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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU-Sick of the narrative that young people can’t buy homes?

439 replies

Henryhoover12 · 12/01/2022 17:04

I had a heated discussion with some friends who said it’s “impossible for young people to get on the property ladder these days”.If they do their parents either lent them the money, gifted them the money or they lived at home rent free to save up. It’s not just my friends a lot of people of this age go on about it.

As a young person myself I’m bloody sick of this narrative, anything can be done if your willing to make sacrifices and prioritise for your goals which most young people aren’t. I purchased my own 4 bedroom home at 22 (few months ago) WITHOUT any help from family and whilst paying rent on a flat WITHOUT help from my family to pay for.

I called out all my friends who are blaming how it’s going on their ability to stop online shopping for new outfits every event, going out for cocktails, getting hair/nails/tan done weekly, Taking flashy cars out on finance, etc. that if they stopped then they to could buy but I got told I was being extremely unreasonable and that it’s impossible, well is it or do they not just like to hear the truth.

OP posts:
CheesusWept · 12/01/2022 17:05

Molly Mae, is that you?

FromageRay · 12/01/2022 17:05

Ah, good for you Mollie Mae!

Mrswalliams1 · 12/01/2022 17:06

Totally agree with you. It can be done with a lot of sacrifice.

Dindundundundeeer · 12/01/2022 17:06

How much do you earn OP?

I earn about 330k and live in a £1.8m house. Totally affordable to live in my city, because I can do it.

drpet49 · 12/01/2022 17:06

**
As a young person myself I’m bloody sick of this narrative, anything can be done if your willing to make sacrifices and prioritise for your goals which most young people aren’t. I purchased my own 4 bedroom home at 22 (few months ago) WITHOUT any help from family and whilst paying rent on a flat WITHOUT help from my family to pay for.**

22 years old and purchased a 4 bedroom house with no help from family and you been renting.

Right.

Porcupineintherough · 12/01/2022 17:06

Well it does rather depend where in the country you are and what you earn.

I bought my first flat for 40k when I was earning 16k. These days someone in that same job would earn 19k and the flat would now cost 120k. So much more difficult.

Original poster
Henryhoover12 · 12/01/2022 17:07

Funnily enough it stemmed from the Molly mae topic hahaha

OP posts:
Nillynally · 12/01/2022 17:07

Molly?

Horriblewoman · 12/01/2022 17:08

How much do you earn?

How much was your deposit?

How much was your house?

Do you have student loans?

EileenGC · 12/01/2022 17:08

anything can be done if your willing to make sacrifices and prioritise for your goals which most young people aren’t.

Oh I love this. Please tell me how to make more sacrifices when I’m on the equivalent of £800 a month and pay £500 in rent, and live alone, so no one to split a deposit with. I’d love your suggestions.

Oh, and I’d never once in my life had my nails done, gone out for cocktails nor do I drive a car, flashy or not.

You’re sick of the narrative? I’m sick of working for less than NMW Grin

Doggoo · 12/01/2022 17:08

Where do you live? I’d guess not in London or the south east.

PinkArt · 12/01/2022 17:09

Presumably you aren't in the South East and didn't go to Uni for your situation to be possible? I earned the equiv of £19k in today's money when I was 22 and four beds in my not mega expensive part of London start at £690k. Didn't matter how hard I saved (out of the 50% of my salary that didn't go on rent), there is no way I'd have got a mortgage for 36 x my salary.

heyitsthistle · 12/01/2022 17:10

Where did you buy your house? I'm just curious.

I also get frustrated when friends say "I can't afford to save" but then blow £400+ per month on going out.

WoodenReindeer · 12/01/2022 17:10

I think she/a similarnposter did this before but lived at home rent free while they saved maybe?

Pinkstegosaurus · 12/01/2022 17:10

What do you hope to achieve by ‘calling out your friends’ or posting here? Good for you I guess 🙄

Original poster
Henryhoover12 · 12/01/2022 17:10

Honestly I had no help from my parents, they were never in a position to help me and so I was always raised with the mindset that if I want something I work for it. I agree it’s so much more difficult then before but if it’s all we ever know is it? we have only ever known house prices to be this much and so I always knew I had to work hard to get that and so I did.

Also I did make sacrifices but I never didn’t enjoy being young, I was at uni for three years and then I travelled for a bit. So it’s not like I stayed at home watching life go by to afford it

OP posts:
lastqueenofscotland · 12/01/2022 17:11

I don’t agree.
I’m mortgage free before 30 thanks to what looks like buying in a good area in my early 20s which exploded price wise in the last 3 years. Sold and moved with cash.
However I had an inheritance and also VERY financially literate parents.

I think for most single people on say, £20k? It’s hard. If you’re on £20k you can borrow about £80k tops, which say you’ve saved £10k. That’s very limited options as to where you can live. Several jobs you NEED to be in or near the likes of Manchester/London/Edinburgh etc and being near a big city comes with a tag.

I also know people who went to uni and got good jobs but really financially stretched themselves to do so as their parents couldn’t help and even when on good wages really struggled to get out of the overdraft trap.
Just because it’s worked for you DOESNT negate the fact that we are in the middle of an increasing concerning cost of living crisis.

This “I’m alright Jack” attitude is really fuelling it too.

Flowersandhearts · 12/01/2022 17:12

You'd obviously have to earn a huge amount to do that. If you have inheritance
from an elderly relative and got a well paid job through your or your parents' contacts then I'm sure you could do it but if you're someone who has struggled to fund themselves through university or who has just started their first graduate job on a normal amount the it's impossible.

Shiningpath · 12/01/2022 17:13

Didn’t realise the Fiat 500 Fuhrer was on here.

the80sweregreat · 12/01/2022 17:14

They can't where I live.
It's not even anywhere posh , just in Essex.

MedusasBadHairDay · 12/01/2022 17:14

The only way you could achieve that is to have a job that pays well above the average, so funnily enough the average person (let alone the average 22 year old) will not be able to do the same even with sacrifices.

I'm not sure what you're going to achieve from this post? Do you want a sticker for it? For us to all bow down to your supposed superiority?

ShanghaiDiva · 12/01/2022 17:15

Your glib comment that anything can be achieved if you make sacrifices makes you sound very naive.

TulipsGarden · 12/01/2022 17:15

So you went to uni and then travelled, but you're still only 22 and have bought a house? In the year since you left uni?

Mmmhmmm, sure.

thanksamillion · 12/01/2022 17:16

If you're only 22 and have done 3 years at uni how did you save enough for a deposit? I'm assuming you've worked alongside your studies which is admirable but not realistic for everyone.

LittleGwyneth · 12/01/2022 17:16

I think if you really want to make this point you need to be willing to disclose what part of the UK you live in, how much your deposit was, how much you earn and what your mortgage is per month. And probably whether you're in a relationship, because as we all know, doing it with a partner is much easier.