To pay this much rent for my MH

[Rollerdiscoed]

I've just broken up with my partner and need to move out. I've been looking for flats 30-50 miles away from work and rent is crazy everywhere. I earn £58k, roughly £3k take home pay each month after student loan and pension payments. Is paying £1500pm rent too much for me? That seems to be the going rate for a basic 1 bed flat that isn't a total mould infested dive, and has transport links. I don't spend much on anything else really and have no debt, I have a little bit in savings.

I can't bear to go back into a houseshare. I have MH issues and find pretending to be normal around strangers exhausting. I don't drink and go to bed early - this keeps me stable. I've been treated like a freak by previous housemates because of that, and constantly get pressured to go out etc. I'm not going through all that again. I just want to have quiet evenings to myself to read/play piano/paint. I know loads of people will pile in telling me to relocate to the north where it's cheaper. But this a) isn't a helpful solution for anyone and b) don't think it would be a good idea for me to move hundreds of miles away to somewhere cheaper and be isolated from my support network (family and best friend who unfortunately all live in the SE). Also I can't stay with family, there's no room for me.

There’s a happy medium between living alone and living in a raucous house share with a load of pissed up 20-somethings.

When I was in a similar position I lodged with a pilot. He was hardly there and I got cut price rent because basically I was house sitting whilst he jetted about. I was nearly alone and saved a fortune.

Why not share with one other person who has similar values to you? Likes there own space, likes quiet, maybe someone who is sober and introverted? Plenty of people out there like that who would love to share with someone liked you.

@Rollerdiscoed - I'm a bit confused about your pension payments. In one post you say it is a civil service pension - and in another, you say it is an NHS pension. Although they are similar in many respects, those are 2 different pension schemes. Can you clarify/expand on this. Are you paying into 2 different pension schemes? And if so, why?

I would look at either buying a studio or one bed

OR lodging.

Hear me out....
Its different to renting it a few different ways
But you sound like an ideal lodger most people who have a lodger WANT people who are quiet / in their room etc.

Lodging is significantly cheaper and all you utilities are included!
I had a lodger and he was paying £350-450 pm less per month than he would have to privately rent the same room and live with a friend (2 bed flat)

It’s definitely do able but in the long term do you want to buy somewhere? It would be hard to save for a deposit when paying this much. I think shared ownership would be better if you can do that.

surely in a time of flux in one's life, buying somewhere is not sensible RIGHT NOW.

Wait and see how things lie. you may decide to change careers, move locations, go travelling, or meet someone who you then buy/rent with.

Then it’s your student loan that’s doing it, I get exactly the same take home as you on £8k less. I think the advice about shared ownership is sound, or you are at the mercy of a landlord.

Shared ownership yes but make the decision for your MH definitely

It should be manageable.

Rent 1500
Bills 500
Food 250
Petrol 250
emergencies 500

If you don't spend a lot on expensive holidays or going to eat out why shouldn't you spend your money on something that makes you feel safe and promoted your well being? It's fine if you can afford it.