Can anyone really afford to live in the Home Counties?

[Risingcosts123]

My husband and I have good jobs with good salaries. We live in Surrey and commute to London a few days a week. We have three kids - 2 in school and 1 in nursery. We have a joint account and my husband is supportive of my career but I must admit I do think of childcare as “my” cost.

I wonder if we are reaching a tipping point. My job is hugely stressful and my profit after “costs” just doesn’t feel worth it at times.

Nursery (4 days) + wrap around care (4 days) + train and parking (3 days) = £2242!!

Is the Home Counties dream dead?!

Only for a few years till your kids are all in school! I think the dream of having three kids is dead for this reason. We stopped at two for financial reasons as much as anything.

Once all your kids are in school it’s easier.

Home Counties have never been cheap though

Without child care, Home Counties are no dearer then anywhere, especially if you have good transport access

We lived 5 years in Surrey and loved it - London on the doorstep ( ex Battersea lass ) with all the openspace you could shake a stick at

We eventually moved out of the SE when to get a house that fitted our needs more, ment taking on a half million mortgage in our late 40's

If your property fulfils your needs , for now and long term ( our circumstances changed considerably with no idea they would before hand ), then ride it out, Prices, even with an odd dip, will always rise and moving out usually means never being able to afford to move back

Of course people can afford to live there. It sounds like you’re just going through a particularly expensive time in your life but it won’t be forever.