Where To Re-Locate Alone?! :)

tiernsee

Grew up in Chelmsford, surprised with the comments about Springfield when I lived there it was one of the better parts of town.

If you are not tied to Essex how about Taunton or Exeter? Reasonable sizes but not too big with the required infrastructure and both in a nice part of the country

onomatopoeia99

Carer wrote: »

Have a look at Bristol, fantastic place, great city.

I'm going to have to agree with that, given that I chose to stay after graduating 24 years ago and am still here!

MoreAboutMyself

Thanks everyone

hazyjo

Just found this thread. Basically, you have to realise what salary you want. I'm in Chingford - and commute. It's 25 mins on a train to Liv St and I'm a 5 min walk from there. I get nearly £40k a year. If I worked in Chingford or local, I'd be lucky to get over £15k and my job would be far more involved and stressful, prob with far more responsibility compared to what I do now. It's weighing up how important the money is really. I'm a legal sec. I can see the benefits to working local (ie I'd get to walk/leave later/get home earlier/no annoying commuters next to me), but that's about it.


Cambridge might be an option, along with Reading (actually, that would be a great option as lots of Head Offices and Uni and it's a large town - I have friends there. Lots of friendly people, plus a beer festival every year! Yay!). Also seconding Tunbridge Wells. I tried to move there but couldn't get a buyer.


I lived in Brentwood and didn't like it much. Wasn't keen on Chelmsford either, nor Billericay (the fares are more expensive from there if you did commute than from Leigh on Sea - I know where I'd rather live!).


Jx

j.e.j.

Joanthebone wrote: »

How about Hastings?

dump!! :rotfl:

Probably a bit too far away from things/family for the OP in any case.

Oakie

There is quite a bit of new developments in Chelmsford,they also started building a John Lewis ,it doesn't get more middle class than that!
As with most places there are good and not so good areas.You really need to go and visit.And if you are planning on renting and you decide the area is not for you then its easy to move.
If you are still thinking of Chelmsford,Old Moulsham is quite nice,the more affordable housing will be around the Upper Bridge Road area,walking distance of the town and rail. Chelmer Village is a little further out from the town and the housing is more modern,easy access for the A12.
And another name to throw in the hat...Ingatestone a lovely village between Brentwood and Chelmsford,with its own rail station.
I hope you find something that suits you soon,all the best.

MoreAboutMyself

Just to update you, I've created a little table, collated info & narrowed it down a little. I'm now going to set some time aside to visit them. I have around 6 I've shortlisted! Ha!

Thanks for the info @hazyjo and I'm totally with you there. I lived in Hornchurch and the local salaries suck as its a commuter town much like Chingford.
My main objective is kill the commute, it's not fun. I'm happy to take a slight cut in order to have a better quality of life. I know this is viable as I've done it before in Crawley.

Wish there was a book I could read!
Maybe I will write one! ;-)

MoreAboutMyself

I also wanna say you guys are amazing. Thanks each one of you for taking the time to comment, it's much apporeciated.

Escaping_soon

Please don't choose Leigh on Sea, especially if you're a single female. This place has become obsessed with money and themselves. If they don't have the money, which many don't, they get into debt pretending to have! They'll act friend until they know everything about you and if there's nothing they can gain, you'll be dropped immediately. Of course there must be genuine ones but you'll find they have their own closed social circles. The backstabbing I have received and the gossip that has been spread about me just because I prefer honesty and genuine people. I will be leaving soon thank goodness. No more listening to fantasy lives! Good luck with where you choose. But life is very short. It passes by quickly. I have wasted these past few here sadly. Could be lovely if it was still in the hands of the born Leigh people and not the London overspill and their offspring. I don't think I could cope seeing anymore fake tans and fake people. At least I can take my terrible experience and spot a Narcissistic Personality Disorder a mile away!!

onlyroz

If you could get a job in the civil service, or in a school/hospital then you could live anywhere in the country. I'd pick somewhere oop North, where you could buy a property for a few quid, rather than having to sell your kidneys, liver and soul to get on the property ladder.