To relocate from the south east up north??

[BadgerLovesMash]

Just to start I have never moved away from where I grew up so this would be huge!! But now after having our landlord decide to sell our home again (5th time in 12 years this has happened to us!) We are seriously considering moving somewhere cheaper. But some things making me wonder whether we should.

We currently live just outside of Brighton so are very used to easy and cheap public transport which is vital as we don't drive.

Our daughters are 14 and 10, so 1 heading into GCSE years and the other just about to start secondary school.

We have a good support network of friends and family here. All the girls friends are here.

However we are both on minimum wage. DH works for a company that would let him change locations. I work in childcare so could find another job in that field (I was looking to change anyway as no longer need term time once dd2 starts secondary and theres no chance of increased hours where i am) so financially we would be significantly better off.

For reference our current rent for a 3 bed is £1500 per month and this is cheap, others in this area are closer to £1800. I was looking at Grimsby and for a similar sized 3 bed it is £515. But that is 5hrs on the train from here!

So has anyone done this and what are the pros and cons?

Oh and this is all quite outing if you know me! 🤣

I think there are lots of lovely areas of the country where your rent would be lower, although you’d have to think carefully about the availability of your kind of work in the area, quality of local schools, etc.

I often dream of moving north (to North Yorkshire specifically). But it’s a non-starter for us because housing is still bloody expensive in that area, fuel/clothes/food etc still costs the same, but jobs in our sector are harder to come by and much lower paid than in London.

Most people have a bad impression of Grimsby thanks to the A180/Cleethorpes road, which really does put the Grim in the name. But turn left/south into the suburbs or go on to Cleethorpes, and even Humberston, Waltham and New Waltham and you’ll find some lovely areas and ok schools.

having lived in both Kent, and the North east, I’d pick the NE every time. But it is a very different culture, and if you’ve never lived here it may take some adjustment. If you want something with a faint buzz like Brighton then you are going to be better off in Hull, particularly the West Hull villages, (Hessle, Anlaby, Cottingham), thanks to the student vibe and the legacy of City of Culture. Beverley is a nice market town only 6 miles away with direct trains and buses. Lincoln also has a sizeable student population with plenty going on.

to be honest, i’ve found a large part of the eastern counties (east anglia, Lincolnshire, East Yorkshire) all have a bit of an “end of the line” feel to them. It probably contributes to them being cheaper to live. DH and I love living here, but I’d think moving such a large distance from your families, friends and kids schools is going to be a big issue to consider wherever you end up.

@BadgerLovesMash I am sorry to have offended you. I don't think you will understand where I am coming from as our worlds are very different.

You haven't experienced most of what life has to offer. I get you are happy with your lot as you don't know any better. And I understand a lot of people who are better off would prefer your life full of a supportive network etc.

However to me, it's so important to have choice. You don't have choice in life. If you are choosing not to travel that's fine. But you don't have that choice. This is just an example.

Your attitude is one of the reasons for lack of social mobility in the UK. Yes you will be angry when reading this and again, I am sorry to have offended you.

I would 100% do it but not to Grimsby. Leeds would be a good fit, good public transport and easy, regular trains to the London.

The bullshit is that you think it's significantly different.

Please don't do that to your kids, Hold off till they've finished secondary school

I was in the NE.
I didn't say there wasn't Spring or Summer it just didn't compare to where I live now.
So much rain and much colder.
Mind you people would rip their tops off at 18 degrees 😂and I would be in a jumper !

I feel so much better living here ☀

Why would dealer's use fireworks and trainers over telephone lines to communicate. Wouldn't they use Whatssap or something? Genuinely interested in the reasons.

Hi just wanted say I think the fact that someone who works on catering and childcare- both occupations in short supply in this country cant find secure rental accomodation says more about the complete failure of the country's housing market than you and your partner jobs. But if you could move someone slightly cheaper nearby and make it work then it is probably the way forward.

@NattyNamechanger You're one of those nesh types.

Watching like a hawk

You really are very rude and it's totally unnecessary.

Newark, Nottinghamshire? Train to London from Newark Northgate takes 1hr 15mins. Easy to get to Newark, Lincoln etc for work. Cheap housing. Newark itself is actually a really nice market town.

Justforlaffs, 'Blackpool of the south', yes of course it is, reflected in the comparative price to live here?! It is literally London prices by the sea! Well 'proper Brighton' is. Last minute my DH and I went to the comedy night with Ed Gamble, Ivo Graham, etcbasically TV comedians all in one venue for the night, last summer we walked 5 minutes to our local park and it was a comedy festival with similar names. We made the decision at 5.30 and it started at 7.30 just because we can and it is Brighton. Are you seriously suggesting that is akin to the offerings of Blackpool!

This was last night and we were bored.

Oh dahling, sounds so delightful

Guilty! 😂

Op. You sound lovely and I wish you well in whatever you decide. Being happy and in a loving family is far more important than social climbing. Despite whatever Hyacinth Bucket says. 😉

Hopefully now I've changed my name people will stop telling me it's not cold when it's bloody freezing 😆

Op is there any way you can both increase your income by applying for new jobs and changing jobs for a better salary every once in a while as you get more experience ?

Both on min wage in the south east is always going to be very difficult!

@NeshNamechanger 🤣 that's more like it.

It's such a great word!

How about Driffield? Good schools and a nice market town where you could get this for £750 www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85975842#/?channel=RES_LET

Oh dahling, sounds so delightful

It is. I’ve just had the Festival guide come through for this year.
And although minimum wage in the SE is tough, there’s a lot of fantastic stuff that’s free down here, especially for children.

Oh christ not Grimsby! Said as a northerner, man alive no, nowhere on the Lincolnshire Coast. Just no.

It’s not much cooler with global warming, probably really quite pleasant comparison but Manchester/Liverpool and West Yorkshire are very wet.

Parts of East Yorkshire are really nice and cheap. Doncaster area…..surprisingly lots of leafy villages and access to countryside not sure about schools as we’ve lived elsewhere since having DC but they normally follow don’t they. Doncaster is on the East Coast mainline so 1hr 45 mins is it (might be slightly less actually to KX).