What the hell do I do now

hazyjo

Wouldn't buy a 1 bed flat as a couple if kids were on the agenda. London and Hampshire are big places - it can take an hour to cross London - do you work near the station you'd need to get out to Hampshire from? Is there somewhere in-between? 

I live out in Essex which is about 45 mins on a train, but I work 5 mins from Fen St, and only have a 10 min walk from home to the station. I actually really enjoy my commute! If I had to sit on a tube for half hour after Fen St, I'd be looking for another job!

So look at your nearest mainline or tube station to work, and think outwards. What works for you both? Give us places and we'll be able to help.

Andrew1981

Having just moved from zone 3 London to Hampshire/Surrey border (near Farnham/Aldershot), I'm very happy. I only commute into London once a week, but settle in for a episode of something for the 50 min journey.

There's plenty to do, and if you're ever thinking of starting a family it's an absolute no brainer. House space, safer surroundings, green space in abundance. 

Perhaps there could be a job for you nearer here? That would certainly help swing the decision! 

Mgman1965

Also, I believe you will soon be in the ULEZ zone.

You will need a compliant car and unless friends and family do to they may not be so keen to visit especially if in the congestion charge zone as well.

If you have an EV with only public charging an option it will soon get very tedious. 

No allocated parking would put me straight off in a city, especially London. 

_Sam_

Curiousbuyer123 said:

We love Hampshire as we go to the new forest regularly and are so close to the outdoors but this is also something we can still do in London as we have a car. Commute time is something I haven’t even considered as I’ve been so fixated on money, you’re right. I spend an unholy amount of time on trains and many times I’ve been stranded in London or getting a train to woking or Virginia water and having to get a lift (nowhere near where we are). Or another thing I have to clock watch when I hang out with my mates cause I know the trains end at X time so I don’t feel like I can fully relax. 

We had a similar choice to make, our old house was about an hour drive from countryside places we like to go for walks, and only 20 min commute to work. The new house is the reverse, 20 min to get to the beautiful walks (at most, many are much closer) and 1 hour+ drive to work. 

The longer drive to work is noticeable as it is now tiring, it wasn't so before. Everyday it would probably have been too much, but couple of times a week is OK and the rest of the days I'm working from home. But ultimately I had to think what I want my life to be, and quiet village, nice garden, countryside on the doorstep were the winning choices by far. With pandemic and other horrible things happening in the world, it made me think more that I need to live my life NOW the way I want it, not wait until later because later may never happen.

There are ways to make time spent commuting worthwhile, it's been years since I've discovered audiobooks and 95% of my driving time is now spent "reading". If I have to take a train occasionally, I open my laptop and do some work and it tends to be very productive (somehow trains and random people around and all that white noise help concentration!)

You need to decide what is more valuable/important to you, as we are all different - one of my friends lived in London for years now lives in Paris, loves it and says she will only move to suburbs when she is old and retired.