Owning own home

[Skyline24]

I guess I'm writing this because I want to see if others feel the same. I am 34 and have a LO aged 4 i have been renting for what feels like forever and I just can't see myself ever being able to save a deposit to buy my own home .
My circle of friends have been able to do it as their family have gifted them the money to do so but I am not in a position like that.

I guess I just feel like im letting my daughter down and myself for not having that security but I can't seem to find a way to do it :(..and the years are just passing so quickly. I just wish I could offer her more. Sorry just having one of them evenings!

It's incredibly difficult. I understand. I'm 49 and DH is 48 and we're in the same boat but in australia and we're just this year getting realistically close to it.

All I can say is that you have to work INCREDIBLY hard to do it...but if you want it enough, you can do it.

Do you work full time or part time? What do you do? Are you single? If I know the answers to these questions I can advise you on how to make more money.

I have a house and a 7 year old and we just about get by. I too feel like I am failing him as money is so incredibly tight, we have no luxuries, and now I am finding shopping is becoming more basic. If anything goes wrong in the house I have no emergency funds. Owning is amazing but it's also a massive struggle too at times. But I understand people's circumstances are different. I'm a single low income household.

My house came before my child though. There is absolutely no way I'd even be able to afford rent if my DS had come before. I'd still be with parents.

It's so hard. I really do sympathise

I'm sorry OP, it is hard. It seems like something so basic, but it's out of reach for many people. I'm 37, no kids and renting for years (although I was travelling for most of my 20's so wan't bothered then), and no prospect of owning any time soon.

Like you I know people who have gotten large deposits and help to buy their homes, most people don't seem to be able to do it otherwise.
Is there any way to move to a cheaper area? Or use the Help to Buy scheme?

You just have to remember you're doing the best you can, and your daughter doesn't know the difference. She has a roof over her head, she's safe and loved, that's what matters.

Thank you for all of your replies .. I work 30 hours and single wage coming in, I had to go part time to be able to get help with nursery fees. (£800 a month).. now she's at school thinking could go full time!..
it just seems impossible to be honest . I do work really hard but my wage is always the same every month and bills are always high! Thank you all of you xxx

@Skyline24 just trust you are doing your best. And that's good enough. Times are challenging.

I am a similar age to you and work the same amount of hours. I actually reduced my hours when my Ds went into year 1 at school because I found I had too much to do and not enough time. 30 hours works around his school day. Currently with the way things are I need more money and have looked at increasing my hours. Afterschool care where I live would be around £100 a week for an hour and a half after school each day. I'd have to work over 2 hours extra each day to earn that. Even with help from TCs I've worked it out, I'm not much more better off working more unless I miraculously get a huge payrise, which let's be honest is unlikely. Don't spread yourself too thin.i thought it would get easier when my DS started school. I was wrong. I was attending stay and play sessions, workshops, afterschool events, not forgetting all the homework and reading he got in reception. I found working 8 til 5 school hard. 30 hours is ideal but financially not so much.

I love my home but I also sometimes hate it, especially having to spend so much time in it over the last 18 months. I desperately want to do home improvements. I cant. I want to give my son a bedroom more appropriate for his age. I cant. I want to be able to move us to more space. I cant. I'm basically trapped in a small home and feel like a failure

I own but only just bought (older than you) the only reason I could do that was because j had my family's help
But I never felt I was letting my daughter down when I was renting
And I wouldn't anyway if I was still renting
The only reason I bought a home anyway is so we had security ie the landlord wouldn't turn round and say we're selling now.