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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To sell house for career

53 replies

fordpenk · 01/04/2016 12:46

Weird title but basically I would like to retrain however I cannot cover loss of earnings without selling house so would you do this?

OP posts:

Original poster

fordpenk · 01/04/2016 16:23

Problem is my job at the moment is badly paid and zero hours.

OP posts:

Original poster

fordpenk · 01/04/2016 16:23

It won't Sylvia.

OP posts:

Purplepicnic · 01/04/2016 16:26

I wouldn't get off the property ladder, it will be impossible to get back on unless you're retraining into a very secure, highly paid job.

SylviaWrath · 01/04/2016 16:31

You really don't know that though. You couldn't possibly.

Buckinbronco · 01/04/2016 16:38

What sort of expensive training would take you from a badly paid zero hours job to a SW job? Why can't you get a better job now?

icanteven · 01/04/2016 16:41

Sell the house to retrain by all means, but not as a social worker. You would be absolutely demented to do that. It is poorly paid, very stressful and has people leaving the profession in droves. You would be throwing capital away.

What qualifications have you got now? A degree in something related to IT, finance or HR would have the best return on your investment, and if you are concerned about a career that can fit around children, IT or accountancy would be a good bet because of the huge freelance capacities in those careers. Women make better coders than men, and web design is both fairly easy and quite lucrative.

If you're in a zero hours career now, with the money to retrain and the maturity of an adult to make an informed decision, you are incredibly lucky.

You should probably talk to a careers counsellor (yes, they exist for adults too!) to help you make this decision wisely.

memyselfandaye · 01/04/2016 16:43

Only you can make this decision, a bunch of strangers on the internet really shouldnt sway you one way or the other on such a big thing.

wanderinglonely · 01/04/2016 17:15

Going against the tone of the thread: i did just this. I sold my house to release equity to take a year off and do a full-time course after i changed career in my mid 30s. I don't regret it one bit and am now in a position where i could be back on the property ladder if i wanted to be.

Pinkcadillac · 01/04/2016 17:32

I would do it but would live as frugally as possible and focus 100% on getting my qualification quickly.

When you get a job you can then use the remainder of your savings as a deposit and a mortgage (I'm assuming you are still at an age when you can get a mortgage easily? i.e. not older than 55)

YaySirNaySir · 01/04/2016 19:47

No I wouldn't. House prices around here are going up so no chance of getting back to this standard of house.

ImperialBlether · 01/04/2016 19:50

You can't possibly know that you will always be able to stay with your family member.

You're planning to sell your house to study for a career which people are leaving in droves? Social workers are having a terrible time at the moment with government cuts meaning that they are overworked and underpaid.

Is there any other career you're interested in? Have you thought of studying with the Open University?

Sorebigtoes · 01/04/2016 19:54

Definitely not (I used to be a SWer and loved it, overall) but you should try to get a job as a SW assistant or family support worker or something similar. There may then be the chance of training in that post. You may need to do voluntary work first, to get the required experience.

hatgirl · 01/04/2016 19:54

Please don't sell your house to become a social worker. I've just sold mine so I DON'T have to be a social worker any more. It's dire and demoralizing and its only getting worse.

Consider being an OT/ physio instead! They get paid the same or more than SWs and don't have to deal with the same level of shit.

Pinkcadillac · 01/04/2016 20:20

What is the alternative OP? Do you have a job that can be done part time while studying at the Open University?

Pinkcadillac · 01/04/2016 20:38

Sorry I have just seen that you are on a zero hours contract

whois · 01/04/2016 22:43

I wouldn't. I would focus on getting the skills you need part time, to move on to another job. Study all day, work in a bar all night. Work all day, study in the evenings. Life would be tough but you can self fund.

What qualifications do you already have?

MattDillonsPants · 01/04/2016 22:53

OP all kinds of things can go wrong. Living with a family member, your Mum or other relative....my Mother sold our family home on a whim....I'd NEVER have thought she'd do that but she did and good on her....she wanted a flat. And that's what she got. This could happen to you....keep your home. It's a real privilege to own a home.

clippityclop · 01/04/2016 22:59

Could you take in a lodger to help with costs? Don't part with your home.

OzzieFem · 02/04/2016 05:29

You might be able to get a loan using your house as equity, however I would not do this personally. Why cannot you save enough money to live on from the job you currently have and train later?

JessieMcJessie · 02/04/2016 06:54

Why don't you live in the house at the moment?

topcat2014 · 02/04/2016 07:12

There was a thread on here a while back about jobs / changing etc.
(paraphrasing)
All the nurses wanted to train as teachers
All the teachers wanted to train as lawyers.
All the lawyers wanted to train as teachers.

(not a snidey question) Are you sure you know enough about social work?
Would be my idea of hell, personally, but then I am an accountant and know nothing about it really.

NerrSnerr · 02/04/2016 07:19

It seems a bit selfish to live with a family member rent free when you've owned a house. I would retrain if you could afford it (fees and living costs including rent) and not freeload off others.

2snugglets · 02/04/2016 07:54

I'm a SW and in the current climate many are working through an agency and taking home £32 ph / £1,200 a week!!! So some are very well paid.

Just this week I've come across many foster carers who are going through an agency and making more than 1k a week!

QuiteLikely5 · 02/04/2016 07:59

Have you been to uni before?

Are you aware you can get loans and bursaries to see you through? Selling your home is not necessary unless you have been to uni before and aren't entitled to help again?

SW is a very hard profession, you should talk to some people in the profession before you take the leap. I am yet to meet a SW who enjoys their job

bloodypassword · 02/04/2016 08:06

I'm a social worker and I love my job. Yes it's stressful but aren't most jobs these days? I'd recommend the OP get a social work assistant/support worker job somewhere and see if her employee would fund the social work training? I know some local authorities (& NHS trusts too) still do that.

If you're sure you want to go social work then go for it. There is lots of agency work going which is very well paid. It's interesting and fulfilling work. (Though personally I'd avoid children's services and child protection work). I work with adults - have done for over 23 years and I love it. Good luck with whatever you decide about selling your house.

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