Is it "bougie" to have 2 properties ?

[IHearYourVoiceItsLikeAnAngelSighing]

Hello Mumsnetters,

I bought my first property; a flat in zone 2 about 7 years after I finished university. No bank of mum and dad or inheritance, just saved up student loan and 7 years of hard work; frugal living and lots of saving. I paid it all off, saved up again and earlier this year I bought a small house in zone 4 as I have a child now so need more space and also a garden means I don't always have to leave the hosue for my child to be able to play outside. It was a practical/strategic move as I specifically bought in an area with good primary and secondary schools, lots of green areas and also now I don't have to book a venue for kids party as I just use my home.

The issue is, now I'm being "accused" of being posh/bougie because I have a "flat in the city and a house in the suburbs" even though I am still completely myself. I live a very simple and frugal life; shop at lidl, buy whatever I can in bulk so it works out cheaper, never owned a car and my winter coat is at least 10years old.

I don't know why it bothers me but it does. Am I worrying over nothing?

Smile and ignore.

ditto above - smile, ignore and be proud of yourself

It's jealousy. We have a couple of properties, a
business, and income.
Fuck the haters tbqh

Do you rent the flat out? It is pretty indulgent to be able to afford a London property that you just leave empty.

If rented, then it’s just an investment. Nothing wrong with that.

Sounds like a stealth boast.

It’s nobody’s business, do you rent the flat? Sounds like you are a grafter and have your head screwed on.

Nothing bougie about it.

We have 2 properties, it’s not unusual in our circle.

You are worrying over nothing. I own two properties, I’ve paid for them both myself, no bank of “mum and dad”, no inheritance, no private school, no “connections” growing up. I own both, I pay all relevant and required taxes and charges for both. No one else’s business.

It's very common. I wouldn't associate with someone who had less than 5 properties personally.

Greedy is the word I'd use. Sell the flat.

If anyone uttered the word bougie to me, I’d never speak to them again.

None of anyone else's business. Some people are just jealous of anyone who has more than one property or a holiday home. I take no notice of people who are jealous. I know DH and I have worked hard for what we have.

@AlastheDaffodils and @reversegear my sister lives there now so she doesn't have to pay rent as she is now at uni. When I was at uni I worked part time to pay my rent and saved the student loan towards my deposit.

Obviously you're a lot older and bought your 2 homes when property was much, much cheaper, right?
I personally hate anyone with 2 properties because you are not only property rich now, you have set yourself up to be very rich for life and you have achieved this through luck of the property market quadraupaling in value, not hard work.
I can't even get on the property ladder, I work my nose to the grindstone and I will always be poor despite my strong work ethic. Which is why I would hate you if I knew you.

Good for you!

If anyone wants to call you anything that could remotely be considered derogatory or a piss-take then it says nothing at all about you but tells us that they’re envious.

Keep doing what you’re doing and congratulations - sounds like you’re smashing it.

Yes, it's incredibly privileged. (I don't really know what bougie means!)

Anyone who uses the word bougie is an idiot. Hopefully that helps

I think people are probably just a bit surprised that you can afford 2 properties in London, possibly jump to conclusions they were bought through family trust/ inheritance etc particularly as it sounds like you bought the first one on your own. I guess this was a while ago as a zone 2 property now would cost a fortune and take years to save a deposit for and then pay off the mortgage, even if you threw some student loan money into the pot

Donate it to me and support me with the running costs

I will happily take accusations of being posh and bougie!

@SparklyCardigan sell the flat and then have my sister go out and rent? That doesn't sound sensible to me and I'd rather be sensible.

Did you buy your zone 4 house outright without a mortgage? If so I guess you’re a high earner to save that sort of cash!!

That's a lot of hate for someone who worked and saved for what they have. I would understand your hate better if they'd been given a flat and/or a fuck ton of cash. Which wasn't the case.

Buying somewhere when it was cheap is really not that impressive. It probably annoys people when you brag about it.

I own four properties so I must be as bougie as one can be! Reality is one my son lives in one, me and my DD another and I rent two of them out - they are investments and I live off the income. I’m a widow and I bought my first second property with the life insurance as my kids were 4 and 6 and I needed a passive income as well as my job.

@yope you sound like you hate yourself.
I'm 40 for what it's worth; don't know if that classifies as much older but I'd say perhaps invest some of that energy you're spending hating people you don't even know so see how you might do things differently to obtain the results you want.