What area would you live - fresh start?

[Lovelysoul]

I’m a lost soul. I have no ties to any area. No close friends or family.

I don’t know where to begin to look at where I want to live? I can stretch to a mortgage for a property valued at around 180k.
Any recommendations on nice areas please??

I feel so alone. I’ve put my everything into my career & ex relationship. (I hate my job & I want to change careers to something better suited)
I would love to hear from other women who have had a fresh start please?? It’s so difficult staying strong when everything falls apart all at once! x

I moved three hours drive last year away from home town.
I made a fresh start , new job, house etc
But I am so lonely as I literally know nobody.
I see people at work but they’re not sociable .

I do regret it quite often but now I’m stuck here .

Not me but a good friend moved to a quiet caravan site in the Lake District (a beautiful log cabin is her house now). She also started up a new business in a local town.
She is divorced with no children.

Work out what you want from a place, quiet village or city availability of places or venues with things you would like to be doing. Then look on right move as to where you can get a home you would like that you can afford and like. Housing is on the whole cheaper up North.

Oooh - I used to love starting afresh in a new area - I lived in the Swiss Alps for 2 years doing summer and ski seasons and I've jumped around the UK too
Now more settled in London but even now I have bounced around different parts of London as it is just so varied.
It's all in the mindset, try and see it as an adventure (I know this is not always easy)
Once you pick a place, seek out activities that you can only do in that area. One of the pp mentioned the Lakes (beautiful area) you could have a lot more of an outdoorsy lifestyle there than London for example - and get more for you ££ too!

Think about what you would like to do outside of work then find a place that is easiest to do those sort of activities

What is your gift? Everyone has one. A gift is the thing you are best at with the least amount of effort. Once you find out what that is, could you try and make that into a way of earning money

Remember success is not always a comfortable procedure. Sometimes you just have to jump into the unknown and you will be surprised at what adventures await. Xxx

It really depends what you dream of, doesn't it?

Do you love the countryside, beaches, cities? What sort of property would you be happy with? Your budget wouldn't buy much some areas, and would in others, but the location might be more important than size.

If you're not in a hurry and have a bit of spare cash/time, why not do a few recce visits or a road trip to places that sound appealing?

Thank you for your replies & advice!
Fidgety31- life can be tough, hope you find some friends to provide you with support! I hope to meet lovely friends one day too.

I prefer the quiet life & would choose a village location over a city, but I would need job opportunities nearby.
My budget is low, I think an area where I would feel safe is a priority as I hate when darkness falls I get full of anxiety when home alone.

I have tried making friendships before & ive tried changing careers before dabbling in different hobby ideas, buying/ selling things etc but it’s so hard to make money. It’s also hard to make friends. I think one reason is because I’m shy, people don’t think I will be any fun. Then working long hours plus having a partner.....

It is very daunting. I don’t know where to start looking as I only know the areas where I don’t want to live x

I think Category12 has a great idea!
Can you have some weekends away from where you are based now?
I have done a lot of foreign travel and now realise I haven't been to some gorgeous places around the UK. I plan on visiting Bath for the weekend soon just to see what it's like
You could try Air B&B to try and get a more ''real'' feel for an area.

Also, many estate agents and online forums like Rightmove have data for crime in different areas if that is something that particularly concerns you (of course everyone is concerned by crime but I hope you know what I mean!)

How about around Cardiff? Cardiff is a brilliant city with loads going on and employment opportunities, but with beautiful countryside and the quiet life a short commute away. And the beach isnt far either.

I'm seriously considering this - I've started applying for positions up in the ne where I could be mortgage free for a decent house once I'm divorced. I do have one friend there but people are so friendly there, I'm sure I can make friends far easier than here

@lovelysoul not sure what your situation is but have you thought about renting a room somewhere first? You could meet new people doing it that way and you're also not tied into anything too much if you hate it?

Where don't you want to live? Maybe we can find the opposite of those places

Namechanged as outting. But I just bought my first 2 bed semi house for 175 in a cheap part of the South cotswolds. Commutable to 2 cities (North about 30 mins or south about 45 mins). Nice area with a lot of local stuff going on (if you are politically engaged itll be super easy to make friends).

Not a fresh start but I lived further south before and it was very expensive. I didnt realise you could drive to work in almost the same time but pay 60k less for your house. And I prefer the more rural lifestyle too.

I'd like to move to Devon or up North and live on a very quiet low-key site in a mobile home with hot tub.
Or if I could afford it, a quiet small home with big garden to run a cattery.

Thanks for the further messages.
I should try to test out some of my top areas, even if it’s for the day. I will have to get motivated!
I would aim to rent for awhile before I committed to buying.

I have quite a big list of areas to consider. I have never been further up north than Manchester.
It is difficult knowing what the nice but affordable areas are x

If you post on MN about a specific area usually a lot of people will weigh in with great ideas and opinions. There are also local MN boards.

Think about how you would actaully live, rather than just how beautiful somewhere is. Will you have to drive lots, does it have amenities you use a lot e.g. GP's, dentist. If it is a village/rural area, will you need to go to the church or pub to meet people, are you okay with that?

They thing to remember is that you can't escape your problems by moving. If you want to reinvent yourself, fine but you need to able to do it that from the off.

I'd recommend the North. Friendlier than the south (from experience). Beautiful. Well connected. Villages round Manchester or Bradford.
But.... You take your weather with you wherever you go.

Another vote for the north - Lancashire has some lovely rural spots with good motorway connections to Burnley/Bolton/Manchester for work. Yorkshire around halifax had great links to Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield. Your money would stretch reasonably in both areas. Check out the lists of top places to live maybe? The times do them - and look for places nearby so you don't pay the premium?

You could get a nice house near Cardiff for 180

This thread has struck a deep chord within me! Can I come with you?!

Know the feeling, OP.

I feel like this quite often.

But live in social housing - hard to swap.

I love the idea of being flexible and on the move. I have no major ties either.

OP - sending you a virtual hug. You seem lovely and I really hope you find some lovely friends because loneliness can be quite terrifying (I’ve been there).

Some lovely places: Hereford; it’s called a City but it really doesn’t have a city feel, is rural, very green and the people are lovely.

Cardiff: I studied at University there, beautiful backdrop, Welsh are very friendly and it’s a small enough city so that you don’t feel overwhelmed.

Clifton in Bristol. Beautiful and picturesque and far enough out of the hustle and bustle. Expensive but you could get a flat.

Haven't Read all thread but people in south wales are generally super friendly and easy to get to know. Plus beautiful mountains, beaches etc. And you could afford a flat/cottage in your budget . Good luck!

A friend of mine moved from London to Whitley Bay on the North East coast. She bought a gorgeous house very cheaply and got a new creative career established very quickly there as there's lots of money for and interest in the arts up there. She is so happy. Looks years younger. Lost stacks of weight from all that coastal walking. And is unstressed as she now has savings from the sale of a tiny house in London.

But also, sort yourself out first. Raise your level of happiness before you move, or you'll take misery with you. Try the exercise from Feel The Fear where you pick 9 aspects of life (e.g. friends, family, hobbies, community service, mind/body/spirit etc) and create some big/long term, medium/mid term and short term quick and easy goals to improve your happiness in each area. Then do something every day if you can, but at least every week in every one of those 9 areas. Keep focusing on them and allowing them all to make you feel like your life is rewarding. In fact, Feel the Fear is a brilliant book to read if you are feeling like life is over due to failed work and love.

A flat is a lovely option if you'd feel safer knowing that other people are around you. Or a terraced house.

What's your dream job? I think I'd start by choosing and finding a type of job, then search for roles nationwide, and let destiny guide you towards your perfect fresh start.

Good luck, OP. I bet you'll find this thread again this time next year and be amazed at how different life feels.