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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that some people live in too big houses?

604 replies

URSick · 05/05/2017 11:42

Lots of people live in (in my opinion) already big houses yet they want to move into even bigger ones.
I see so many families where all the children have their own bedrooms, bathrooms, big bedroom for the parents, guest room, study, living room, and yet they never seem to be satisfied and want to move into a bigger house. They all want playroom for the children. What's the point, when they could easily play in their bedrooms or the living room? There are houses where everybody has their own level, plus bathrooms on the landings, more toilets than family members, and yet they want Buckingham palace. It's good to have enough space and not be in each other's pockets but am I the only one who thinks these people are greedy and unreasonable? You don't need to live in a mansion to be a happy family.
Not to mention those houses where entire rooms are never used, lots of space is taken up by massive stairs and there are parts of the house that are just walkways.
What's your take on it?

OP posts:
DontBeASalmon · 05/05/2017 22:40

user you did know that the UK was a constitutional monarchy? It has been for a while now.

user1493022461 · 05/05/2017 22:40

massive 6 bedroom mansions occupied by two parents and a scrawny child

But its ok if they have fat children, right?

Whisky2014 · 05/05/2017 22:41

Me and my partner have 0 kids but we bought a...wait for it.....5 bedroom house :)
Because we could.
Because why wouldn't we want to live in as big a house as we can afford?
Why would we want to waste solicitor fees and surveys moving our way up the ladder when we can just get there in the first step?
We work hard, we deserve it.

user1493022461 · 05/05/2017 22:42

user you did know that the UK was a constitutional monarchy? It has been for a while now

You did know that the monarch isn't actually in charge of anything? Hasn't been for a while now....

rosawitch · 05/05/2017 22:43

well to be fair that was a victoria wood quote about 4 x 4 drivers

thenewaveragebear1983 · 05/05/2017 22:44

Scrawny child? Seems a bizarre comment

Why do people care? This is a weird thread. Live where you can afford to live, or where you want to live. I could understand if it was about lack of affordable housing, but surely people in big houses are freeing up affordable first homes and next step homes for people?

RufusTheRenegadeReindeer · 05/05/2017 22:44

You did know that the monarch isn't actually in charge of anything? Hasn't been for a while now....

This

rosawitch · 05/05/2017 22:44

i think people must be a bit out there to not think it unethical to take up space when other people are crammed into small spaces.

OhTheRoses · 05/05/2017 22:47

If you think six beds = a mansion you are deluded.

Our house is about 3500 sq feet and has six beds. It is a large characterful gaff - has been described as a huge cottage. It is not a mansion.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 05/05/2017 22:47

Well the footprint of a four bed townhouse probably isn't much bigger than the footprint of a 2 bed semi - especially in new build estates.

user1493022461 · 05/05/2017 22:48

i think people must be a bit out there to not think it unethical to take up space when other people are crammed into small spaces

You haven't a notion how life actually works, do you?

JacquesHammer · 05/05/2017 22:48

i think people must be a bit out there to not think it unethical to take up space when other people are crammed into small spaces

So where would you suggest I move? And how do you guarantee someone more deserving buys my house?

Bluntness100 · 05/05/2017 22:48

i think people must be a bit out there to not think it unethical to take up space when other people are crammed into small spaces

Totally. They should just buy then give the crammed house people their big houses and go live in their small houses instead. Or invite the crammed ones to come live with them. Absolutely.

More glue anyone? 😂

DontBeASalmon · 05/05/2017 22:49

You did know that the monarch isn't actually in charge of anything? Hasn't been for a while now....

HAHAHA. You keep telling yourself that. No influence or no power whatsoever. at all. Of course not.

and you also think that the Royal Family, the Duke of Westminster and so on are going to let all their private assets disappear in inheritance tax?

People are funny.

rosawitch · 05/05/2017 22:50

no i am a thick head

of course i know how life works

i also know people have no social responsibility

user1493022461 · 05/05/2017 22:50

Oh dear, did your tinfoil hat fall off?

JacquesHammer · 05/05/2017 22:51

i also know people have no social responsibility

Still waiting for your remedies

bangingmyheadoffabrickwall · 05/05/2017 22:51

Me and DH bought a 5-bed detached house 2 years ago. Dating only 18 months too when we bought it.

We skipped a few runs on the housing ladder because we were after a home to settle down into and eventually 'grow' into - which we did; now with 2 monsters aged 5 and 2.

I can see why people question why we need a 5-bed house when there is just 4 of us but quite simply we WANTED more bedrooms to provide a room for visiting relatives and friends and it is nice for them to have their own bedroom and en suite. We've even built extensions and now our house is more than double the size - mainly because MIL lives with us now in an annexe. But many of our added 'features' are luxuries by everyday standards and some people have wrongly thought we are 'snotty-nosed people' or have 'come into some money' (which wasn't wrong but our money and we choose how we want to invest in it).

To put it simply, people buy the homes they want, not always what they need. Needs come into it but if money allows, why stop at the basics and why not splurge a bit on the luxuries? Life is for living!

BuggersMuddle · 05/05/2017 22:51

What's a massive house?

There are 2 of us in a 4 bed detached here with two bathrooms. So I think we technically have two bedrooms each Wink

Thing is there are considerations other than number of DC when buying a property. Find me a home suitable for 1 couple with an elderly outdoor cat which is:

  • Detached
  • Has a garage & garden
  • Parking for more than one car
  • Has well-proportioned public rooms & decent storage
  • Has 2 bathrooms (there are reasons this is important - not just preference)

AND has whatever you consider to be the 'right' number of rooms for our situation. I doubt you'll find it where we live. Most 2 bedrooms are flats with no parking, tiny kitchen, bugger all storage and nowhere for a dining table. Smaller 'houses' tend to have tiny rooms, no garage & be in a terrace.

Or are we not entitled to the comforts and preferences listed above because we don't have DC? Because I'm pretty sure young DC don't care much about parking, garages or dining areas, but I do.

bangingmyheadoffabrickwall · 05/05/2017 22:52

Sorry! Bought 10 years ago!

rosawitch · 05/05/2017 22:52

well just find something other than money that makes you happy

JacquesHammer · 05/05/2017 22:53

well just find something other than money that makes you happy

Where did I say money made me happy?

thenewaveragebear1983 · 05/05/2017 22:54

Social responsibility??? I don't normally get worked up on these threads but seriously??? My dh paid forty five thousand pounds in tax last year. He did not use the nhs once, claimed no benefits, and now we have no social responsibility because we choose to spend what's left after the tax man had his cut on a nice house for our family to live in?

user1493022461 · 05/05/2017 22:57

well just find something other than money that makes you happy

We have. Our lovely big houses. Smile

FuckingSausageFingers · 05/05/2017 22:57

Jealous.