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Downsize to 2 bed? Or am I mad

10 replies

mumof2teentoddler · 22/02/2026 19:28

We are a family of 4 - hubby and I
one teen 14 yrs
one toddler 3 years
both girls

We have to be out of our rented accommodation by end May as landlord is selling

we cannot find anything in our village which is so sad as very much settled here and hoping for a school place in April and very close to my other daughters secondary

so options are a rental in a different town or even 2 towns away, which will mean a bus route for eldest as can’t move her as she’s starting year 11
But can move youngest as she’s not started yet

difference in rent is around £400 for a 2bed or 3 bed so either

2bed for £400 less
or pay £400 more but have a 3bed

this is so we can desperately save for a deposit so we can but so would only be short term ish 6-9 months maybe realistically although we may be mortgage ready sooner but we would rather over estimate then under

the 3 beds generally then come with parking (some not) maybe even a garden as the 2 beds are often flats and maybe even lucky to get a second bathroom with the 3 beds so lots to consider

the way we would do it is share with the toddlers wouldn’t have the girls sharing as not fair
so some sort of room divider, toddler bed at one end, double bed at the other and ikea room divider or ikea cube box etc to try and separate as much as we can

head spinning with what to do…stressed to the eyeballs

any ideas/anyone done this/ can give advice

Thank you!

OP posts:
Haggisfish3 · 22/02/2026 19:29

if it’s only short term I would do it as long as you’re sure you would save the money.

CarrierbagsAndPJs · 22/02/2026 19:31

Haggisfish3 · 22/02/2026 19:29

if it’s only short term I would do it as long as you’re sure you would save the money.

This.

AnotherChangeDay · 22/02/2026 19:33

I would downsize for 9 months, I don't think it will be difficult.

If it is, it will spur you on to save even quicker!

mumof2teentoddler · 22/02/2026 19:36

AnotherChangeDay · 22/02/2026 19:33

I would downsize for 9 months, I don't think it will be difficult.

If it is, it will spur you on to save even quicker!

That’s a good point! I keep thinking it could be worse - wouldn’t be the worse thing in the world ?! She slept in our room 6 months together when she was a baby and none of us slept! She grunted like a farm yard animal and we got though it! And in a next to me cot. Be very cosy 💕some flats are bigger square footage wise than this house we are in ! So I guess it’s layout that’s important too

OP posts:
HettyMeg · 23/02/2026 14:31

I would downsize for a short time to allow time to save and think sharing with the toddler would be fine for you for a short time - however I'd have a cut off date in your mind to focus your efforts on saving/house hunting!

AllJoyAndNoFun · 23/02/2026 15:50

Realistically if you’re mortgage ready in 9 months then it could be 18 months before you’ve moved. Personally I’d go 3 bed as 18 months with 4 of you in a 2 bed could get a bit crazy, especially given your dd will be trying to focus on her GCSEs.

SansSouciii · 23/02/2026 18:49

Def go for the 2 bed. Save as hard as you can to get your own roof over your head.

People live in a caravan on site in all weathers with kids when self building for arguably much longer to make the sacrifice. Go for it and good luck …. why not give your LL notice now if there is something available - means you can get into your forever home quicker. No need to work to LLs timetable - especially if it’s lining his pockets

Zanatdy · 23/02/2026 18:51

Yeah makes sense, fine to have your youngest in your room, definitely best thing to do in situation.

mumof2teentoddler · 23/02/2026 18:54

SansSouciii · 23/02/2026 18:49

Def go for the 2 bed. Save as hard as you can to get your own roof over your head.

People live in a caravan on site in all weathers with kids when self building for arguably much longer to make the sacrifice. Go for it and good luck …. why not give your LL notice now if there is something available - means you can get into your forever home quicker. No need to work to LLs timetable - especially if it’s lining his pockets

Because I really really want to stay in the village and ideally not move towns and the flat is more expensive than this house plus moving costs and first months rent and deposit is around 3k which will help if we can wait, but the flat will be nice IF we can’t stay here so we have thought about it but it’s still a massive upheaval - I know we will risk losing that flat but we may miss something come
up if we jump ship

OP posts:
mumof2teentoddler · 23/02/2026 18:57

SansSouciii · 23/02/2026 18:49

Def go for the 2 bed. Save as hard as you can to get your own roof over your head.

People live in a caravan on site in all weathers with kids when self building for arguably much longer to make the sacrifice. Go for it and good luck …. why not give your LL notice now if there is something available - means you can get into your forever home quicker. No need to work to LLs timetable - especially if it’s lining his pockets

I’ve even looked into this! There’s lovely 3 bed static caravans on a holiday parc very local
to us and very doable but would mean putting everything into storage plus the rental so unsure if it would save a lot but / end up paying more but would certainly be an idea if no rentals come up, but some only have 28 days max stay the one we enquiries about anyway, it was lovely. Could see us doing this as a stepping stone move before we signed up for a tenancy but maybe not while we save, not sure we could do that

OP posts:
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