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Original poster

Would you live in a mobile home for 2 years whilst building a house to get a better education for your children?

98 replies

Mysteriousgirl2 · 08/07/2023 21:46

We are a family of 5 happily living in a detached house in a rural area. The secondary state schools are poor here though. When we first moved, we assumed that we could afford private education for our kids. Basically, we’ve recently come to the conclusion that we really can’t. Sending 3DC with all the price rises year on year just isn’t going to be affordable. And that’s with saving really really hard throughout their primary years.

We are going to look at a building plot in another county next week. There’s excellent schools in the area and I think it would be a much better investment. DH is not keen on buying a house that he hasn’t built or worked on (he’s not strictly a builder but we’ve self built our home here already). We wouldn’t be able to buy a ready made house which compares to ours now in this new area so this is a way in for us.

Is it worth moving to the other area to get into the better school catchment?

It’s a much more affluent area - therefore more engaged parenting and better school environment. Where we live there is a high travelling community (honestly not trying to be a snob or knocking it) but in our experience the focus on education just isn’t there and it impacts the local school.

But if we did it, we’d need to live on a building site for at least 2 years in a mobile home..

OP posts:
KnickerlessParsons · 08/07/2023 21:47

Five of you in one mobile home? I couldn't do that for two years.

RandomMess · 08/07/2023 21:49

Depends on how big the mobile home is and ages of DC.

There are some very very nice double unit mobile homes!

LolaSmiles · 08/07/2023 21:49

No I wouldn't and it would probably have a significant impact on everyone's quality of life.

BendingSpoons · 08/07/2023 21:51

No I wouldn't when there are other options. I would either not move or accept buying an existing house.

Original poster
Mysteriousgirl2 · 08/07/2023 21:52

KnickerlessParsons · 08/07/2023 21:47

Five of you in one mobile home? I couldn't do that for two years.

We’d probably get a couple of mobile homes and join them together. But, yes, it would be tight and a lot of our stuff would have to go into storage.

OP posts:
Whinge · 08/07/2023 21:52

Isn't there another option? Perhaps a semi detached house in the new area, rather than detached, or a smaller property but in the more desirable area?

I don't think it's fair to expect 3 children to live in a mobile home for 2 years, and that's the best case scenario, what happens if the project over runs, then it's
2 1/2 years, 3 years or longer in a tiny confined space.

PyjamasToMyLeft · 08/07/2023 21:52

No I wouldn’t, personally. Having no where to study and no space from other people for several years would be more detrimental to my DC’s education than going to a rubbish school.

Other people I know have had their happiest years in a caravan whilst their house was being built/rebuilt - but either with younger children or somewhere where the teens just went and lived in an outbuilding.

I would go and see the schools as they may not be that bad. But otherwise I would move to a more modest house in the school catchment I wanted.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 08/07/2023 21:52

Best not invite Kevin McCloud along - you'll have six kids by the time it's ready.

Original poster
Mysteriousgirl2 · 08/07/2023 21:53

NeverDropYourMooncup · 08/07/2023 21:52

Best not invite Kevin McCloud along - you'll have six kids by the time it's ready.

😂

OP posts:
YallaYallaaa · 08/07/2023 21:54

Noooooooo way.

Not just because of how shit living in a mobile home would be, but (from experience…) how awful the stress of a build can be on family life.

badluckorbadvibes · 08/07/2023 21:54

I couldn't. It would be far too cold in winter.

Original poster
Mysteriousgirl2 · 08/07/2023 22:09

PyjamasToMyLeft · 08/07/2023 21:52

No I wouldn’t, personally. Having no where to study and no space from other people for several years would be more detrimental to my DC’s education than going to a rubbish school.

Other people I know have had their happiest years in a caravan whilst their house was being built/rebuilt - but either with younger children or somewhere where the teens just went and lived in an outbuilding.

I would go and see the schools as they may not be that bad. But otherwise I would move to a more modest house in the school catchment I wanted.

Kids are 7, 5 and 2 so still quite small and of the age where they could still share a room (although they don’t currently so it would certainly be a change)

When can I actually go and look at school, though? Wouldn’t they say that my children are far too young to look at secondary schools? Not being shirty btw, just genuinely don’t know how early we can start looking around to get a clearer picture.

OP posts:
Labraradabrador · 08/07/2023 22:10

It really depends on the type of mobile home - if you mean caravan, no. If you mean a double wide semi-permanent ‘mobile’ home, then yes if the school was good enough. I know plenty who live in the latter in the US on a permanent basis, including in colder locations with plenty of insulation and are plenty comfortable. I grew up in one for a time, and we all had our own (small)bedrooms and a plumbed bathroom, kitchen etc.

I would think carefully about timing and plotting disruption vs. school schedule. I would also make sure the new school is really worth it - lots of ‘good’ schools are facing really dire challenges at the moment and expect next 5 years to be worse. I wouldn’t impose the disruption for marginal improvements- I would need to be confident that it was a MUCH better environment.

oviraptor21 · 08/07/2023 22:13

Still primary age by the time the project ends and on site so it's obvious why you're doing it? Yep. I'd do that.

Soontobe60 · 08/07/2023 22:15

Mysteriousgirl2 · 08/07/2023 21:46

We are a family of 5 happily living in a detached house in a rural area. The secondary state schools are poor here though. When we first moved, we assumed that we could afford private education for our kids. Basically, we’ve recently come to the conclusion that we really can’t. Sending 3DC with all the price rises year on year just isn’t going to be affordable. And that’s with saving really really hard throughout their primary years.

We are going to look at a building plot in another county next week. There’s excellent schools in the area and I think it would be a much better investment. DH is not keen on buying a house that he hasn’t built or worked on (he’s not strictly a builder but we’ve self built our home here already). We wouldn’t be able to buy a ready made house which compares to ours now in this new area so this is a way in for us.

Is it worth moving to the other area to get into the better school catchment?

It’s a much more affluent area - therefore more engaged parenting and better school environment. Where we live there is a high travelling community (honestly not trying to be a snob or knocking it) but in our experience the focus on education just isn’t there and it impacts the local school.

But if we did it, we’d need to live on a building site for at least 2 years in a mobile home..

Why do you assume that ‘poor’ people are less engaged as parents? Smacks of snobbery if you ask me

Soontobe60 · 08/07/2023 22:16

Mysteriousgirl2 · 08/07/2023 22:09

Kids are 7, 5 and 2 so still quite small and of the age where they could still share a room (although they don’t currently so it would certainly be a change)

When can I actually go and look at school, though? Wouldn’t they say that my children are far too young to look at secondary schools? Not being shirty btw, just genuinely don’t know how early we can start looking around to get a clearer picture.

Show quote history

By the time your 7 yr old goes to sec school, the ones nearest could be rated inadequate and be palaces of poor people’s badly parented kids running amok.

PyjamasToMyLeft · 08/07/2023 22:17

Mysteriousgirl2 · 08/07/2023 22:09

Kids are 7, 5 and 2 so still quite small and of the age where they could still share a room (although they don’t currently so it would certainly be a change)

When can I actually go and look at school, though? Wouldn’t they say that my children are far too young to look at secondary schools? Not being shirty btw, just genuinely don’t know how early we can start looking around to get a clearer picture.

Show quote history

I thought your children would be older than 7, you are worrying a little early. But then we moved house on secondary school application deadline day so I’m more of a cutting it fine kind of person.

There’s no point going to see secondary schools now, no. They can change in 4 years, plus you don’t know what will suit your DC yet or what support they might need.

Original poster
Mysteriousgirl2 · 08/07/2023 22:20

PyjamasToMyLeft · 08/07/2023 22:17

I thought your children would be older than 7, you are worrying a little early. But then we moved house on secondary school application deadline day so I’m more of a cutting it fine kind of person.

There’s no point going to see secondary schools now, no. They can change in 4 years, plus you don’t know what will suit your DC yet or what support they might need.

Show quote history

Yes, you are right and yes I probably am worrying a bit too early.

However, our area is a three tier school system so my eldest would have to leave her current school anyway at the end of Year 4. If we are going to do a big move, I’d like to do it before then.

OP posts:
LolaSmiles · 08/07/2023 22:20

At those ages I wouldn't make any rash decisions.
I've seen schools go from good to inadequate and back again in several years, and also seen schools previously considered decent get sudden downgradings.

EmotionalSupportWyrm · 08/07/2023 22:36

"When* can* I actually* go and look at school , though ? Wouldn’t they say that my children are far too young to look at secondary schools? Not being shirty btw, just genuinely don’t know how early we can start looking around to get a clearer picture."*

We moved to a new town with a fantastic state secondary. Our eldest was 4. By the time they were old enough to go to the school it was in special measures. Schools can dramatically change in 12 months.

SabrinaThwaite · 08/07/2023 23:02

NeverDropYourMooncup · 08/07/2023 21:52

Best not invite Kevin McCloud along - you'll have six kids by the time it's ready.

Ah, you beat me to it.

themummylife · 08/07/2023 23:06

I’d do it. I grew up in a caravan and it great. It was cold in winter but nothing a blanket couldn’t fix!.

Pot8ohs · 09/07/2023 00:24

I would. But more so if you think you would benefit financially and go up the ladder then it won’t matter if the school situation changes for the worse.

You’ll know to assume you’ll be in the mobile homes twice as long as you’d like so set up as well as you can afford from the start. Wind breaks, porch for wet weather and wet clothes, extra shed(s) for storage and play rooms etc, etc. It shouldn’t be too bad if you can do that.

Gingerkittykat · 09/07/2023 00:47

How would you manage your stuff in a small space?

I'm talking clothes for 5 people, toys, bedding, cooking utensils etc.

Would you cope with cooking on a caravan cooker for 2 years?

Swearwolf · 09/07/2023 06:24

I would! My SIL lived in one a few years ago and it was the same size as my flat, the only real difference was the thickness of the walls.

People saying the schools might have changed in that time, well yeah they might have. But the OP will have made a couple of hundred thousand in equity on the house, and can afford to sell and move somewhere new.