How do I plan for moving up the property ladder?

[Silversliver1]

Hello.
I hope to be able to afford to move house in 2 years. This is necessary as we are very overcrowded.
I wonder if anyone could please tell me what I can do to prepare. I am decluttering, but no idea of the process as have only bought one house.
In what order do I need to do things please?
I will be buying on my own as a single parent. Our home is so small that I am trying to focus forwards to have something to look forward to and so the minute I can afford it, we can go for it.
Thank you in advance for any replies.

Are your children's activities necessary for THEM. Sounds harsh but forget about what anyone else thinks.

We are comfortable now op.
Still never get takeaway 😄. I once caved and bought dominoes for the kids: it still smarts.

@HangingBasketFuchsia

On overpaying your mortgage: I know we had to do it on a particular date to reduce interest payments, putting the money in before that had no effect on the capital outstanding and hence the interest charged. Check your terms and conditions again just to make sure.

Yes, check your mortgage terms. Most calculate interest daily these days so it's best to overpay as soon as possible. Only exception would be if they only calculate the interest monthly or yearly, or your interest rate is lower than what you can get in savings.

Ours was calculated yearly.

My fixed rate has nearly ended so I can overpay all I like without penalty. Up until now its been a max of 10% per year.
My current home has been good to us during a difficult period of our lives but I'm ready to go onwards now. In my head I've already detached.
I may start getting boxes and storing them folded up. I am already sorting through old clothes, toys, old school memorabilia etc. Slowly the shed has been cleared out and the attic.
I could do with sorting the decorations after this xmas.
Two more summer holidays and xmases to go then on the market. The waiting is hard going but I do distract myself with a strict work routine. Evenings and holidaya are harder tho cause I feel i cant move on and am stuck. Everything has started to annoy me. I am practising gratitude.

I had no idea they did that any more. I thought daily calculations had been the norm for decades now.

I don't know what mine is worth either

You absolutely need to know this before you can make any decisions about moving. And it is easy to check either by asking for a free valuation, or just by checking Sold prices on your street.

Activities necessary. One child talented musician so lessons expensive in 2 instruments. Other talented in expensive sport requiring kit.
They may be able to take these as part of grammar school at reduced cost-one year to go before that though.
I do always buy things I may return on Cc as safer.
Should I get a car or book a holiday to seemingly lessen the 2 yr wait or is it better to stick it out? Its like long term gratification over short term pleasure. Im so ready to go

Barbara I'm clearly out of touch!

Thanks so much for the advice.
Ironically I was dating someone (quite wealthy) who kept saying to me that it doesnt matter where you live. But it matters to me and my children so I decided to stay on my own and dedicate my dating hours to working extra hours and saving on outfits etc.

Sort out the mould on bathroom tiles with a toothbrush, bleach and sodium bicarbonate.
It's not worth doing much to your house apart from making it as clean and empty as possible.
Can you move somewhere slightly cheaper for a bigger house for a similar price?
Friends managed to go from 3 bed to 4 bed while reducing their mortgage slightly, still staying close enough to kids schools.
They had to compromise on location and weird neighbours but worth it nonetheless.

Don't get the car if your current one still works. And don't think think about a holiday either.

You're in in reward = spend mentality. You need to switch to reward = save.

Agree about getting a valuation though, and an idea of what you need for a new house. And working backwards from that. Otherwise you'll never get there.

At the end of the day decluttering, thinking about car and holiday, getting packing boxes are distractions. You need a proper goal of £x saved and £y job. Then work about how to get to those goals.

I need to research locations.
Theres another social housing estate with massive houses round the corner from my dream road. You can get 4 beds. I may have to go there but need to know more about good and bad parts. space is our priority.
Titchy you are right about the money. I will be earning 35000. How much should that give me for a mortgage? This should be around 75% equity by then. The equity (will need a valuation) plus mortgage ( i will go for the maximum) is the number i will be able to afford.
My car is ok. Its just when my kids' very middle class friends arrange things I just feel such a poor single mum even though I'm not. I don't want them to be embarrassed.

Assuming no other debt and decent credit score and decent loan to value a salary of £35k should get you a mortgage if £140k.

So how much equity do you estimate you currently have?

Pm'd you titchy thank you

Lol about the dominos fuschia.
I just returned from the corner shop where they overcharged me 2 quid because they didnt reduce something with a reduced sticker on. The old me would have left it to save time but i went and got it. Once you start to be careful with money, then every wasted penny is painful.