For all the benefit frothers out there

treliac

Decisions, decisions, carolt...... hope you end up happy with the one you make. What's the prospect of something else, sufficiently better to make it worth hanging on, coming up?

On the other hand, nothing has to be for ever. Maybe this one would fill a useful gap? And maybe it'd help you with your savings..... towards long term plans?

lostinrates

I'd go with the catchment area. It has to be the most important thing.

I think catchment areas seem really flawed.

carolt

Good points, treliac. Certainly, taking the pricier one (which is still available, funnily enough ) would severely hamper our current life let alone our future plans. Am waiting to find out soon if George Osborne is going to take another £185/month out of my monthly budget, too, re child benefit for middle income families, which is at least possible/likely depending what you read.

It was a lovely house the one we saw today - for a family with 2 kids and not too much stuff. Not sure if it would be as lovely with more than that...

Wonderful landlord, though - tip for landlords everywhere: talk like this landlord, who said things like 'When we rent it out, it's your home and you can do what you want with it'. Certainly won me over.

lostinrates

carolt wrote: »

It was a lovely house the one we saw today - for a family with 2 kids and not too much stuff. Not sure if it would be as lovely with more than that...

isn't that what you are...a two child family with a ''renting'' amount of stuff?

JP45

Just thought I'd pass on this interesting (and, given her predicament, perfectly understandable) rant from an MSE'r off another thread. It's enough to turn anyone into a 'benefit frother':

I live in a flat which I brought 2 years ago, and the flat above me is council. I have had 3 couples living up there since I moved in the first was a mother and child, she openly told me she was claiming benefits for being a single parent when dad came and stayed round practically every night (also claiming benefits and had a council flat!). When she couldn’t get the council to give her a house (she claimed the 1 bed flat was too small for her and her 2 year old – obviously couldn’t just be honest and say it was too small for her, her partner and child as they would loose vital benefits) she then became pregnant again (yes with the same bloke) and then she got moved to a house. Second couple actually worked, but only stayed there for 5 months. Third couple (there now), both don’t work, he has two kids already by another women and now his current g/f he lives with is pregnant, so yet another mouth to feed on benefits! Both couples which were on benefits always had the latest technology, mobiles, TV’s, IPods, play stations – more than I have!!!! To top it all off, they ring up kingfisher (the leaseholder) every 5 mins with a problem and guess who has to pay half the bill if its communal….me!!!!!! Last year I had to pay £650, this year it was £450, I have not once rang them with a problem. The only bills I should have to pay is ground rent, lighting and building insurance, which on their own would only cost me a combined £80. It a bloody joke!!

Ok, rant over, but you get my point. We live in a society where you work hard and do everything yourself you get nothing (oh no sorry, I am entitled to 25% off council tax as I live on my own, even though it’s based on 2 adults sharing so shouldn’t that mean I should get 50% discount!!??) but if you do nothing, don’t work, s**t on society you get everything for free. Think I made the wrong choice somewhere!!!!

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/33583837#Comment_33583837

sjaypink

carolt wrote: »

Decisions, decisions.

I'd say take the cheapest place available for your requirements. Keep saving as much as poss to make buying your own place as easy as it can be. I really think in your position this winter might be a very good time to buy... (oooh that was a bit bullish )

Just looking on RM for first time in ages (seems a point pointless recently) and there is some good stuff coming on here at relatively good prices. Very easy to see now I think which ones will sell in a matter of weeks and which ones I'll still be seeing as I browse through again in 2013, some people are realistic, others STILL have their head in the sand :cool:

Anyway, rambling on there :A all excited cos I let myself wander up from my usual £150k price bracket (ex council terraces) to £230k, where, in amongst the mundane 3 bed 50s semis was a 5 bed detached-vacant possession! I want it Shame I don't do the lottery.... now that one will be gone within a fortnight and someone will have a right bargain if I do say so myself.... < bit bullish again :rotfl:

carolt

lostinrates wrote: »

isn't that what you are...a two child family with a ''renting'' amount of stuff?

Nope. 3-child family.

With quite a lot of stuff - we inherited a lot from family on my OH's side, which we feel duty-bound to take with us from place to place. Plus all our own crap, of course.

carolt

sjaypink wrote: »

I'd say take the cheapest place available for your requirements. Keep saving as much as poss to make buying your own place as easy as it can be. I really think in your position this winter might be a very good time to buy... (oooh that was a bit bullish )

Just looking on RM for first time in ages (seems a point pointless recently) and there is some good stuff coming on here at relatively good prices. Very easy to see now I think which ones will sell in a matter of weeks and which ones I'll still be seeing as I browse through again in 2013, some people are realistic, others STILL have their head in the sand :cool:

Anyway, rambling on there :A all excited cos I let myself wander up from my usual £150k price bracket (ex council terraces) to £230k, where, in amongst the mundane 3 bed 50s semis was a 5 bed detached-vacant possession! I want it Shame I don't do the lottery.... now that one will be gone within a fortnight and someone will have a right bargain if I do say so myself.... < bit bullish again :rotfl:

Not in a position to buy for quite a while, unless I fancy then renting it out (clue: I don't), as where we are moving to for school reasons there is no point buying in, at least certainly not until we know whether or not she's got a place as where we buy will depend on what areas the kids are at school in.

Is that clear? - don't think I explained that very well.

Brain too full.

Shakethedisease

We know there has to be rules, but benefits are meant to help give a reasonable standard, not to provide over and above what it is reasonable to expect those funding themselves to afford.

House prices, that's it. Benefits are universal across the board as to what qualifies for reasonable, or minimal. It's quite unbending that way. It enforces strict criteria across the entire population as to who is 'entitled' to what should anyone find oneself dependent on the state for whatever reason. Right or wrong, too high or too low. It draws a line.

That you can't afford it, or have little left over each month, struggle to do this/that the other..is an absolute direct consequence of the size of your landlords monthly mortgage.. or that buying a house for your family is just too expensive.

Harsh, but true and nothing more.

silvercar

carolt - some thoughts re smaller house,

Could your eldest comfortably get through year 6 at primary school living in the smaller house or are the stresses of year 6 (been there) and being in a smaller house going to be too much. This house only needs to be for 12 months and then you can move again; an easier move because you won't be time pressured and you will know about your future school plans.

I think location is going to be key. Instead of a walk to primary school and (I'm guessing) a manageable journey for you to work, your journey time to primary school is going to increase twice a day and possibly also your journey to and from work. Add to that your kids are going to want to make numerous social arrangements with their existing school friends and will need ferrying back to the village regularly. So you are going to be spending far more time travelling around, location is key. As far as your eldest is concerned, getting to the age where she will be able to go on the bus with friends, so you want to be on a bus route with a safe walk home.

As she who can't be named says: location, location, location.