'Sell up, go traveling, just rent a room as a base' - or that was the plan...

[Keyryder]

So I finally decided to take the plunge and sell up (partly because I want to do some traveling). I love my home. But I recognised I was stagnating here.

Was planning on just renting a room somewhere for a while. But oh.my.gosh - one week left to go and I have messaged 35+ people about a room (seen hundreds of adds but many were just for students ect) over the last 2 months and only had 4 responses! 2 didn't suit me (and trust me, I was not being picky haha) and the other 2, i didn't suit them.

So, instead of an adventure, I'm now faced with a horror I never even imagined - moving back home with my parents, at 34 years old. In my childhood hometown, which, I hated and couldn't wait to leave. Adventure? More like a horror story!

Anyway, I just wondered if people thought it might pick up once the students stop looking for rooms? Any words of encouragement to help stop me freaking out that I've fucked my life up, more than welcome xD

Are you sure there isn't anything medical going on here? What do friends and family say? Has anyone in real life expressed concern? Do you have any known vulnerabilities?

On a separate note, was just reading about Helpful Housemates Scheme. Might be worth a look.

This would be my take on it too. I know someone who has a static as a base here while they work abroad, the difference being they work in a tax haven earning shed loads! The cost of the caravan park site fees plus all the running costs is in the hundreds per month, so more than renting a room I expect.

Paying for flights out of the UK (plus taxi or train etc to and from the airport each time) for a short trip abroad makes no sense. The idea of “travelling” is that you go from one place to another, making the most of the travelling as part of the trip, ie getting trains from one city/country to the next to see more of it and save time/money going from the UK each time.

You really do need to put a bit more research into this before leaping. I’m all for a spontaneous change and I totally get the feelings driving this, but as others have said, if you want a life to come back to after your 6 months of fun, you need to be smart about it.

Use spareroom.com. There is always plenty on there. I'm in a 6 man HMO.

This is the typical course of events that leads to someone moaning later in life that they cant afford housing/cant get a decent paying job/had instability/cant afford a retirement

None of which is ever their fault of course.

What life though? Im bored out of my box. 15 years I've been working away. I'd rarely take trips because after work I'm too bloody knackered. I can't say I've ever met a guy here that I could see myself marrying either. And I don't like this town much. How is that worth salvaging really?

It might seem nuts to try to shake things up. It probably is. But I think I'd rather look back I my life and say some of it was horrible, but there was joy and adventure too. Than 'well, it was a bit meh'. And life here, is meh.

But if I travel then there will be opportunities to meet new and interesting people, to see amazing things and maybe even find a partner (or at least have a few steamy flings haha). Maybe I can find a new place I like and settle there. Maybe somewhere near the ocean. Who cares! The point is, for whatever brief time it lasts - you're actually living.

I guess it's a bit vague to just... chase joy. But here's thr thing, no matter how nuts and impulsive this is, even the 'I would nevers' amongst you, can't deny theres a part of you, just a small part, that wishes you had the guts to do it.

My parents want me to sell up.

The flat has had no end of issues so they're happy I'm leaving it.

Buy a smaller flat now, rent it out for the income then stay at parents when back in the UK.

Do you make money from your writing or is it a dream you have always had and are winging it?

Honestly OP, don't just stick your money in the bank. Put it back into proper property now - not a static caravan. Sort out tenants then go travelling properly if that is what you really want to do.

If I was your friend I would be seriously worried that you were having a mental health crisis due to not having planned this properly.

Ooh and cheers I'll check out the helpful housmates scheme x

Funnily enough I was just looking at tenanted properties. My worry would be them being a bugger to get rent off though.

Bit yeah I will be looking to buy a wee place ASAP.

Haha not having a breakdown. Promise. My best mate has actually been real supportive, she thinks it's mad too, but in a good way. I think we both know I need the change.

Writing wise it's mostly just a dream. I've had a few small things published and wrote regularly for a magazine for a time but I really just want to focus on writing this bloody book. Figured travelling and shaking things up might get me out the funk I'm in.

How exciting!
If the room is mainly as a base + address for booking, I'd definitely use parents' or other close friends/ relatives place. Should work out cheaper I.e. more money for travelling?

Good luck!

Great idea but the thing that would concern me is once you've stepped off the housing ladder you might find it hard to get back on

House prices will rise, you no longer own a property so you won't be benefitting from that. You won't be earning money and you'll be spending money traveling

You may end up back at your parents long term when you come back. If you were to rent you'll be paying a lot of money. If we wanted to rent a house like our's it would be 3 x times our monthly mortgage repayments!

I'm sure you've considered all this

Yes, my main fear isn't so much being priced out of the market but more, the level of places actually available atm for sale.

I want to avoid renting a full flat as the amount would soon add up. But silly me, didn't consider the fact that there would be a room shortage too.

I'm sure I'll find things that are suitable. It's just a pity I'll have to stop woth family for a bit first it seems. Not to sound ungrateful of course, it's just something i never anticipated. Going to have to be more thorough moving forwards lol.

Hey. Lots of different types of comments here.

I'll say this though - you'll not regret the travelling part. It is BRILLIANT and you will remember it forever.

And who genuinely knows what you'll make of your life, what will happen, who you will meet, where you will end up.

I sold out of a house, ended a relationship, took redundancy and went. All around were naysayers. But when I'd gone, all around were travelling types, exciting types who had made exciting lives. I wanted to be like them. "If they can do it"...etc. I found it could have been easy to fall into the finger nail biting fears, BUT I decided to really put my ovaries/balls into doing something genuinely exciting and edgy and trailblazing for myself.

I get the concerns about money and house prices. But England isn't the only place to buy. And who knows what the recession will bring.

I did the Willing Workers on Farms scheme, WWOOF. Look it up. I found travelling expensive and then discovered that scheme, and went from place to place with little breaks as I fancied. It took the cost of travelling right down and was much more fun than doing trips with other backpackers.

As regards the room, do what needs to be done whatever that turns out to be. It's temporary.

Its a funny old life but I have learnt this - do what you love and love what you do, and live on your edge if you can. It's more fun and exciting.

Why cant you rent your place out?

The place has been sold.

Snd regardless of what people say, renting is a ball ache. Firstly, they go through the flat and make you do things that cost loads, then they charge you for absolutely everything, to make as much money off you as they can.

So she might have that as a blight and a worry while thousands of miles away, making zero as all used it estate agent money making bullshit - then come home to a housing market that has fallen and find she has lost equity anyway.

She's pulled her money out at the top. That's how I see it. And when she comes home, she could buy a flat in a cheaper part of the UK and have a better life there.

Thanks@something2say :)

And everyone who has commented. Even the naysayers lol. Some things might be hard to hear but help me long term afterall. I'd much prefer sugar to medicine right this moment though haha.

Just trying to stay positive about it all. We don't make omelettes without breaking a few eggs afterall xD (...tbf this may be more like breaking the odd chicken coop, terrorising the chicken and putting the fox out of a job...but heyho! Yay ommlette).

Haven’t rtft- but what about house/pet sitting sites?

Yes shit someone suggested that earlier and i think I forgot to reply. Its a possibility.

I have also looked at renting from adults eith special needs/elderly who need company (it's like 12 hour per week I exchange for a cheap room) but i think I would worry for thrm too much to be off travelling the rest of the time though.

Obviously house or pet sittiing would be temporary and i could travel between it. So it might work to fill in short term gaps perhaps. Maybe a bit hit and miss but we'll see.

I figure that you are in Scotland. The housing market is crazy at the moment but as pp have said why not reinvest now into something here, rent the new flat out and then take the extra for a proper travel. Remember after Brexit unless you also have another EU passport you can't go and live in another country without restrictions.

Yes that may be the best bet.

I think i probably won't rent it though. It's more trouble than it's worth. But if I can find a little cheap place fast then that would be handy. Won't hold my breath though haha.

Could always try to get a 2 bedroom and rent one room to a lodger or something. That way I can keep an eye on things and use the place as a base too, when I around.

Good shout about brevit. Will check any travel restrictions before long term stays.

If I didn't know better I'd think one of my sons was on here!! I've said he's having midlife crisis early😂He's going through exactly the same phase as you in his 30s. Bored out of his brain with work, wants a change. He has asked to move back in, sell up and give his notice in, talks about travelling but not really got a definite plan. My advice would be to move in with parents even if for a short time to relax and have time to think and make a plan. At least that will save you spending a lot of money. I wouldn't recommending renting out, I did it a few years back and not worth the hassle or the amount you make from it with all the rules and regs and tax. If you buy again go for a little house rather than flat, no service charges. I've had the hassle of owning a flat too and would never have one again, small property in nice location always better option than larger property in poor location. Most of all enjoy and stay safe! Wish I'd done more with my life whilst I had energy of youth, not that I regret babies in my 20s but fun whilst single and no ties is easier👏💐

In your shoes I’d do an intensive driving course, but a little camper and then do house/ pet sitting to live cheaply whilst writing. Little adventures in the camper between jobs. It’s my early retirement dream.

Yes I probably should. Its the perfect place to learn where my parents are too. But the idea of them teaching me fills me with dread. Dread only equal to the amount of the idea of teaching them to use technology (computer, mobiles and probably streaming services) over the next few months. Pretty sure that's what one of the circles of hell is xD

I suppose I could pay for am instructor but then it'll be months of 'I don't know why you need to put money out for that, your dad can teach you' xD and 'I rather put pins in my eyes and hang coathangers off them' would be a rather ungrateful thing to say to the people who've graciously agreed to house you.

I hear its hard to book a driving test atm too. But we'll see.