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Original poster

How long can you survive in a small flat?

132 replies

erkeline · 01/08/2023 07:27

I was brought up in the countryside. Big house and lots of open space. Dogs & market towns vibe.

Now I live in London for work. DP and I are saving hard for a deposit. We rent a one bedroom flat together, 40 sqm close to work so to save on commuting costs. It's a glorified bedsit.

We have done one year here already. Despite earning a good income, for London it doesn't go far. (We make about 120k combined). Appreciate some people have no choice, but by late 20s we thought we would be able to afford a slightly better lifestyle than this.

How long can you survive in a tiny flat?

OP posts:
OnlyFoolsnMothers · 01/08/2023 11:35

Once you stop going out- one you have kids- once your home more than you’re not and you feel like there’s no space for anything.

BriceNobeslovesMurielHeslop · 01/08/2023 11:35

You’re becoming less and less sympathetic, OP. I moved to London to work as a nurse. It was my second degree, I worked ridiculous hours with a very high needs patient group. I studied for a masters at the same time. I lived in a spider infested house share in zone 3. I could have moved out a bit and gotten a job in a hospital out of the city, but I chose that because I wanted the benefits of living in the city.
I worked with a lot of people who were getting priced out of where they had grown up because of the ridiculous rates in London, I thought they were more entitled to stay there than people with higher qualifications and a seemingly “more important role”.

BanditsOnTheHorizon · 01/08/2023 11:36

You can survive your whole life in a 2 bed flat, but it would be my idea of hell. It's personal choice.

Cazsle · 01/08/2023 11:54

I agree 😳

Bonfire23 · 01/08/2023 11:57

AsterixAndPersimmon · 01/08/2023 09:11

I also think that, in the U.K., people REALLY have issues with flats in general.

When I was in France, living in a flat was normal. And the expectations of ‘space’ was very different. So was the idea that each child should have their own bedroom etc…

The reality is that it’s what you get used to. It’s easier when the expectation of ‘having space’ isn’t there. And yes you do get used to living in 40sqm and not finding it small. You certainly can’t be a hoarder, not even accumulate stuff ‘just because’. But it is enough space to live in Wo it being ‘a besit’
A bedsit would be one small double bedroom in a shared accomodation.

Yeah I have a 2 bed with garden, 75sqm
My neighbour said (the flat above is up for sale) "oh you could buy that and then you'll have a full house"

I had a house before! It makes me feel like not an adult sometimes weirdly Confused

HundredMilesAnHour · 01/08/2023 12:03

erkeline · 01/08/2023 11:10

I get your point, but could I not just say the same to people complaining about not having a choice?
Eg "They chose a career which paid £16k a year and chose to leave school at 16..." Do you see how that's partially true but also really not helpful? I was looking for advice on small living/if people think the trade off is worth it. How long people in my position stuck it out for etc.

Show quote history

You're missing the point. Check your privilege OP.

Original poster
erkeline · 01/08/2023 12:05

HundredMilesAnHour · 01/08/2023 12:03

You're missing the point. Check your privilege OP.

Show quote history

And do what with it?

OP posts:
titchy · 01/08/2023 12:13

Perhaps use it to reflect on what a privileged and fortunate position you're in, be a bit fucking grateful about it, have some compassion and empathy for those who would kill to live permanently in what you've got, be a little more humble.

There's some ideas for starters as to what you can do with it.

moonbeamsokay · 01/08/2023 12:15

What is going on with this thread?

OP: We earn good money and our flat is too small, is this sustainable

MN: You are not allowed to ask for advice because some people are poor

moonbeamsokay · 01/08/2023 12:18

I think 40 sqm could be fine if you're young and you're out all the time. If you have a baby then 60sqm would be fine for ages if you're organised. If you have a boy and a girl then one will need their own room at 10, but that's a long way off.

WeWereInParis · 01/08/2023 12:28

moonbeamsokay · 01/08/2023 12:15

What is going on with this thread?

OP: We earn good money and our flat is too small, is this sustainable

MN: You are not allowed to ask for advice because some people are poor

I think it's the questioning of how long you could "survive" that has annoyed people. It's a small flat in central London, hardly unsurvivable.

Plenty of people live in smaller places, or move back in with parents, to save up a deposit. OP could choose more space now and move further out and spend money on commuting rather than saving, but she doesn't want to. I wouldn't want to either so that's not a criticism. But if she's asking is it worth it, no one can answer that for her. For me it absolutely would be worth it - provided when I bought I'd be moving out of London to somewhere where I could get more space for my money.

Mars27 · 01/08/2023 12:28

moonbeamsokay · 01/08/2023 12:15

What is going on with this thread?

OP: We earn good money and our flat is too small, is this sustainable

MN: You are not allowed to ask for advice because some people are poor

No, that's not it, re read the thread. OP is coming across spectacularly bad here

ClaudiaWankleman · 01/08/2023 12:36

I have 77sqm with 24sqm of garden. Undoubtedly not the smallest of flats but it's hardly a mansion. I really love it, and don't plan on moving in the foreseeable future.

Unicorn2022 · 01/08/2023 12:40

You should be taking home at least £7k between you if on £60k each and apart from rent your living costs shouldn't be too high for a small flat. You should be able to save up a decent deposit fairly quickly if you budget really well. In London it's about the convenience and location rather than the amount of space you have.

fivelilducks · 01/08/2023 12:43

Mars27 · 01/08/2023 08:23

"Appreciate some people have no choice"

Do you though? 🙄

Some people live in flats, get over yourself and don't be so patronising. If you want your very big house in country (thanks Blur) then London is not for you.

It is horrible to live in a small flat though. It's not insensitive to point that out.

BarbaraofSeville · 01/08/2023 12:47

Is it though? If you work long hours, enjoy an active social life, are always out and about and don't have loads of physical possessions, bulky hobby equipment and there's only one or two of you, you'll hardly be there, it's fine, especially if it also brings you other benefits, like being able to walk to work, shops, bars and restaurants etc.

GasPanic · 01/08/2023 12:53

Suppose it depends on how small the flat is and how much stuff you have got.

If you have masses of stuff dogs kids etc and you spend all your time in there then I can imagine it is pretty trying.

If it is mostly just a place to crash you don't have much gear and are out all the time then maybe not so bad.

Fupoffyagrasshole · 01/08/2023 12:57

meh we choose to live in a small 2 bed in zone 2 with our toddler - 10 min cycle to work for me and 15 for husband! there is no way i will ever move further out and commute in - i'd take the small space over a bigger house somewhere else any day.

We have a huge communal garden and heaps of parks on the doorstep

home from work and nursery by 5pm every day, don't need a car.

but hey everyones different and has different wants / needs when it comes to housing i guess.

Abracadabra12 · 01/08/2023 13:12

I lived in a room in a shared house until I was 34 and could afford to buy a one bedroom flat.

How centrally do you live at the moment? If you're so central that you can walk to work then you're probably paying a huge premium in terms of rent. If your priority is saving up to buy a house you might be better off renting in zone 2. A weekly zone 2 travel card is £40 and you'd probably save way more than this in rent and could still have a commute of under an hour door to door.

How much are you paying in rent at the moment? As an example, I saw a nice one bed flat with a private patio in West Hampstead for £1500 a moment.

Tidsleytiddy · 01/08/2023 13:19

I know two retired couples who have some sort of aversion to ever possibly living in a flat. Thrown their hands up in horror. Both are completely isolated from family now digging heels in to stay in locations they don’t need to be rather than live in a (gulp) flat. I don’t get it

sunshineplayroom · 01/08/2023 14:02

#thoughtsandprayers OP

Twiglets1 · 01/08/2023 14:12

erkeline · 01/08/2023 12:05

And do what with it?

Show quote history

Enjoy it - that’s what I do with mine 😉

Amazongirl9 · 01/08/2023 14:25

DS and DDIL did 8 years in their 20s in a 50sqm flat in zone3. Mind you it was lovely and new, and had a small garden. I think it depends on your lifestyle and also expectations. They really lived the London life, out all the time, making the most of everything London had to offer. They were happy with their choice. It sounds that you are less so.

Fuckingfuming1 · 01/08/2023 14:29

Have you read rich dad poor dad ? Some people sleep on the floor at work to save the cash to buy outright. And those people become the rich dad.

Short term pain for long term gain.

ScribblingPixie · 01/08/2023 14:30

I have friends who live in really tiny flat in an amazing part of London - it's a crash pad to them, they're out most of the time. They've streamlined their belongings and are very disciplined about order - been there 25 years. Works for them. It's all a balancing act, isn't it, unless you're loaded.