To feel embarrassed that we are so cushioned from austerity

[pouffepants]

because we live in social housing.

My rent is about £100 a week, for a 3 bed terraced house in a seaside village in the south east. We can easily pay this, and have 'plenty' of money to spare each week.

We can't however get anywhere near buying a house, because it's just too expensive, and we're also self-employed precariously so I doubt anyone would give us a mortgage.
So we should rent privately. Except our rent would then be £100-£150 more for a similar place per week. When I say we have plenty over, I certainly don't mean that sort of money.
So basically we can either stay put, taking up social housing that could be used for someone in need (as I once was), and saving/spending a couple of hundred a month. Or I can go private, where we would have to go to a cheaper area, change schools, cause problems for work, lose security and be utterly skint! (Like the rest of you)

The only conclusion is that my rent should be higher.

I just sniffed the last one. It smelt fine :)

They aren't that bad.

Sheep on the other hand reek to high heaven!

Sorry but this really pisses me off. I rent privately in the south east and even though my dh earns a good salary we are constantly struggling because our rent is £1000 a month, CT £200 a month.
We are desperate to buy a house and have a mortgage offer but it's for 90% and there is no way we can save £20,000 for the deposit. Neither of our parents are in a position to lend or give us the money.

If you do not need to live in social housing then bloody well give it to someone that needs it.
I wish I could live somewhere that cheap to rent, then maybe we could save for a deposit. Want to swap?

You obviously don't need it though do you gallifrey if you can afford to pay out £1200 a month rent and your DH earns a good salary

See that's why I feel guilty, but if you were in my position would you move?

I was moved here when my kid's dad died, I voluntarily gave up my last house because it was adapted for his disability. The HA rehoused me, but although it's only 10 miles down the road the kids had to change schools etc.

There is NO WAY I can afford to rent or buy privately in this area, so I would have to move again and live in a rough area. Nothing wrong with living in a rough area, but would you honestly move your kids to one if you didn't have to?

That was to gallifrey

to be honest no I wouldn't move to a rough area, sorry I don't mean to get personal, just that when you live near low cost housing and they all have brand new cars including an Audi TT it sort of makes you a bit annoyed.

And I thank you for your honesty. I am also being honest.

That was the point of this thread. I have been extremely lucky,and originally was awarded social housing because I made bad choices when young. I got pregnant by a terminally ill, disabled man, when not in a position to be responsible at all.

I am rewarded every day, potentially for the rest of my life because of this behaviour.

The only way I can rectify this is to take severe financial decisions that will impact badly on my kids. I would be a bad mother to do so, but I'm really ashamed that I'm using up resources in this way.

I originally waited 5 years to be housed, a proportion of which I spent sleeping on the floor of a residential home, with a baby. I was in severe need, I'm sure there must be many in severe need now.