I've just worked out I've paid over £95,000 out in rent over the last 7 years, with nothing to show for it and it's made me sick to my stomach.
I left my abusive marriage and have rented on my own as a single parent to a child with Special Needs ever since. I've paid £1100 a month in rent for most of that time, £1400 for the last year and I haven't been able to save anything for a deposit. I was also in bad credit for 6 years of that after taking out on IVA.
Now I'm clear of that, I'd love to be able to get back on the housing ladder, but I am unable to save for a deposit, despite earning good money. I was previously a house owner but sold that whilst I was married, so now I don't qualify for any of the Help to Buy schemes as I'm not a First Time Buyer. It feels awful that I can't make the most of my good job due to the circumstances I find myself in.
Every which way I turn I just seem to not meet criteria. It's so depressing.
Am I missing something really obvious I should be doing? I feel so trapped, in my job, in rented accommodation and add in that my child's father is leaving the country permanently to be with his Thai wife, and will be dropping Child Maintenance no doubt and the small amount of childcare he does. Life has really kicked me when I'm down and I'd love to put that money to better use towards my own home.
Any advice?