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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To buy a house with no parking when I have a 3 month old baby

77 replies

Surprisedmom · 20/05/2019 12:09

So, as the title says really. I’m a single mom without a huge budget so I know I need to compromise. I’m considering buying a house that is ideal except for the fact that there is no parking in front of the house. There’s parking about 20metres away on the road then you walk up a little path (about 10 metres) to the front garden. I really just want advice from anyone who has done something similar with a little one. My feeling is that I could do it and it’s no worse than being on a busy street where you might end up parking far away from your front door anyway. So, wise people of mumsnet, do you think this is a compromise worth taking for the biggest house I can offord in a decent area?

OP posts:

cestlavielife · 20/05/2019 12:11

Will online shopping groceries deliver to the door up the path?
If yes then go for it.

Seeline · 20/05/2019 12:12

Are you guaranteed a space in the parking area?

This issue comes when you have a lot of shopping to carry and a toddler. Do you leave the toddler in the car or the house whilst having to go back and collect the shopping?

Also is the walk to/from the parking area along the road? Again, could cause a problem once your little one is more free range.

DianaPrincessOfThemyscira · 20/05/2019 12:13

Lots of people don’t even have a car. It’ll be absolutely fine unless you have a physical disability or expect visitors with the same.

Rockbird · 20/05/2019 12:14

Never ever ever ever buy a house without parking if it's at all avoidable. I did, 15 years ago. Can't afford to move and it's absolute hell. I'd rather sleep on the sofa and be able to park outside than have room inside.

LindsayDenton · 20/05/2019 12:14

No I wouldn’t, sorry, there must be something else within your budget that includes parking? Is there anything else you’d compromise on?

What about getting your shopping in the house with a toddler? I’ve always prioritised parking as one of my top 3 when buying property.

Boom45 · 20/05/2019 12:15

We have street parking but I'm rarely outside my house - we're near a primary school and there's shops around the corner and our house is on a corner so actually right outside we have double yellows. When we bought it we didn't have a car (or children) but I've brought up 2 kids here and it's never really bothered me. We often have to park a little away from the house but even in the rain or whatever it's not a problem.
A drive would be lovely but i like our house and where we live so this is my compromise

MrsMozartMkII · 20/05/2019 12:16

It's not ideal for sure, but if it's the only option then go for it.

You could have baby in a sling and have your shopping in a trolley on wheels thing.

Lweji · 20/05/2019 12:16

The baby phase is about one year. Then they start walking and it's easier.

Thinking long term, it doesn't matter that much, just as long as there's indeed available parking.

Boom45 · 20/05/2019 12:17

And if I've got shopping or whatever i bring the kids in, settle them safetly in the living room and nip out for the bags. They're not left alone for any longer than they are when I'm in the loo.

Processedpea · 20/05/2019 12:17

I wouldn't and our outside parking is not too bad but my next house will have a drive for two cars and a front garden

pastabest · 20/05/2019 12:20

Sounds fine to me if it's guaranteed parking. I probably have to walk further than that round the side of my house to where my car is parked.

outsho · 20/05/2019 12:22

If it could be avoided, I wouldn’t choose to do it. Just thinking about lifting the baby and bags out to the house really, especially if you don’t do an online food shop. Of course you could leave the baby in the house whilst you return for more bags but it’s not ideal.

stucknoue · 20/05/2019 12:23

Is it guaranteed parking or just on street? We had 3 flights of stairs to our flat but we had a numbered secure parking space. We then moved and spend 15 mins plus searching for a space each time, very different

MancaroniCheese · 20/05/2019 12:24

I did in my first house when my eldest was newborn. It was a nightmare.

I would come home from work with him in carry seat, I would have nappy / food bag from nursery, laptop and files and sometimes shopping. I would end up making several trips back and forth.

If you don't have / use a car then your life is built around not doing so, and would likely not find it an issue as you would go everywhere with pram so would have somewhere to put stuff.

Alsohuman · 20/05/2019 12:25

We’ve lived in our current house with no off street parking for 20 years. It’s never been an issue.

Strawberrypancakes · 20/05/2019 12:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

madcatladyforever · 20/05/2019 12:27

It's not essential. I'd rather have a big house with no parking. As long as you have a pram or buggy to lug everything about on. I'm about to buy a fab house with no parking. I take a non granny ish trolley with me everywhere.

BethanyGilbert · 20/05/2019 12:28

I live with on street parking and can count on my fingers how many times I have managed to park outside my house in all that time. Normally I have to lug poor baby DD backwards and forwards to get groceries out. I would put my work stuff in the car the night before which made it easier. Irs doable but if you have other options maybe go for that.

Infamy · 20/05/2019 12:29

I don’t have parking and I have single yellow lines outside. I had a baby when I moved in and now two children who are older.

It has not been a problem. With shopping, I use a combination of internet. If I’m in the supermarket, I ensure all fridge and freezer food that won’t keep is in one bag so if I can’t get close parking I can take that straight in and then get the other things later.

Yes it would be more convenient to have parking but it’s not a deal breaker for me and I am still glad we went for this house which ticked all our other boxes and was on budget.

TheFatberg · 20/05/2019 12:29

Was hoping this was going to be a bragging post about a gifted 3 month old who can already drive and needs somewhere to park their car. Never mind!

Lweji · 20/05/2019 12:29

Personally, I only looked for houses with off street parking. Now I have a flat with a garage with inside access. It's fantastic.

Vulpine · 20/05/2019 12:31

I brought up kids without a car

bumblingbovine49 · 20/05/2019 12:32

I lived in a flat without available parking with DS for about 4 years. It was OK and not impossible but I won't lie that it was sometimes a pain, especially as parking was often only available a street or more away (flat was very close to the train station)

It is fine to say do your shopping online. I always did but sometimes you have things with you anyway. When I wanted to visit family for a few days, it was always a problem getting the car loaded and unloaded with stuff as I had to bring DS with me to and from the car.

My issues were compounded by having to get the pushchair up the the three flights of stairs (no lift) as well as DS and any bags was no picnic either. Hopefully that won't be an issue for you if it is a house.

Things that helped. I had a small light pushchair in the flat for walking trips and a similar one in the car for when using the car to get places. I also used a soft baby hip carrier, which was always with me so I could carry a couple of bags and DS upstairs at the same time if necessary.

Overall it was fine but I would not have wanted to do it with more than one child for instance and I was pleased to move when DS was 4.

Noloudnoises · 20/05/2019 12:36

I have an it's a bit of a pain. But I have two, the parking is not guaranteed on my road. With shopping, we pull up, unload, park and walk. As much as I dislike it, I would take a nice house in a decent area over parking/driveway.if you have a big front garden, is it possible to apply for a dropped cube and create a parking spot on your road?

If you are realistically not going to wrangle a baby and a toddler, it's totally doable.

Sissy79 · 20/05/2019 12:36

I had two babies in a flat with outside street parking. The issues were;

Sometimes you could park right outside. The early days. After we’d been there about a year people started buying two cars per house, we got new neighbors with a van, every one parks just that little bit too close for another car to get in or you get one chump who parks badly. Eventually you couldn’t park on the same road. I’d have to either carry baby to my car on another road, along with bags, or drive back to my house to get the bags, or get the pushchair out to walk back home so I didn’t have to carry them, if they were aslee I was pretty much fucked, if I had more than 2 bags of shopping I was fucked, if I needed something I’d left in the car like the final pack of wipes or my phone or my bag I couldn’t leave the baby at home to walk down there to get it, every time you open the car door on the road someone comes along and either beeps you or waits aggressively while you struggle to unbuckle the baby.

Then I found myself accidentally pregnant with another one when baby was 6 months old. I then had to deal with: carrying TWO babies the same distance.

Sometimes I didn’t go home. It was too hard to park. Or I’d not go out because I couldn’t get in again. You get resentful of the neighbours who did get a good space when you’ve broken your back carrying stuff home from your car. They get resentful of your parking too, my neighbour demanded I move from the space outside my own house because she was fed up of her car being broken in to on the next street and she wanted that space, but I also needed to park outside my own house.

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