So fed up with my life

[onandon8]

I live in London and am just so fed up with the people, the busyness, the noise, the pollution and the cost of everything, particularly housing. It’s really getting me down.

I want to sell up and buy a cottage by the sea in Devon or Cornwall, but DH will only consider counties close to London as there are always employment opportunities here.

I know what he’s saying but I don’t want to carry on with the rat race for the rest of our lives, living in an average area with a massive mortgage to pay each month.

I also read threads on here saying London schools are the best, and wonder in which part of London these posters live? Primaries near us are good/outstanding but the secondaries are dire - I can’t consign my DC to a life of that.

I would love to send them private but we don’t have anywhere near that kind of money. All the local private schools offer bursaries, but surely they must be inundated with applicants - does anyone know how easy it is to get one?

AIBU to want to leave London behind and have a different, simpler life in a small seaside town, with a mortgage of about £400-£500 per month?

like I don’t know that. I* come from a rough part of London...

I think OP that you have an idea in your head about what life in Cornwall and Devon will be like. I suspect that reality may be quite a shock. Living in the southwest is hugely different from London, and it takes some adjustment no matter how many holidays you’ve had there and how much you crave the peace and quiet. Lack of amenities and services can be a real problem and so so different from London.

I speak as a Londoner who moved out to the Stroud Valleys area about 15 yrs ago. I also spent 8yrs in a relationship with someone who lived on the Devon/Cornwall border and we spent all our time down there rather than at my home. Absolutely it’s a lovely place, and in many ways so soothing after the stress of London. But practically, not always easy - and that was before children. Teen children in my ex’s family weren’t happy about living there, they wanted to be somewhere with more going on/better amenities.

I love where I live and I’d never move back to London. My family ended up moving out here too when they saw how much nicer it is.

I totally get why you want to move OP. I don’t blame you at all. I do think that some places you’ve dismissed rather too quickly and I suspect it’s because for you, the dream is Devon/Cornwall and anything else will feel like a consolation prize. Not a criticism, just an observation 😊

Sounds like you might be on your way to figuring out a solution. I hope it works out for you. I think if you manage to move it will be a bigger adjustment than you’re expecting and when the honeymoon is over you’ll find different frustrations that you don’t have in London. But despite this, if you can figure out the finances, I’m sure you’ll be happy.

I think you could have a better lifestyle for your family near the coast. Have you looked at the Kent coast? Ramsgate seems to be getting quite trendy now. Your husband could presumably work from home as s freelance designer. Might need to step up his marketing but it would be worth it for the life you want. Take the plunge - you can work it out!

@MovingSwiftlyOn no I haven’t, will look into it, thanks

Please do it OP. With or without your partner. Don't make the mistakes so many I know did and "make do" until it's too late to change it

Ramsgate seems to be getting quite trendy now.

We considered Ramsgate but I’ve read so much negative stuff about it. We will probably visit and see for ourselves but I’m not hopeful.

@Janus yes I’m planning to watch it, thanks

How do you mean about Folkestone being affected by Brexit
We are on the M20 which goes to Dover. Folkestone is also where the tunnel terminal is. The slightest bit if trouble regarding lorries at the border and the roads will be backed up very quickly. Google Operation Brock.

It is a concern. We go J11-10 and back again 6 times a week doing the pick up and drop off for nursery, there are a lot of lorries at the best of times. As soon as the ferries or tunnel get closed for any reason the coastbound carriageway can be turned into a lorry park in at least one lane.

North Norfolk

@helgasmelga

North Norfolk

Back of the net!

@GertieBassett

Faversham, The Weald , Meopham, Canterbury and Deal are fabulous but are the same as London house prices so not doable for OP price range

Bit of a silly statement that - London house prices vary vastly depending on area, and also how you define "London".

Somewhere like Woolwich, just south of the river & definitely not central or not the greatest of areas, OP wouldn't be able to get anything better than a flat for her money. Same for Bromley - further out (about 20 mins by train), nicer area. And Harrow. She could just about manage a 3 bed house in Romford.

However shedloads available in Deal (and on the coast which the OP wanted), some in Meopham, plenty in Faversham.....

However shedloads available in Deal (and on the coast which the OP wanted)

I’ve looked at Deal. It’s very pretty but also expensive! I think you need a budget of at least £400k to get something nice there

£400 to £500 mortgage a month, I’m not paying that, goodness £280 enough 3 months left to pay and at the old age of 50

I’m in Essex and absolutely love it! Close to the seaside & lovely countryside but also 40 minutes away from London. I feel like we have the best of both worlds.

£400 to £500 mortgage a month, I’m not paying that, goodness £280 enough

£400 to £500 a month is low for a mortgage in my opinion. Most people I know in London pay £1400 plus

It’ll all be resolved in the next month or so so don’t worry, but if we have a No Deal Brexit everywhere along the M20 from Dover will be at gridlock. The Ashford lorry park isn’t going to be ready on time, and if the M20 ever has to close the effect on local traffic is hellish. I used to live literally just outside Ashford and it was a nightmare - didn’t happen very often so it was fine, but if we have customs delays it’ll be a daily occurrence.

As I said though it’ll be resolved one way or the other by Jan. Folkestone is a brilliant place to live otherwise, very arty, lots of nice places to eat out, and the Harbour Arm is one of my favourite places in Kent.

This is about five mins walk from one of the nicest beaches in Kent, Greatstone, an area which is just starting to see the incoming signs of gentrification (there are some gorgeous houses being built along that stretch). Just along the coast from Dungeness.

Meehan Road, Greatstone, New Romney, Kent
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-85125292.html

Op it seems a few of us on here live in Cornwall, myself included. If you have seen some areas that you like why not say where they are and we can give you some feedback on them?

Thanks @thecatsabsentcojones.

That would be really helpful @indy1282 -!could I PM you?

@onandon8

Thanks *@thecatsabsentcojones*.

That would be really helpful @indy1282 -!could I PM you?

Sure, no worries

There are probably a lot of people watching and coming across this thread so if you post where you are thinking of I think you’d get some really helpful comments @onandon8

We've moved around a bit, including abroad for work. I think moving when its not for work involves a lot of effort and isn't always what you expect. However, you could do it if DH found a monday to thursday place as a lodger, we've done that. In our case it was because I was happy in London and OH got a temp transfer to Birminghsm, initially we answered an advert and he stayed 3-4 nights a week with a lovely lady who had several lodgers, still in touch over 20 years later. I would say, ask yourself if you are moving away from something or going to something, there's a difference and your expectations may or may not be realistic.

Virtually mortgage free? By the sea? www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/fullscreen/image-gallery.html?propertyId=71299983&photoIndex=0

Hmm the property layout is not great no utility / garage etc... rooms feel a bit small but guess it works for some

Also no toilet or WC downstairs