carpets etc.

Already done, that's one of the bedrooms

OP posts:
Onelifeonly22 · 14/02/2023 12:33

Could you put one of those ceiling clothes hangers in the utility room (that you pull down when in use)? Think they are called pulley maids...

Original poster
ilovemynewjumper · 14/02/2023 12:36

Onelifeonly22 · 14/02/2023 12:33

Could you put one of those ceiling clothes hangers in the utility room (that you pull down when in use)? Think they are called pulley maids...

Ahh I remember my gran had one of those back in the 80s 🙂

OP posts:
DesdamonasHandkerchief · 14/02/2023 12:39

I'd go bigger house every time but then I'm a home bird and have reached an age where we went for the bigger house and are now mortgage free anyway.
If you're thinking option 1 but the laundry is your main bug bear buy a tumble dryer, or use the one you have more. Even with the price of electricity atm running a tumble dryer vs moving house and paying a mortgage is a no brainer, and as pp said get a bike store.

MorrisZapp · 14/02/2023 12:39

We live in a top floor flat and have paid off our mortgage. I bloody love it and will never take on mortgage debt again. You can improve and upgrade the space you have, and use clever storage tricks (I keep a box of my out of season clothes in a cupboard in my office 🤣)

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 14/02/2023 12:41

Option 2!!! Space and a bigger house with older kids I think is way better. You also can downsize when older and have more money. I dont get the obsession with being mortage free though

neurospicygal · 14/02/2023 12:43

1 if neighbours are alright and you already like the area you are in. If it ain't broke don't fix it! 😁

EasilyDirected · 14/02/2023 12:45

Option 1 - we did this, our DCs are 17 and 19 now and it's been fine. Neither of us WFH (and unlikely ever to) though. It has meant the mortgage was paid off in time to support them through university.

Fizzadora · 14/02/2023 12:46

An extra £120k versus the cost of buying and running a full size tumble dryer and a bike shed.
You really don't need to move right now. You just need to sort out your storage.

Cottagecheeseisnotcheese · 14/02/2023 12:47

as kids get older the space they play in is no longer used for toys they just want a phone and x box! but they do want mates round , I think option 1 nothing like being mortgage free and the money saved could be used for carpenter to do smallest bedroom to a good standard hi bed with desk underneath tiny home videos are great for storage solutions everything from turn bottom two steps of staircase into shoe storage to desks that turn into make up stations etc

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