Putting your life on hold...

tara747

WelshNic wrote: »

I made an observation - but have obviously struck a nerve with you.

Personally I'd rather not rent again as I like to be in control of my own destiny, I'll never say never though.

?????

How are renters not in control of their own destiny?

I feel a lot more in control of my destiny than my friends who are stuck in crappy houses in crappy areas, trapped in negative equity. Who can't afford to save. Who can't move. Who can't have more children because they're in one/two-bedroom flats/houses and don't have the space. Who are terrified of IR rises.

I have a fab rented house, the LL pays the council tax (rates) as part of the rent, he comes and puts up pictures on the walls anytime we ask. Oh adn OH and I have a hefty £63,000 saved between us, and are on track to save £75,000 by the end of 2011. We have no debts. We could quit our jobs tomorrow and set up home in another country if we wanted, probably mortgage-free. We could start a business. We could do lots of things. We could even buy a house here in the UK if we wanted (which we may do, just not yet). We have no money worries and no millstone around our necks.

I feel very in control indeed. :):):)

I feel FREE as a bird!!!!!!!

Orpheo

WelshNic wrote: »

No motives Sherlock.

As I said, just making an observation. If you're happy renting, then good for you.

Your posts in this forum do suggest that something's gnawing away at the back of your mind though.

OK. I will take you as genuine and, although I already have, explain, briefly, my post.

I have seen this trope used a lot on these boards. Twice in two threads today where it has been implied that renters are not getting on with their lives; neither time were the posts directed toward myself. My post is simply to challenge this silly statement as fallacious rhetoric. Nothing is gnawing away at the back of my mind, I am simply fighting a corner.

PasturesNew

In my experience, renting would be better if it were cheaper. Look at the 1-bed flats in your area and you'd agree they're overpriced, small, dark, dank and nasty.

If you can afford to rent a lovely 3-bed house with a garden in a good area, then I'm sure it's lovely for you (and cheaper than buying the same house), but renting in the cheap seats is poor life quality.

Brallaqueen

I've seen this too, but felt it was in relation to saving for a deposit - i.e scrimping and saving means 'life' is put on hold whilst the deposit is being built up.

Orpheo

Brallaqueen wrote: »

I've seen this too, but felt it was in relation to saving for a deposit - i.e scrimping and saving means 'life' is put on hold whilst the deposit is being built up.

Fair enough. But no-one's life is ever on hold is it? Your circumstances are what they are, you either accept them or work to change them. The arrow of time continues. I'd quite like to put my life on hold now as I'm 15 months away from my 40th birthday.

scooterpig

Interesting post. I can see both sides of this, but as someone who is currently renting, I come down on the life on hold side.

Technically, I could be said to be renting through choice. I moved to another country last year, put our lovely house up for sale. Thanks to the tanking UK economy, it took a while to sell. Now, I am struggling to find anything to buy where we live now, and to compound things, we may have to move elsewhere in the country.

When we first came here, we didn't have much choice but to rent a basic furnished 2 bed, because (a) it's hard to get a lease if you're not native, and (b), all our stuff was still in the UK. Now we're shelling out a fortune in rent for a place we don't like, and another fortune in storage costs for all our stuff. Not a great situation.

As a homeowner, yes it's tough at times, but you can always make your own mark and turn your home into your sanctuary. Can't do that easily with a rental. Personally, I find I don't really care enough about the place to try. I hate that someone else has the power to dictate how we live in many ways.

I'm sure renting is the right choice for many people, but it's absolutely not for everyone. I would personally never be a renter through choice.

Orpheo

scooterpig wrote: »

Interesting post. I can see both sides of this, but as someone who is currently renting, I come down on the life on hold side.

Technically, I could be said to be renting through choice. I moved to another country last year, put our lovely house up for sale. Thanks to the tanking UK economy, it took a while to sell. Now, I am struggling to find anything to buy where we live now, and to compound things, we may have to move elsewhere in the country.

When we first came here, we didn't have much choice but to rent a basic furnished 2 bed, because (a) it's hard to get a lease if you're not native, and (b), all our stuff was still in the UK. Now we're shelling out a fortune in rent for a place we don't like, and another fortune in storage costs for all our stuff. Not a great situation.

As a homeowner, yes it's tough at times, but you can always make your own mark and turn your home into your sanctuary. Can't do that easily with a rental. Personally, I find I don't really care enough about the place to try. I hate that someone else has the power to dictate how we live in many ways.

I'm sure renting is the right choice for many people, but it's absolutely not for everyone. I would personally never be a renter through choice.

Forgive me, I sympathise with you, but you have put your life on hold, it is on hold in your mind. Change what you don't like. Press play.

scooterpig

Orpheo wrote: »

Forgive me, but you have put your life on hold, it is on hold in your mind. Change what you don't like. Press play.

Life isn't always that simple Orpheo, especially when living in a different country with its own rules and bureaucracy. Unfortunately, we must wait for other things that are not within our control to play out first.

Swans1912

Life is different for everyone and what might be considered having life on hold for one person might actually be living life on play for another person. Life is never on pause but what you might want to do may be held up until you do something.. i.e buy a home.

Lets also not fool ourselves into thinking renting is perfect.

Orpheo

I'm trying hard not to be zen, fluffy and metaphorical but you are at a low point and it's just part of the journey, an important part at that, because what you do next really matters. I hope you get sorted out soon.