I've been looking for a mutual exchange for a bit and registered on the exchange list at HA, and on exchange websites.
Its not just that we want to move house, and my problem may seem a bit insignificant against people who are overcrowded/homeless/living in damp homes etc, I fully sympathise and have been in two of these situations myself.
In a nutshell, we were given this house as our only choice, its 26 miles round trip to DH's work, and I do 34 miles a day to take DS to childminders before work, and back again. We've had to borrow money from my parents to buy another car which we can't afford, no buses come before 10.30am. Our village is tiny there's nothing here at all, nowhere to even go for a walk (no footpaths) and basically its getting me really down and I feel like leaving somedays.
We're in a sticky situation as DH has a lot of debt so even though we're earning money, we earn too much for any benefits (including childcare, so DS has to go to grandparents hence the big trips every day) but most of its taken up in debts and bills leaving us with little to spare.
We have asked for a transfer to be nearer to work and family for monetary reasons but were basically told to bugger off. We're getting desperately short of money and i'm slowly losing the will to live. I understand people are in need of homes more than us, but we would only be swapping so someone else could have our house anyway.
Has anyone else had a move (or been refused one) for a similar reason? I've tried the Homeswap Mobility Scheme but they said it wouldn't help us.
Please don't post messages about there are people more in need than me, I know this and that there is a bigger housing picture - I am grateful for what I have but at the same time i'm in need of help as well.
Hope there's someone out there with a positive story...