Renting whilst saving for deposit

AliceBanned

DawnW wrote: »

In your calculations when deciding whether or not to buy your flat, do take other costs (than the mortgage) into consideration. There will be some sort of ground rent presumably? Also your share of any repairs that the HA decide to carry out on the block, repainting, cleaning communal areas etc. I have heard of people ending up with huge repair bills in particular.

You say you like where you live - that is a big bonus, as well as the low cost. Why not give it a bit longer, see how the job situation pans out over the longer term and investigate the spending diary thing with the idea of cutting down your outgoings? Try not to get stressed about not being a home owner - I couldn't afford to buy till I reached middle age, thought I never would etc.

And have a nice Christmas !

PS yes I have taken into account the repair bills; it appears to have a limit of £6000 for the first five years. Ground rent is only about £200 a year. It is true that many people buying ex-council homes have been stung with huge repair bills but when I looked at the documentation for this it was reasonable with an upper limit, at least initially. Good point though I would have to check this thoroughly.

Fire_Fox

AliceBanned wrote: »

I have also applied for three better paid jobs over the past three weeks (no interview!). bit disappointing. In theory I could earn £30k or a bit more (have been offered that before but perhaps stupidly, turned it down). My health is not 100% so I can't kill myself with work til 7pm every night and can't handle too much stress so I'm a bit careful. Where I work now it is busy, but secure and not hectic like many places which pay more. At least that's the way it seems to work. I am disappointed at not getting interviews for the three posts and it has made me more depressed about the whole thing. Difficult but that was going to be my next goal, and after this rejection I wonder whether it will be possible to up my income. I do have an occasional second job (12 hour shifts on a Sunday) pays well but I've done it for a couple of years and it is only ad hoc when they need me. Really struggle with it though due to health not being great at moment (bad back and problem with joints; more hours at a desk is hell!).

Bit off topic ... I am a fitness instructor and work in the NHS. What support is your GP offering you with your back and joint problems? Have you had physiotherapy, do you need another course? Have you tried Pilates with a highly qualified instructor ('Modern Pilates' are excellent)? If so has he offered to refer you on to your local 'exercise on prescription' scheme? You use the words 'stress' and 'depressed' in your post, mental wellbeing is another area that can improve dramatically with regular physical activity.

If you are not getting interviews, you need to look the way you are communicating your employability in more detail. Are you being very clear that you meet all the essential criteria and some of the desirable in your application, are you selling yourself? Have you had a friend/ colleague who interviews regularly or is sh*t-hot at job applications look over what you are sending out? You need to be very clear you want criticism and not platitudes.

AliceBanned

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Bit off topic ... I am a fitness instructor and work in the NHS. What support is your GP offering you with your back and joint problems? Have you had physiotherapy, do you need another course? Have you tried Pilates with a highly qualified instructor ('Modern Pilates' are excellent)? If so has he offered to refer you on to your local 'exercise on prescription' scheme? You use the words 'stress' and 'depressed' in your post, mental wellbeing is another area that can improve dramatically with regular physical activity.

If you are not getting interviews, you need to look the way you are communicating your employability in more detail. Are you being very clear that you meet all the essential criteria and some of the desirable in your application, are you selling yourself? Have you had a friend/ colleague who interviews regularly or is sh*t-hot at job applications look over what you are sending out? You need to be very clear you want criticism and not platitudes.

Hi Firefox

Thanks for this. I have had a short course of physio and I think she was shocked at the stiffness of my back, although I manage it by doing yoga and swimming 3x a week (at least one of each 3x a week) and Alexander technique at home a couple of times a week. Maybe that isn't enough, and no I haven't tried Pilates. Definitely with Alexander the pain starts to go away, and an osteopath has said the cause is postural although I was thinking along the lines of fibromyalgia; stiffness in upper back, pain in hips unless I stretch a lot. osteopath said I might have a fused vertebra at the sacrum; I have hyperextended lumbar and struggle to manage this. One minute I feel great, good enery, relaxed etc and two days later (mainly after pc use all day at work) I feel like a wreck mentally and physically! it does appear to respond to treatment though but sometimes I spend 3 hours of an evening; swim, gentle yoga and ages in sauna and jacuzzi - before i feel human again. So the tension in my muscles doesn't appear to be a "normal" tension but something much more extreme. The physio wasnt sure, she said it could be just wear and tear. She did neuro movement tests into the arms and that showed significant shortening ie I think meaning something like RSI. I think that;s most probably but have been more upset, frustrated and ill by the fact that the condition comes and goes in extremes, and the GPs don't do a lot and seem to think it is "all in the mind" when it really is my body struggling with something. Sorry for the lengthy answer; it has been a more or less lifelong battle and continues! Have not tried Pilates but have heard the type of instructor is really important. Maybe I should give it a go. I am a member of a fairly expensive gym but it has excellent steam, pool, jacuzzi which really help so I don't know whether I need the exercise on prescription scheme; didn't know of it though so perhaps I will speak to my GP. It is quite scarey going there with all this stuff because I think they think I'm exaggerating as none of it can be seen, but the pain is pretty debilitating and exhausting. I find though that I won't be believed as I look very healthy and when I feel good I'm fine, but half of the week is misery because of the host of symptoms. I suppose I'm worried they'll write me off as someone worried or depressed but with no symptoms, and i know this is not the case.

Re job applications you are right; will get a second opinion. I have applied for a jobs which are a bit of a step up, as I don't see how else I can move on, but clearly I'm no match for the competition so perhaps I need to do extra training first, which I have applied for via my appraisal at work but has not yet been forthcoming.