Not a TAAT but about lots of threads! I live in London (but this could apply to any expensive area of the country). I rent. I have no spare money. Like so many other posters here, I've been told on MN and IRL to 'just move', that I need to leave London, that life will be less expensive elsewhere. OF COURSE it's cheaper elsewhere, although I've seen countless debates over how true that actually is (rent may be cheaper but council tax and other bills often aren't due, public transport certainly isn't etc etc).
But how easy do people really think it is to just relocate, when you've got to bear in mind:
a) getting together a deposit plus moving costs
b) viewing properties a significant distance from where you live and all the associated costs (never mind that's tricky when working ft)
c) finding a new job in a new area - which presumably needs to happen before trying to find a new tenancy, given you won't be able to get a tenancy without an income (and then you've got, once again, the issue of travelling some distance for interviews - not to mention if there are two of you looking for employment that's doubly difficult, especially around childcare)
I can think of others but these alone are pretty hefty things to deal with, involving money I - and many others - don't have. Not to mention that if we move far enough away to benefit from things actually becoming cheaper (so not the South full stop) we'll be even further from family which then adds even more cost and complication to have even some semblance of extended family relationships.
Yes, renting is shit most of the time. Yes, London is expensive. But AIBU to think 'just move' is a ridiculous and unrealistic solution to anything? And if you've done it, how?