Feel like I’m making do with life

[Reins55]

Does anyone else feel like they’re having to make do with life.
I’m putting up with living in a house where I’m not happy because we can’t afford to move and definitely can’t afford what we would like as this is prob 100-200k above what we can afford.
I enjoy my job but again am making do because I can’t think of anything I could do which uses my skills and pays the same money.
As with many people I’m happier on holiday and try to keep us busy so we’re not always at home and have plans to look forward to. I try to tell myself that life isn’t about work and the perfect house but how you enjoy your life outside it and i feel these are the only things I feel I can control in life…
I do try and remind myself all the time that we’re lucky to have a home and an ok life but sometimes it just gets me down that there are things we just can’t change. I know it all sounds woe me… but I just needed to vent and get this out. Does anybody feel the same?

What does you perfect house/life have that your current one doesn’t have?

Good question. Perfect house would have a bit more space/room to extend, garden and drive/garage space. Sadly can’t extend as currently in a 2-bed flat and in an absolutely ideal world would be detached house as our neighbours are noisy and seem to have a never ending DIY project!! (3 years and counting). In my job probably have a boss who doesn’t micromanage and a colleague who doesn’t talk down to me (aka Bridget jones wanting to staple something to her colleagues head) but i enjoy the actual work, it pays well for the sector and I can’t find any other jobs that have similar pay and hybrid working opps. As I say I try to stay positive as I know there are people who would like to be in my position but sometimes I just get frustrated that the way things are, are the way things are.

Could you look at soundproofing against the neighbours noise?

Plant a kitchen windowsill herb garden, I know it's not a garden garden but you can search online for ideas to cultivate indoors might just bring a bit of joy.

Can you have a rethink about moving towards more cash career wise, that might just bring the possibility to move closer, no it won't happen this year but you might be in a position in 3 years.

Sometimes it's not about changing what you can't you have to change what you can.

Even in a flat you can still cook/bake great food, read amazing books (if you have join a local library and start ordering books that look your thing), listen to music, play music, have movie sessions.

Can you look to explore new local outdoor space? Parkrun might be a good starting point for your family. It's free and gets you out. You can walk it if need be it's only 5km which is just under 3 miles.

Even something as mundane as painting your front door a bright colour, or suggesting with other flat occupants a car park BBQ in the summer?

Learn to accept it and be happy with what you have. Change what you can, accept what you can't. I know it sounds simple but we all make choices in life and stressing about the ways life 'could' be better isn't going to get you anywhere.

You could change jobs but you'd earn less or have less favourable conditions. You could sell your flat and rent a house which on paper would be better, but it wouldn't really be because it wouldn't be yours.

To answer your question, yes I feel like that sometimes but then I remind myself of things like the above, and find pleasure in the small things.

Unfortunately, I think this is part of adult life. I agree with PP, change what you can, accept what you can't, make sure you spend time doing things you love.

I'm in a really similar position, job wise. I don't like it, but need the flexibility it offers and there aren't any others I've seen offering the same salary and flex. I have to (begrudgingly) accept and appreciate the benefits (whilst simultaneously hating every day) and looking out for an elusive role that can offer me the same.

Thanks for your responses. As I say I think I just needed to vent and get it out and then start making more plans for the year ahead and to keep on being positive about what I have