Moving away from the South East
Discussion
Hi all
Myself, Wife, and 2 children (7 years and 3 months) currently live about half an hour from London. I grew up here, as did my Wife, and we have just followed suit and stayed here.
I have one Parent, no other family that I speak to, and a small group of friends.
My Wife has both parents, but only sees one. And again, a small group of friends.
I am utterly sick and tired of the cost of living here. We pay almost £2000 to rent a 2 bed property. And we very rarely have cash left over at the end of a month.
I've been looking at a move away, but I worry about the impact on my 7 year old Son. Also, my Wife is very hesitant.
However, I have some friends that made a move to South Wales. Their mortgage is £200 a month, and they work from home and have the ability to save and spend very easily. They can't fault it. Not to mention the gorgeous scenery that surrounds them.
I'm finding it hard to justify our home location now, other than childcare from my Mum and my Wife's Dad.
Has anyone made a move from South East to South Wales? Was it the right move for you? Or did you regret it?
Just interested to hear opinions and experiences really.
Mods, apologies if this is in the wrong section, it didn't seem to fit anywhere else.
Myself, Wife, and 2 children (7 years and 3 months) currently live about half an hour from London. I grew up here, as did my Wife, and we have just followed suit and stayed here.
I have one Parent, no other family that I speak to, and a small group of friends.
My Wife has both parents, but only sees one. And again, a small group of friends.
I am utterly sick and tired of the cost of living here. We pay almost £2000 to rent a 2 bed property. And we very rarely have cash left over at the end of a month.
I've been looking at a move away, but I worry about the impact on my 7 year old Son. Also, my Wife is very hesitant.
However, I have some friends that made a move to South Wales. Their mortgage is £200 a month, and they work from home and have the ability to save and spend very easily. They can't fault it. Not to mention the gorgeous scenery that surrounds them.
I'm finding it hard to justify our home location now, other than childcare from my Mum and my Wife's Dad.
Has anyone made a move from South East to South Wales? Was it the right move for you? Or did you regret it?
Just interested to hear opinions and experiences really.
Mods, apologies if this is in the wrong section, it didn't seem to fit anywhere else.
Edited by SultanOfSwing on Monday 22 January 17:47
Edited by SultanOfSwing on Monday 22 January 17:52
If you both WFH then that makes things easy. Pick a spot and go.
We moved from Bromley to Bognor Regis (outskirts) and wouldn't ever change it. It's SOOOO much better. I have more work here but I'm home for dinner at 5pm every day rather than getting home by 7pm most days. My kids are happier and we are 5 min walk onto the beach. Life changing stuff
We moved from Bromley to Bognor Regis (outskirts) and wouldn't ever change it. It's SOOOO much better. I have more work here but I'm home for dinner at 5pm every day rather than getting home by 7pm most days. My kids are happier and we are 5 min walk onto the beach. Life changing stuff
Djtemeka said:
If you both WFH then that makes things easy. Pick a spot and go.
We moved from Bromley to Bognor Regis (outskirts) and wouldn't ever change it. It's SOOOO much better. I have more work here but I'm home for dinner at 5pm every day rather than getting home by 7pm most days. My kids are happier and we are 5 min walk onto the beach. Life changing stuff
Thanks, I have a small business that I would like to move with me but would need to build up a client base. In the meantime I would take a WFH job. My Wife is able to transfer. We moved from Bromley to Bognor Regis (outskirts) and wouldn't ever change it. It's SOOOO much better. I have more work here but I'm home for dinner at 5pm every day rather than getting home by 7pm most days. My kids are happier and we are 5 min walk onto the beach. Life changing stuff
Sounds like it was the right move for you.
We considered Wales but decided the politicians were mad and having a few friends in Wales, they said perhaps not with an English Accent...
We will be moving further out soon as we can get more land for our money. WFH means freedom so make the most of it. Your child will be fine IMHO, he will soon make more friends. The main issue is parents really and that depends on your relationship with them along with your reliance upon them, for example childcare....
We will be moving further out soon as we can get more land for our money. WFH means freedom so make the most of it. Your child will be fine IMHO, he will soon make more friends. The main issue is parents really and that depends on your relationship with them along with your reliance upon them, for example childcare....
You're going to get a whole host of opinions because there's a whole host of considerations to make.
There is the attraction of a cheaper cost of living and if you can maintain your existing levels of family income then happy days. South Wales (most of it) is lovely. Like anywhere, how well you fit into the community there will be dependent upon how much you sink yourself into community life. If you're not a neighbour person and prefer to keep yourself to yourself, then you will struggle a bit but that applies to most places.
You should also consider the move a complete change of life and how that may affect you and the children. We live in rural mid Essex. My FiL and his wife moved from being about 10 minutes away from us to Shrewsbury a couple of years ago. We went from seeing them at least once every two weeks or so, popping round for a beer or BBQ whenever, to now seeing them four or five times a year. I think they forgot that we still work and have commitments that mean we can't just head off or devote a weekend to them on a whim.
So, whilst you say you don't have much of a family and just a few friends, you need to think about whether you are bothered about seeing them even less that you perhaps do at the moment.
And the other thing to think on is when your kids are older. I have long drilled into my two kids (now adults) that being born British and living in close proximity to London is a lottery win in life. It shouldn't be and we can argue that point on a different thread but fact is that London is where a lot of the big stuff happens. And with the best will in the world, the opposite to much of South Wales. So, when they get older, you need to make peace with the fact that they may well gravitate back towards the south east and London.
Ultimately, if it feels right, it's right. You wife and kids need to have the same level of enthusiasm as you do about it. If they don't, your life will come less than ideal.
Don't know if that helps but hopefully will help to focus your thinking a bit.
There is the attraction of a cheaper cost of living and if you can maintain your existing levels of family income then happy days. South Wales (most of it) is lovely. Like anywhere, how well you fit into the community there will be dependent upon how much you sink yourself into community life. If you're not a neighbour person and prefer to keep yourself to yourself, then you will struggle a bit but that applies to most places.
You should also consider the move a complete change of life and how that may affect you and the children. We live in rural mid Essex. My FiL and his wife moved from being about 10 minutes away from us to Shrewsbury a couple of years ago. We went from seeing them at least once every two weeks or so, popping round for a beer or BBQ whenever, to now seeing them four or five times a year. I think they forgot that we still work and have commitments that mean we can't just head off or devote a weekend to them on a whim.
So, whilst you say you don't have much of a family and just a few friends, you need to think about whether you are bothered about seeing them even less that you perhaps do at the moment.
And the other thing to think on is when your kids are older. I have long drilled into my two kids (now adults) that being born British and living in close proximity to London is a lottery win in life. It shouldn't be and we can argue that point on a different thread but fact is that London is where a lot of the big stuff happens. And with the best will in the world, the opposite to much of South Wales. So, when they get older, you need to make peace with the fact that they may well gravitate back towards the south east and London.
Ultimately, if it feels right, it's right. You wife and kids need to have the same level of enthusiasm as you do about it. If they don't, your life will come less than ideal.
Don't know if that helps but hopefully will help to focus your thinking a bit.
Also live half hour from London and have had friends and some family move to wales.
Some came back after a few years as it just didn’t suit them and others have found wonderful beach side locations that we have the benefit of visiting regularly.
We love to visit but wouldn’t want to move there.
We have friends in North Yorkshire and that would be my chosen place to relocate if we wanted to.
We could find jobs elsewhere but so much of the business we are currently in is based in central london so it we couldn’t really stay with the same companies and make it work
Some came back after a few years as it just didn’t suit them and others have found wonderful beach side locations that we have the benefit of visiting regularly.
We love to visit but wouldn’t want to move there.
We have friends in North Yorkshire and that would be my chosen place to relocate if we wanted to.
We could find jobs elsewhere but so much of the business we are currently in is based in central london so it we couldn’t really stay with the same companies and make it work
We moved from West Sussex to Herefordshire, about 20 minutes from the Welsh border. Left behind my 83 year old parents, but had we said we're staying in case they need us, they would have vehemently disagreed.
Herefordshire is much less crowded, property is obviously cheaper and there's way less of a keeping up with the Joneses mentality, so we like it. Some may say "Ah but you may not be able to move back", but if you make a life here (or wherever), why would you want to, especially if your quality of life is better?
Herefordshire is much less crowded, property is obviously cheaper and there's way less of a keeping up with the Joneses mentality, so we like it. Some may say "Ah but you may not be able to move back", but if you make a life here (or wherever), why would you want to, especially if your quality of life is better?
SultanOfSwing said:
I am utterly sick and tired of the cost of living here. We pay almost £2000 to rent a 2 bed property. And we very rarely have cash left over at the end of a month.
I might be out of touch, but £2k seems a lot for a 2 bed property. Is it a good location/good London transport links ?I moved from Milton Keynes to West Cornwall 26 years ago, aged 40. Trigger was divorce, and we didn't have kids.
I swapped a tiny 3 bed for a place twice the size for the same money, and managed to get a job doing the same thing (IT field engineer) with another multinational company earning pretty much the same salary.
Not a complete step into the unknown, as my parents had moved from Croydon to Cornwall 10 years earlier.
Worked well for me. My brother moved down a few years later, as did my oldest sister.
Great place to live, but kids with ambition can't wait to leave to find decent jobs, often returning when they have young kids of their own.
I swapped a tiny 3 bed for a place twice the size for the same money, and managed to get a job doing the same thing (IT field engineer) with another multinational company earning pretty much the same salary.
Not a complete step into the unknown, as my parents had moved from Croydon to Cornwall 10 years earlier.
Worked well for me. My brother moved down a few years later, as did my oldest sister.
Great place to live, but kids with ambition can't wait to leave to find decent jobs, often returning when they have young kids of their own.
Chris Type R said:
SultanOfSwing said:
I am utterly sick and tired of the cost of living here. We pay almost £2000 to rent a 2 bed property. And we very rarely have cash left over at the end of a month.
I might be out of touch, but £2k seems a lot for a 2 bed property. Is it a good location/good London transport links ?£2k rent, a big outgoing
Unless you have a well paid job & have to live that way.
Perhaps the salary is 2k more a month compared to the back of beyond?, then it’s down to lifestyle choice.
I’m fortunate as wfh & have a generous salary, but choose to stay in SE as family here, kids nearby & making their own way.
Their opportunities wouldn’t have been as good elsewhere.
Unless you have a well paid job & have to live that way.
Perhaps the salary is 2k more a month compared to the back of beyond?, then it’s down to lifestyle choice.
I’m fortunate as wfh & have a generous salary, but choose to stay in SE as family here, kids nearby & making their own way.
Their opportunities wouldn’t have been as good elsewhere.
Pistaaah said:
We moved from West Sussex to Herefordshire, about 20 minutes from the Welsh border. Left behind my 83 year old parents, but had we said we're staying in case they need us, they would have vehemently disagreed.
Herefordshire is much less crowded, property is obviously cheaper and there's way less of a keeping up with the Joneses mentality, so we like it. Some may say "Ah but you may not be able to move back", but if you make a life here (or wherever), why would you want to, especially if your quality of life is better?
We did exactly the same, and bloody love it here.Herefordshire is much less crowded, property is obviously cheaper and there's way less of a keeping up with the Joneses mentality, so we like it. Some may say "Ah but you may not be able to move back", but if you make a life here (or wherever), why would you want to, especially if your quality of life is better?
An hour to Bristol or Cardiff, and all the countryside you could want on your doorstep.
The only issue will be our kids growing up with a funny accent
All well and good your friend paying £200 a month. Doesn't mean that you will or anywhere near.
What's the local job market like also.
We left London and moved up north. Would I have done it again? No. Yes it's crowded but the South East still has a great deal to offer. Move slightly further out?
South Wales - if I had roots there maybe but no family roots? No.
What's the local job market like also.
We left London and moved up north. Would I have done it again? No. Yes it's crowded but the South East still has a great deal to offer. Move slightly further out?
South Wales - if I had roots there maybe but no family roots? No.
I lived in the south east for a decade and now in Wales and overall people are people and there isn't much in it honestly. If you're the type that makes friends you'll make friends there too, if you aren't then you won't. Most towns now have a mixed population and people don't stick out like they used to.
If you are a true Englishman I would strongly consider staying south of the M4 (and at a minimum south of Pontypridd), and no further west than Swansea unless you are going to an known tourist spot like Tenby/Brecon etc. If you were paying 2k a month now then you're going to be looking at a detached house somewhere nice.
The 'proper' rugby valleys towns can be akin to moving to somewhere like Derby but the prices are cheap because of it - although a lot are gentrifying quite quickly as the prices rise!
If you are a true Englishman I would strongly consider staying south of the M4 (and at a minimum south of Pontypridd), and no further west than Swansea unless you are going to an known tourist spot like Tenby/Brecon etc. If you were paying 2k a month now then you're going to be looking at a detached house somewhere nice.
The 'proper' rugby valleys towns can be akin to moving to somewhere like Derby but the prices are cheap because of it - although a lot are gentrifying quite quickly as the prices rise!
Cardiff Bay is the most expensive place to live in the UK when comparing cost of living with average income. Now, Cardiff Bay is not the whole of South Wales but maybe check that your new income and expenses make sense.
Were you never able to buy in your current location? That's how most people have made their money in the South East, by the consistent and fast rising property prices. If you have always been renting then I can see how it is probably very difficult.
Were you never able to buy in your current location? That's how most people have made their money in the South East, by the consistent and fast rising property prices. If you have always been renting then I can see how it is probably very difficult.
Best of luck chap - sounds like a no brainer.
I grew up in London, then moved away for Uni, then eventually (after PhD) moved back to the then parental home in Surrey for a year and then got a job on the South Coast. I absolutely love the ‘rural’ parts of Surrey (North Downs), hate London now, and me and Mrs D (went Uni in London) find that West Sussex is a great location given proximity to sea (3 mins walk), amazing sailing in Chichester Harbour and the Solent,, the South Downs and Goodwood not far, and she needs to work in London a few times a year. So not too much of a stretch on the train. It’s also an hour to the New Forest, 2.5 hours ish to Devon, and 4.5 to Cornwall.
If I could fully work from home, I’d be heading to Devon I think, but Sussex (and equivalently proximate counties to London) might suit you really well.
I grew up in London, then moved away for Uni, then eventually (after PhD) moved back to the then parental home in Surrey for a year and then got a job on the South Coast. I absolutely love the ‘rural’ parts of Surrey (North Downs), hate London now, and me and Mrs D (went Uni in London) find that West Sussex is a great location given proximity to sea (3 mins walk), amazing sailing in Chichester Harbour and the Solent,, the South Downs and Goodwood not far, and she needs to work in London a few times a year. So not too much of a stretch on the train. It’s also an hour to the New Forest, 2.5 hours ish to Devon, and 4.5 to Cornwall.
If I could fully work from home, I’d be heading to Devon I think, but Sussex (and equivalently proximate counties to London) might suit you really well.
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