How do people do it?!

Fire_Fox

For anyone who has said they wish they could save more, complete this and post on the DFW or MFW board. Also read the thread entitled 'live on £4K for a year' ... that's an entire family after rent and council tax.
http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html

retepetsir

Strapped wrote: »

Move to a cheaper area? You can get a 3bed house within walking distance of Three Bridges station for around £150k.

I've been looking at Three Bridges but didnt see them as low as 150k?! Unless I'm missing something?!

carolt

Good luck, OP - you have my sympathies.

Saving huge amounts whilst renting is hard.

You sound very sensible - you're right to be wary of shaed ownership and flats. Flats are (a) likely to lose most value and (b) not where you want to be longer term if you're planning on having kids.

gabyjane

wheresmydoshat wrote: »

we thought shared ownership was a good idea, until it became a game of "prove you can't afford a house. now prove you can afford your share". they initially decided we could afford a house without their help, having not even spoken with us (just from the forms we filled in).

See i guess we were lucky with it tbh, at the time we had loans to pay, car to pay off etc so didnt have funds as such..we got the house accepted and then after we paid all the loans off and could now i guess afford a proper house although i know we cant as dont have deposit etc!!

toby3000

mike5678 wrote: »

I guess it helps a lot that I only pay £200 per month living with my parents up until now, but so do my friends.

I don't mean to be harsh, but someone who lives (heavily subsidised) at home can't really sit in judgement on other people's inability to save.

Strapped

retepetsir wrote: »

I've been looking at Three Bridges but didnt see them as low as 150k?! Unless I'm missing something?!

How well do you know the area? Try something like this:

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-22250860.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E378&sortByPriceDescending=false&displayPropertyType=houses&primaryDisplayPropertyType=houses&oldDisplayPropertyType=houses&oldPrimaryDisplayPropertyType=houses&pageNumber=4&backToListURL=%2Fproperty-for-sale%2Ffind.html%3FlocationIdentifier%3DREGION%255E378%26sortByPriceDescending%3Dfalse%26displayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26primaryDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26oldDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26oldPrimaryDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26index%3D30

It's in Northgate (the next neighbourhood) - just! It's an easy walk from there to Three Bridges. Not pretty on the outside but pretty standard fare for Crawley and one of the better neighbourhoods. You might get something in Three Bridges or Pound Hill with negotiation too at that sort of price (being the perfect buyer )

Other 2 bed+ houses within walking distance:

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-25938719.html?locationIdentifier=OUTCODE%5E2168&sortByPriceDescending=false&minBedrooms=2&maxBedrooms=3&displayPropertyType=houses&primaryDisplayPropertyType=houses&oldDisplayPropertyType=houses&oldPrimaryDisplayPropertyType=houses&pageNumber=2&premiumA=true&backToListURL=%2Fproperty-for-sale%2Ffind.html%3FlocationIdentifier%3DOUTCODE%255E2168%26sortByPriceDescending%3Dfalse%26minBedrooms%3D2%26maxBedrooms%3D3%26displayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26primaryDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26oldDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26oldPrimaryDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26index%3D10 Also in Northgate, but pokey and has a strange "communal gardens" arrangement (unusual for a house).

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-10353501.html?locationIdentifier=OUTCODE%5E2168&sortByPriceDescending=false&minBedrooms=2&maxBedrooms=3&displayPropertyType=houses&primaryDisplayPropertyType=houses&oldDisplayPropertyType=houses&oldPrimaryDisplayPropertyType=houses&pageNumber=2&backToListURL=%2Fproperty-for-sale%2Ffind.html%3FlocationIdentifier%3DOUTCODE%255E2168%26sortByPriceDescending%3Dfalse%26minBedrooms%3D2%26maxBedrooms%3D3%26displayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26primaryDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26oldDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26oldPrimaryDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26index%3D10 Also pretty pokey (small 2nd bedroom - I used to rent in this street!) and gets noise from the overpass down from the M23 roundabout, but very popular area.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-22013155.html?locationIdentifier=OUTCODE%5E2168&sortByPriceDescending=false&minBedrooms=2&maxBedrooms=3&displayPropertyType=houses&primaryDisplayPropertyType=houses&oldDisplayPropertyType=houses&oldPrimaryDisplayPropertyType=houses&pageNumber=2&backToListURL=%2Fproperty-for-sale%2Ffind.html%3FlocationIdentifier%3DOUTCODE%255E2168%26sortByPriceDescending%3Dfalse%26minBedrooms%3D2%26maxBedrooms%3D3%26displayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26primaryDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26oldDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26oldPrimaryDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26index%3D10 People either love or loath these (I'm the former, although the flat roof is an expense), handy for the station though (there's an underpass onto Billinton Drive / Station Hill).

Feel free to PM if you want info about the areas :-)

DaddyBear

My family income is in the top 5% in the Uk and we can't afford a reasonable family home based on affordable mortgage multiples. My conclusion is that if we can't then not many others can. Therefore house prices have much further to fall and the best course of action is to wait for a few years whilst this bust plays out.

kunekune

mike5678 wrote: »

My tip is never to turn down overtime, I'm always the first person my work comes to for overtime as they know I will always do it, meaning I earn as much as possible every month, most weeks I work 60 hours a week, which isn't really that much.

Of course, if overtime is available to you that's one way to up your income. But I would imagine people in professional jobs like the OP's don't get paid overtime. But at the same time, they often work up to 60 hours a week, so a second job isn't an option.

Mini_Bear

haha Mike5678, bein that good with your ££ is great! ur only 24 so if you got a housemate/lodger u could be mortgage free at 30!
I think living like a student is great, u waste very little and can save loads.
People may laugh at u now for bein "tight", but will they laugh wen at 40 they have a gigantic mortgage several kids and a spendthrift wife?
OP keep your head down and write out a budget with your girlf. you are both so young. i kno its not prudent to expect pay rises but nurses salaries do go up gradually every yr and so should yours. your combined incomes could easily reach 70-80k in a few yrs. Good luck!

retepetsir

Strapped wrote: »

How well do you know the area? Try something like this:

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-22250860.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E378&sortByPriceDescending=false&displayPropertyType=houses&primaryDisplayPropertyType=houses&oldDisplayPropertyType=houses&oldPrimaryDisplayPropertyType=houses&pageNumber=4&backToListURL=%2Fproperty-for-sale%2Ffind.html%3FlocationIdentifier%3DREGION%255E378%26sortByPriceDescending%3Dfalse%26displayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26primaryDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26oldDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26oldPrimaryDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26index%3D30

It's in Northgate (the next neighbourhood) - just! It's an easy walk from there to Three Bridges. Not pretty on the outside but pretty standard fare for Crawley and one of the better neighbourhoods. You might get something in Three Bridges or Pound Hill with negotiation too at that sort of price (being the perfect buyer )

Other 2 bed+ houses within walking distance:

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-25938719.html?locationIdentifier=OUTCODE%5E2168&sortByPriceDescending=false&minBedrooms=2&maxBedrooms=3&displayPropertyType=houses&primaryDisplayPropertyType=houses&oldDisplayPropertyType=houses&oldPrimaryDisplayPropertyType=houses&pageNumber=2&premiumA=true&backToListURL=%2Fproperty-for-sale%2Ffind.html%3FlocationIdentifier%3DOUTCODE%255E2168%26sortByPriceDescending%3Dfalse%26minBedrooms%3D2%26maxBedrooms%3D3%26displayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26primaryDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26oldDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26oldPrimaryDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26index%3D10 Also in Northgate, but pokey and has a strange "communal gardens" arrangement (unusual for a house).

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-10353501.html?locationIdentifier=OUTCODE%5E2168&sortByPriceDescending=false&minBedrooms=2&maxBedrooms=3&displayPropertyType=houses&primaryDisplayPropertyType=houses&oldDisplayPropertyType=houses&oldPrimaryDisplayPropertyType=houses&pageNumber=2&backToListURL=%2Fproperty-for-sale%2Ffind.html%3FlocationIdentifier%3DOUTCODE%255E2168%26sortByPriceDescending%3Dfalse%26minBedrooms%3D2%26maxBedrooms%3D3%26displayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26primaryDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26oldDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26oldPrimaryDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26index%3D10 Also pretty pokey (small 2nd bedroom - I used to rent in this street!) and gets noise from the overpass down from the M23 roundabout, but very popular area.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-22013155.html?locationIdentifier=OUTCODE%5E2168&sortByPriceDescending=false&minBedrooms=2&maxBedrooms=3&displayPropertyType=houses&primaryDisplayPropertyType=houses&oldDisplayPropertyType=houses&oldPrimaryDisplayPropertyType=houses&pageNumber=2&backToListURL=%2Fproperty-for-sale%2Ffind.html%3FlocationIdentifier%3DOUTCODE%255E2168%26sortByPriceDescending%3Dfalse%26minBedrooms%3D2%26maxBedrooms%3D3%26displayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26primaryDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26oldDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26oldPrimaryDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26index%3D10 People either love or loath these (I'm the former, although the flat roof is an expense), handy for the station though (there's an underpass onto Billinton Drive / Station Hill).

Feel free to PM if you want info about the areas :-)

Thanks

I actually live in Haywards Heath at the moment and have been looking at Three Bridges as a possible move... :rotfl:

I didn't see prices like that at the time know and didn't know which areas were good (I know their are a few bad areas in Crawley). I currently get the train from HH so have the good transport links, and Three Bridges station is just as good for that. The other half works in Haywards Heath (hospital) so it wouldn't be too far away.

I was looking in Maidenbower to begin, but they were more expensive, then someone suggested Pound Hill so I did look there.

I basically need to learn the areas around Crawley/Three Bridges. We go there quite a bit for the cinema, shopping, etc but not actually around the town.

Thanks again

Edit: That first one seems like a bargain! Shame we've got less than 10% deposit saved up so far....

The other half would probably say 'I don't like the interior' but then that's easy to change and its got a lot of potential, I like my DIY! I want it now (!). Pretty close to the station as you say, and 3 bedroom too.