What would you do? Does this sound manageable?

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Fallen in love with a property which is over budget, quite a bit over budget! I need to work out if this is possible or if I need to be more realistic.

For context, the house is a doer upper, it will need a new kitchen, both bathrooms will need to be replaced and things like flooring which are 30+ year old carpets (even in the kitchen and bathrooms). The property is 200sqm. Windows are another big expense as they definitely need doing.

Take home pay is around £4500pcm but should go up to £5000-5500pcm in the next 12 months.

House has been on the market with no offers for 5 months so I’m hoping to put a cheeky offer in and if accepted, the mortgage would be £1300-1500. Bills would be unknown but CT is also extortionate.

Does this sound doable or do I need to find something smaller/ less expensive?

Yes of course, and we are all different! I don't find my life boring though. I have an interesting job, plenty hobbies. Travel a lot. Friends, family.
That provides all the interest I need. But you obviously want something different so in the heel of the hunt you will make your own choice

I find windows really easy to fit but agree, materials have jumped in price. Recently laid a patio and the materials alone cost me £8k!

If you can see yourself raising your children there then go for it.

Don’t underestimate how babies can explode your priorities, time, attention and energy though. So if your reno timeline clashes with your baby timeline you might want to reconsider!

One life. Live it. Buy the house.

Absolutely! I use my entire annual leave allowance to go abroad. It’s amazing and I’m so glad I’ve had the opportunity to explore so many wonderful and not so wonderful parts of the world. I have a very fulfilling life. I’m always on evenings out and weekends away with friends and family. My job is intense and high pressure.

I still find it boring at home when I’m there 😂 it’s become a running joke that I never sit still. It’s just me and my personality. I could go for something smaller/ less of a project but it already feels like less of a project than the one I’ve completed. It’s just more expensive. I can always make more money!

My two year old has started being quite physical with their friends. They are very sociable, happy and love playing with others, however I have noticed recently they are starting to get physical with certain friends they have, normally pulling hair or hitting.

Two of these children are younger than them by quite a bit and are in their grabby stage where they often take toys from my little one or grab them because they are just being toddlers ! It started in retaliation and frustration to these things and now seems to happen as a preventative before they get near my child. The other child they are physical with often picks on my child in more subtle ways (they are older) by taking things from them, pinching them or pushing them so it is more in retaliation but my child will do it to a much more obvious level so often gets told off by other grown ups.

I know hurting other children is always wrong but as their mum I can see and understand my child’s triggers more obviously and am getting really worried other children won’t like them or adults will label them as unkind. I would like to add this is a very small number of children and they have many more good friends they have never so much as frowned at and play so nicely with.

Also although they have good speech they are not as advanced as their friends, they are currently potty training and we are expecting another child 🤣 all of which I know will be contributing to their stress !

I know it’s probably just a developmental phase but would love some reassurance from other parents of children who have gone through this stage and come out the other side or what any parents did to help their child manage their emotions in these situations.

Do you want to spend the next 5-8 years of your life doing diy or do you have other things you want to do? Do you want to spend every penny you have on your house or or there other things you might enjoy spending your money on? Those are the two questions you need to answer! If the answer is yes then it’s worth considering. I have an old house and it needs various big expensive things doing and sometimes I look at my savings and think I could have a campervan or thr holiday of a lifetime with the cash I will need to spend on this place.