saving money on bills by downsizing...long

[iheartdusty]

This is the situation. DH and I continually debate about moving to a smaller house, working less, etc. I love our house, it is big and shabby and I want to stay here, but I also love DH and want him to be able to see DCs and have a more relaxed life.

so how could I go about putting a price on the potential savings in terms of bills? The mortgage is easy to recalculate; but could I find out (for example) what the council tax bill would be for an alternative property?

And what about gas bills etc? I reckon we are quite thrifty users, but the rooms are big and ceilings high.. but how much difference would it make to be somewhere a bit smaller?

is house insurance going to be significantly less? Maintenance costs are high already; Electricity would be the same..what else have I forgotten?

we are talking going from a 5 bedroom Edwardian house, all tall ceilings and long corridors, to maybe a 4 bedroom 30s semi or Victorian terrace, so not a massive downsize anyway.

I think you could find out about council tax from the estate agent's details.

As for gas bills, it would depend on how well insulated the property was, how efficient the boiler is etc. We've recently moved to a bigger, much colder property, but it has a brand new boiler, and as a result the hot water dial is right down almost at zero, otherwise the water is scalding hot, so I think that could make a big difference to our bills (here's hoping...).

If you want to stay put, have you considered ways of making your current property cheaper to run (eg new boiler, better insulation, changing energy suppliers, shopping around for insurance etc)?

yes, those are good tips midnightexpress, and we will do those things anyway.

what I am really after, if truth be told, is ammunition to prove that we would not gain enough from moving to make it worthwhile, and certainly trimming the costs of staying here is part of that ammunition..

Could you do other things to increase your income (and thus reduce working hours). As you have lots of room could you take in foreign students who are studying English, or a lodger?

yes bran, that is possible, although I would need to learn to cook food they might want to eat!

Perhaps you could persuade them that fish fingers are a great British delicacy.

Plus the actual cost of moving (sol fees/stamp duty/ moving costs)

What's really good is that you can earn up to $4,250 tax-free from having a lodger (link).

Sorry that should be £ not $.