To start a new life somewhere different?

[AutumnLeavesEverywhere]

On paper, this should be the best time of my life. I'm single, mid-40s, one adult DD who has just bought a house 100 miles away, reasonably financially comfortable, no ties.

But I'm so, so fed up. I hate where I live - 8 miles from the nearest town, 25 from a city, with absolutely nothing going on locally. My 3 bed house feels too big for just me, I seem to be spending my life doing a job I dislike, purely to pay for a house I dislike, then staying in bed all day on my days off because getting up just seems pointless.

I'm genuinely considering selling up and buying a lovely modern flat, somewhere in a city, and starting a new life.

Assuming this isn't a ridiculous idea, any suggestions of where I could move to? My wishlist is a city, good transport links, decent shops, museums etc, and bonus points for being reasonably close to the coast. My budget is around £170k for ideally a 2 bed flat, which rules a lot of places 'down south' out.

No advice as to where you could live but I think it's a great idea!

Edinburgh is nice, different country for a new start (I'm assuming you're in England for some reason), and has the feel of a capital city about it. Lots of kulcher. Frisson of volcanoes. But no nearby coast (at current sea levels).

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/106515800

Liverpool.

Whereabouts is your daughter? Would your decision be based on easy access to her?

Liverpool for me. Love that place.

Does it have to be a flat?

Manchester!

For your budget I’d suggest Liverpool or Newcastle.

Absolutely do it - I think it sounds like a great plan!

You should do it - this is the perfect time.

Do you have friends/family in Manchester or Newcastle or Liverpool or Edinburgh or Glasgow? They are all fine cities, I just think a personal connection gives you a bit of backup.

I would!
Reinvent yourself and have some fun somewhere else. Could you rent out your place?

Manchester & it's a brilliant idea. Go for it.

Manchester Manchester Manchester. It's great. Not on the coast I'm afraid but an easy drive to the North Welsh beaches, Blackpool, Lytham etc. Come on over

You wont get anything in the popular parts of Liverpool in that price range. Allerton is a popular trendy area but you will be paying over £200k for a two bed terrace.

Definitely suggest Newcastle! We're a friendly bunch!

I moved up from York ten years ago and honestly can't imagine living elsewhere!! Definitely home!!

Chester.

Move abroad!!

Hmmm it is an interesting one. Downsizing is reasonable and make sense, moving to a different area for more fun is reasonable too.... i totally understand your point,however my only advice would be: do a lot of research, area check,police criminal activity report etc....( antisocial behaviour, bad neighbourhood, criminal activity % are needs to be considered too.) There might be a lovely high street with tonns of shops, cinema, places to go etc nearby, but will you feel safe in that area , living on your own, walking home in the evening? Make sure you will feel comfortable on your own wherever you are moving. Good luck

OK so I'm not being ridiculous then! Liverpool is somewhere I've been looking at, it seems to tick all the boxes!

I've got my heart set on a flat - easy to maintain, no garden to look after (apart from maybe some nice tubs on my balcony 😁), plus I like the idea of being surrounded by people but alone, if that makes sense. I'm happy in my own company, I've been single for 5 years living alone since DD left for uni, so I'm not too concerned about setting up somewhere new with no family nearby.

I definitely want to sell my house rather than rent it out - I'd then be in a position to buy a flat outright and be mortgage free.

DD is in Cambridge - beyond my budget unfortunately, plus I'm wary of moving somewhere purely to be closer to her, because there's no guarantee she'll stay where she is - she could easily decide to skip off to Australia or some other far flung destination!

YANBU at all. Manchester and Cardiff would tick all your boxes but may be out of your price range, Newcastle is great, dont personally know Liverpool but have heard good things. Norwich is a nice more southern option. You might also want to consider Sheffield for a good central location. It has a good theatre scene, less good on the art gallery side though some exhibitions do come through (it's not by the see now but give it 30 years ).

[quote MurielSpriggs]Edinburgh is nice, different country for a new start (I'm assuming you're in England for some reason), and has the feel of a capital city about it. Lots of kulcher. Frisson of volcanoes. But no nearby coast (at current sea levels).

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/106515800[/quote]
Edinburgh has coast-ish.

The firth of forth is salty and sandy and all that. Look up cramond and portobello beaches.

I did just that. Isle of Wight meets all of your requirements.

I would suggest Norwich as it's much nearer Cambridge than Liverpool, but your DD isn't going to be in Cambridge for long, so go where suits you.

Sorry if I missed but what will you do about work?

If fundamentally your life is not happy, moving to a different city is unlikely to help

WhT about focussing on building the life where you are? Hobbies, friends?

What do you envisage being different if you move?

Bristol looks like an interesting place though I've no idea on property prices?

I can't think of any reason at all why you wouldn't do it. Why be miserable when you can do something to change that. Just be aware that flats tend to be leasehold rather than freehold and there might be ground rent/service/administration charges to pay that you don't have with a freehold. I would go and stay the weekend in a few different places that interest you - much better than just staying in bed miserable - and get your zest for life back.

Edinburgh has coast-ish.

The firth of forth is salty and sandy and all that. Look up cramond and portobello beaches.

Good point. Also likely to rejoin single market before England on current progress.