[Closed] ever thought about jacking it all in?

Or jack it in and keep the wife working? 😉

Have you kids, if not then plan on drawing down whatever equity you have in the house/pensions etc over a suitable period.

What about working part-time?

The other thing ....frequently.
Work;I've tried a few times (and currently) but I eventually get hungry and cold and have to do some more.

You can try.

I find/found it too difficult not to have any work. Not from a money point of view but the involvement, incentive and interest.

I've found a job I really enjoy and that gives me some part time summer work and some pocket money (though 100% of my wages currently go into a pension).

Could be a good compromise?

Aye, me too Ton. I'm 51 next year, worked all my life, no kids, fit and healthy for now.

Every year I say "next year I'll make some big changes" but I tend to procrastination and just crack on grafting for another year.

Current plan involves motorhome and renting out property while I gad about the continent, if Brexshit doesn't fubar that idea!

I say go for it; there's no pockets in a shroud and yr kids can always find their own way.

Scotroutes makes a good point, retirement isn't always easy to deal with. Maybe cut yr hours down at work to begin with.

worked since 1978, think every day, when the alarm goes off at 5 am, Sod it !
Being a Postman with an arthritic knee is not fun.

Yes and also what scotroutes says. At soon to be 45 ive not only been 24 years in the same career but have 20 years more work to go, its depressing. As per my other thread i couldnt tell you what i want to do next but im struggling with coporste sales pressure times. Im quite envious of people thatve found a job theyve enjoyed, id like to find one.

56 in a few weeks and can't wait until I retire - I might go sooner than 60 but certainly not later. I probably will keep up a little bank nursing work as my pension will be small but I would never work again otherwise. Too many things I want to do

Yes, we walked out of our jobs a few years ago. The job situation went a bit downhill and we worked out that we had saved enough to support ourselves adequately. We decided there was no point ploughing on just banking more than we would ever spend without enjoying ourselves. Still working part time as a hobbyist just for interest now (no pay). Life is good.

Funnily enough, the guy i replaced when i started at my current place did (almost) exactly that. Packed in at 52, sold the family home, spent a fair chunk of the proceeds and the summer getting the summer house up to scratch (not as grand as it sounds, a simple 50sqm wooden built single storey place in the woods cost about £5-7000 when he bought it, would still only cost £50k now!) then got some part time work on the help desk at the local DIY/builders merchants.

He's just retired properly last summer at 66. And used his remaining savings and his pension lump sum to buy a small flat in town (for when he and his wife can't deal with living in the woods.) And now he has three pensions. State, proper company and his part time one.

Plus what ever his wife has (she retired shortly after him, after he'd finished doing the summer house up.)

Postman still get up at 5am REALLY!!!!

not in my neck of the woods 7am at the moment moving to 10.12am in 2 weeks 🙁

Trying to make the best of my remaining time, mid50s and working less hours
Not particularly effective as my employer often rotas me shorter shifts over the same number of days so the time freed is minimised.
Money is tight but living on less has turned out to mean being more thoughtful about spending and has actually been more rewarding than buying luxuries

Similar thoughts although I'm lucky work is quite flexible so I mostly enjoy it and have seen too many people who stop work unravel.

I do however think I have maybe 20 good years left(if I'm lucky) I will be doing what I like with em not what someone else tells me.

Worked part time most of my adult life - 35 now. Get decent pay for what I do (web/comms stuff for charities) and have lots of time to myself to do things (cooking, doing DIY, cycling) that save me money. No new car or anything, but I've got an old MX5.
Plus, working for charities means I'm doing some good in the world (at least, not any bad)

Saying that, getting bored of the desk/office so hopefully going to uni in September to study brewing and distilling. Plan is to get work for a couple of years with a commercial brewers then set up my own microbrewery.

No kids though, innit

Yes, i think about it all the time. Still potentially got 10+yrs left on mortgage, and 32 years until i'm due to retire, but even another 5 years seems like forever.
Like Kryton, very envious of people that have found a job they genuinely love doing.

Part time is the solution I think. At least you phase the big decision and any crunch time and it allows you time and space to get the next plan into action. I don't think not working as a working age adult is a good idea, work in general brings much more than just a paycheck (unless you absolutely hate it obviously).

From memory I think there is a really good relationship between being unemployed and poor mental health, but that's perhaps related to money problems?

My wife and I could downsize and retire now if we really wanted to (and were prepared to live with some compromises) and some days it's a struggle not to. I suspect I'm possibly we're one work incident away from saying "**** it" and packing it in!

So how much would you need per year to retire happily?

Let's say no mortgage, no other debts to service or people to look after financially.

I changed from being a service engineer to a self employed gardener, I decided to do something that i enjoy, make more money doing and as i grow older I can just ease the hours back to suit.

One of my clients in his 50's sold his business and basically gave up work, does what he likes when he likes and just does stuff helping charities.

Had enough here, turned 50 last Monday, 25 years same job last December, worked since I left school in 83' never stopped.

Put in for early retirement 4 months ago and start properly back on the trowel end of March, with the aim to drop down to two weeks work a month from this time next year. Travelling and hobbies to take up slack, which means getting properly back on the bike which divorce knocked the incentive out of! We only have one shot at it so I intend to make the most of my health before old age really kicks in...

MUTDz

The trouble is with jobs you love is that generally, other people would love them too- keeping wages nicely suppressed.
Which means you have to keep doing them whether you still want to or not 😀
I literally have no idea how I'm going to ever save enough money for a normal retirement let alone an extended one!

If you can afford it, do it!

I have a whole team of retired folk who come and help me out one day a week all spring and summer and one guy who would come every day if I let him. They seem to find it really rewarding and just love being active and useful I think. Work isn't all about the money perhaps.....

I'm cutting my hours back.

Over the past 2 years it's been none stop with more customers than any of us can handle. It's been good money wise, but it's getting to me now.

Averaging 10 hour days 5 days a week and a 6 hour at the weekend. Doesn't sound too bad, but if I had a break it would easily add and hour to each day. Eating quickly between clients, not having chance to go to the loo is getting too much now and I just can't spend anymore time away from home.

Just gonna knock it back 10 hours or so. It will still give me enough income, but also time to have a quick bike ride either morning or evening.

How will you afford all the bike changes?!?

But be careful. Too many people retire early and drop dead soon after.

Keep busy whatever you decide

I stopped working in June 2009 aged 48. After 11 weeks bike touring, odd jobs round the house, a bit of hillwalking etc it got a bit boring. I started working part time in Feb 2010 and have continued. For me working part time means days off are days off rather than just running into each other.

Currently work every Mon/Tue roughly 10hrs each day. Also do a 2nd part time job doing random shifts which I am offered but can take or leave. Works for me. My Mon/Tue job has given me holidays and unpaid leave as required for a couple of long bike tours. But if they had said no I'd have chucked the job and gone anyway.

So I would suggest the OP considers part time working in combination with downsizing. Obviously depends on employer agreement and the job being suitable.

I did 2 years ago after 30 years of working for the man. I wanted to go for some time before but strung it out as a redundancy package loomed. It was weird pretending to be upset about my job finishing and going through the redundancy process but secretly thinking just get on with it & give me the money and I'll be off no problem. Best thing that ever happened to me. So good to be away from all the office politics/bullshit, boring meetings that were spoiling a job I once loved.

Kids big now and look after themselves, just work for myself as and when doing all sorts of things - luckily I already had a sideline hobby which earnt a bit of money, I stepped this up now to keep some cash coming in before the private & state pensions kick in (a good few years away yet), I work on a community project part-time plus Mrs loves her job so no issues there. The redundancy package wasn't massive but a helpful cushion, things would have undoubtedly been tougher without it, but we have just learnt to live within our means. Some cut backs but nothing drastic or anything I really miss. Never been busier though doing things I like doing, no idea how I had time to work for someone else before.

I dont think i would ever want to do nothing. My little dream would be gardening, pick all the easy lawn cutting jobs in nice houses with tea making owners, flexible on time so i would not have to rush anywhere.

Or an allotment with a shed i could cycle to along a towpath or riverside walk.

Sadly the places i would like to buy in everyone else does too so they are v pricey.

Daily. A mate of mine's dad worked like a Trojan in the oil industry (executive position) so that he could retire at 65.

He retired with a shed load of money and a new yacht waiting in the Caribbean. Dropped dead a week before flying out from Aberdeen.

Don't **** about - Do it while you still can.

There are just so many things I want to do that can't be done until I retire. We will not be well off at all but we will have the time to do things cheaply

the plan is to rent the flat out 6 months of the year as holiday lets and spend that six months travelling then back to blighty for a bit of rest and recovery when I'll do a bit of part time work. I am lucky I will be able to do bank nursing work which is relatively well paid.

On the list are:
a 20 000ft mountain in Bolivia to be soloed along with a long trek across the altiplano plus a bit of patagonia trekking
Cape wrath trail walking ( probably done first as training for the above)
Road trip in the antipodes to visit family and friends out there
Cycle up the Rhine and down the Danube with excursions into Bohemia and Transylvania
Plus some other ideas still much vaguer. I can't wait to stop working! Mind you if work for me and t'missus continues as it is we will soon be both out with illhealth from stress

Definitely think about part time. Worked full time from '87 till last year, then swapped roles with MrsMC when she went back full time. Lots of time with the kids, a bit more time for me, still enough money coming in.

Couple of years the youngest will start secondary and I will look to do a few more hours

We always said that if kids didn't happen we'd both go part time, life's too short.

Ya gonna need this..

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And this..
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And this..
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And finally, this ..
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For various reasons which I won't go into here - yes, a lot...

Lots of equity in house which would buy a small place almost outright, allow us both to work just a few days a week.

Very tempted.

I worked for 33 years until I was made redundant last October as the office was closing. Took the redundancy, my lump sum & also took my works pension early at age 55.

I'm almost 8 years in remission from Cancer & this type of thing concentrates the mind as to what is important in life, I decided that I would have a stress free retirement & do not intend at present to get another job.

I'm currently on just below half pay but my pension covers the running cost of the house & food. It is easy to find cost cutting measures to ensure that you don't waste money, plus I now have a 7 day weekend in which to enjoy riding my bike, I can even pick & choose which day(s) to go riding rather than having to go out on Saturday or Sunday.

To coin a phrase life is too short & we need to make the most of our time here. If you can afford it then go for it, we are a long time dead 🙂

47 and doing what averages out as a 3 day week over the year. All winter off (skiing) plus a month and a half off in the summer over 2 or 3 trips. Retirement in the conventional sense looked increasingly unlikely until well into late 60's and early 70's so I just thought sod this, i'm doing it now as best I can, while I can.

I enjoy working more now than ever, I do need to work financially but also for routine. And it means the time off is properly spent and enjoyed.

I accept that i am always going to be poor, but i reckon I could keep trundling on like this. Life is great.

Hopefully we've got about 5 years left to pay for the house. Once that's done I'm going to drop to a 4 day week if I can persuade Mrs PP to do the same, then I can spend my time with her and still have more money spare than we do now. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel

Yes. Constantly wonder what the bloody point of the daily grind is. Work 5 days, 2 days off to squeeze in some decent time on bike, with kid, jobs around the house, whatever, then back to the 5 days working before you know it.
Hopefully, come the longer days of summer the feeling will lift slightly.

I'm 38, plan on being retired at 50. I have my fixed bills down to sub £300 a month and started putting away £1k a month into my retirement fund (in addition to work pension). Won't be a plush retirement but got to be better than working till 70.

I've already got this:

[img] [/img]

Mortgage on main house is paid off and have the cash to pay off the London flat as well. Talk about packing it in and doing a couple of years in the motorhome or buying a house in Gairloch/Poolewe are almost a daily occurence. If we didn't still have a kid at university I suspect we might have done it by now.

2009 , 26 years as a postie , had health issues RM were looking for volunteers for redundancy . I was 53 after a hell of a lot of deep thinking wife and I decided as long as I could get a part time job we'd manage . Thing is I'm now over half way through the 12 years to state pension and I'm wondering where the hell the time has gone ! Now working 3 days a week which gives me a week off every other week which is an ideal way to start adjusting to full retirement . Oh and my health has improved as well

Could you take a sabbatical Ton? See how it goes then make a more permanent decision.
I've been planning on winding down for the last couple of years,I'm 55 now & having 3 months off this summer. I've no debts,money in the bank & the mortgage is paid off.
The only big decision now is do I go back to a job I dislike this September & if I do,how long do I stick at it?
In the past I've packed the job in for up to a year & gone away backpacking & never regretted doing it.

56, enjoy the job, but it's getting more pressured. I like it day to day, but after 32 years Doctoring, there are other things I'd like to do before health issues get me.

So I will take my pension at 60 when younger kid leaves home, mortgage paid etc. But my partner is 5 yrs younger than me, so have to be able to fund her leaving before pensions start, and we want to travel a lot, and I want to do a language degree. If it weren't for divorce I think I'd be retiring next year.

The kids we have having 3.5 more years at school is the thing which really dictates stuff. If you want to retire early, have your kids early or bank a lot of dosh.

As per my other post I'm happy to enough at work for now but beginning to see colleagues a few years older than me tiring and theres always a stream of young snappers in my industry so I think five or six years I'll feel the same.

Whilst I cant imagine not working, I would like something more hobby based for the last 10 years.

Spoke to a fella at the weekend 40 years hard toil retired and now sells vinyl, cds at music fairs. Works when he wants, doesn't need the money but its handy and he's doing something he enjoys.

I jacked it all in when I was 27 - stressful sh1tty job in finance and management and rubbish marriage. Went to university and 6 years later had a Ph.D in something I enjoyed. After 3 years of research work in the UK moved to Switzerland for 6 years. Had a great time, a research subject I enjoyed and the chance to live life to the full in the Alps. Academic politics got in the way though so I quit academia. I met a lovely Norwegian girl so moved to Norway. Got a job in the oil industry getting paid quite a lot for doing not that much - which is okay as long as stay away from any management roles. Have settled down in a little fishing village in the middle of nowhere. Mortgage (house and a log cabin in the mountains) dictates that I work for another 10 yrs til im 60 at which point I will quit having a staff role and take on part time contract work to keep things ticking over til the wife retires about 5 yrs later.

For me it was all about taking risks when I was in my 20s and 30s but there no way I could ever have stayed sane if I'd stayed. But coming from a poor background in a awful north-western town it was very very hard to escape and it took me too long but it was worth it in the end

Completely at the other end of the spectrum here... 43 next month, wife (11 years younger) currently pregnant with our first born, recently moved into bigger house but kept our flat, 2 mortgages both finish when I'm 70. On the plus side... I have a job I love. Oh & I spent the 90's & early 00's DJ'ing & running clubs so the wife always says I didn't actually start work until I was past 32 so... 🙂

Could you go part time Ton? I know you like your job & 1/2 the hours would still make a big difference to your leisure time, best of both worlds?
Going p/t is the best thing I've done.

Totally at the other end of the spectrum here.
44 and have a huge mortgage which runs until I'm 67.

We've both got reasonable jobs (wife is a teacher and I'm a project manger in the Engineering sector) but have chosen to live in an expensive part of the world.

We've got 2 kids (aged 6 and 9) who will be dependant on us until I'm getting on for 60.

The only light at the end of our tunnel is the fact that my elderly aunt/uncle are going to leave their entire estate (inc a large bungalow) to my kids, which means at some point they'll be off our hands financially.

I made a lot of bad life choices in my 20s, and didn't start properly working until I was 33.. and I'm paying for it now big time.

All I want is to be able to retire at state pension age and not have to sell our house to fund our retirement.

I retired at 60, two years ago now.

Wasn't able to do it earlier, like most people financial commitments were my main reason for working.

Much better than working for a living, but does take some time to adjust. Worked all my life from 16 to 60 without any period of unemployment.
You must have a plan though, always paid into company pensions and paid extra contributions as well.

Everyone will have different financial commitments and expectations of whether they can afford to finally stop working.
Choices have to be made, far better off these days, I don't mean cash each month though, just us being better off with less stress and hassle of working life.

The only light at the end of our tunnel is the fact that my elderly aunt/uncle are going to leave their entire estate (inc a large bungalow) to my kids, which means at some point they'll be off our hands financially.

Please don't assume this - if either or both end up in care even a large estate can be eaten up at a rapid rate.

As to the OP - I couldn't jack in work. For my sanity I'd have to work a couple of days a week at least (I'm 48).

@the-muffin-man I agree with you. My in laws retired early, mid 50's. They're now mid 60's & tbh their minds are still to active to sit around all day with limited human interaction / challenges. FiL has become remarkably right wing, I feel due to this & their fear of change / inability to adapt if things do change - they've got a pension now & that's it, they can't earn any more. If they'd worked for another 5 or 10 years they wouldn't be as restricted financially & would have probably had a more positive outlook on the world.

That's my thoughts on it anyway. If you ask them they say they wouldn't change a thing 🙂

To go back to Ton - given your health issues that would tip me towards retiring early - have a damn good look at your finances and see if you could afford to stop working - remembering being time rich helps if you are cash poor as you have the time to do things cheaply

Same situation as Ton here. I had enough of corporate bollix 10 years or so ago, took a couple of four month sabbaticals then went to 6 months on/6 months off 8 years ago. I'm 50 now and have reduced it to 4 months on/8 off though this year looks like 12+6 off as I just can't be arsed. We're lucky not having kids and being reasonably financially independent.

People talk about JFDI, carpe diem and all that tosh but you do only get a few years when you're sane, solvent and fit. Don't waste them talking corporate cobblers or slipping up and down the greasy pole...

Moving to France in 4 weeks.
No jobs to go to but a mortgage free house is waiting for us. And we are renting our UK house.
Still looking for a job but looking forward to better quality of life.

^ what he said.I think the fear of making the step is worse than the step itself.
I retired briefly when i was under 30 which failed as everyone else was working. I went back to work and have become battered by it. Could walk away and survive OK, dont have a pension to speak of but investments in other ways that would sustain us no problem. I'd be bored though so am considering what i can do to get more time and less 60 hour weeks.

It's full time work which destroys you.
Part-time work is bliss. I'm currently in a FT role, but looking to move back to freelancer PT. I would earn about half the money, but have double the time to do the things I enjoy.

I think the five day week of drudge is a killer.
I find that when I have periods of working three days a week I actually enjoy my time at work a lot more.

The nature of my work means that I can work like a dawg from September - March. It's hard going but there's an end in sight which makes it much more bearable, and the money is good. Makes the Winter pass quicker too.
Once into March, I aim to work four days a week max - preferably three. Doesn't always work out that way mind... It can be hard to say no.

I can't see me suddenly retiring, more like working as long as I can but two or three days a week once past the age of 55 or so. I'm self employed though so appreciate it's a bit different to most.

I'm 34 (how the **** did that happen so quickly?) and am fortunate enough to have a bit of a buffer behind me wrapped up in various accounts.

Can't see that the retirement age will still be where it currently is in 30 years time.

However I've always said that by my 50's I don't want to HAVE to work.

Keep day dreaming about cashing in a lump sum and buying a plot of land somewhere nice and warm and jumping off the hamster wheel, setting up an Eco-Camping spot or something similar that brings in a little cash.

A few posting on here seem happy going onto a shorter working week.
We have a few people working either 3 or 4 days a week,unfortunately at our place if you go part time you have to work either a Saturday or Sunday.
I'd love to work Tues-Weds-Thurs,at the moment that's not an option.
I just drive trucks for a living so there's plenty of agency work..

[url= https://www.google.de/amp/www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/pensioner-household-income-higher-than-working-age-as-time-goes-by-study-a7576736.html%3Famp?client=ms-android-sonymobile ]I think this is also an interesting development.... [/url]

An awful lot of people within my generation and below won't have the same opportunities to accumulate so much wealth.

My parents generation are kind of the golden generation. Long term employment, affordable house prices coupled with massive growth both in house prices and the economy, a health service that is free (can't see the NHS being run along the same lines in 30 years time)....

@alpin, I was reading that story in a pub the other day. An older chap, Trevor, had just collected his pension and I was amazed how much cash he had on him. He retired at 60, is now 76, and bought his house for £4k way back when.
Undoubtedly that generation was very fortunate.
Generational inequality will go to top of the political agenda in the next 20 years, but younger people need to wake up and start voting.

Some interesting posts here. It seems we all dream of the same thing!

We have a 9 month old and are planning another, so no respite for the next few years until they are both into school. We are both in public sector final salary pension schemes which means we [i]should[/i] retire when we are 60 - 22 years to go for me. Our mortgage will be finished at roughly the same time.

The fly in the ointment is that we live in north Hampshire and have (more by luck than judgement) a good deal of equity in our house. We could move into a similar house in Suffolk (where most of my family are) and be mortgage free. I would probably transfer up that way into a part time role and still earn the best part of £25k for a three day week - with no mortgage we could survive on that, particularly if my wife had a similar job.

What do they say? It's better to regret something you have done than something you haven't done?

Part time or some type of flexi-hours for the win.
Is there any chance of cutting a day or 2 at your current job? Using your holiday to try it out for a couple of months? Getting extra unpaid holiday?
Would your boss have a sensible chat about it?

You sound like a grafter so full retirement might be a mental struggle (charity/volunteer work could be an option)

As I'm sure you're aware living frugally on an income is very very different to living frugally with no income. Looking after the pot soon becomes an obsession.

The fly in the ointment is that we live in north Hampshire and have (more by luck than judgement) a good deal of equity in our house. We could move into a similar house in Suffolk (where most of my family are) and be mortgage free. I would probably transfer up that way into a part time role and still earn the best part of £25k for a three day week - with no mortgage we could survive on that, particularly if my wife had a similar job.

And this is a dilemma!?

Chuck Pahlaniuk, “This is your life, and it’s ending one minute at a time.”

I am about to jack it all in; I'm 60 and thanks to years of work the pension situation is well sorted. The challenge went out of my job when increasingly rigorous Brussels-inspired legislation meant we had to recruit chemists to make recommendations to customers as Sales people were no longer qualified, which took away a big part of the enjoyment. Then my major market, Nigeria, went down the toilet and there's no chance of any improvement in the next couple of years. All I want to do is get GtiJunior established at University and I'm off - the 30th anniversary of starting work with my present employer seems like a good moment to retire, at which time I shall be 62.

Then it's off to Scotland to do more cycling, ski touring, kayaking, coastal rowing and mountaineering for as long as I'm able.

Generational inequality will go to top of the political agenda in the next 20 years, but younger people need to wake up and start voting.

Not whilst they don't vote. Until they start voting they are guarenteenig that no one will do anything to help them.

I did and worked abroad for three years. Unfortunately had to return, but the idea remains.

He retired at 60, is now 76, and bought his house for £4k way back when.
Undoubtedly that generation was very fortunate.

My old man has been retired for 11 years. His pension pays out more each month than when he was earning. House all paid up.

The same can be said for most of his friends and other family members who are retired.

just wondering if anyone knows how long you have to wait to claim unemployment benefit, if you give a job up?

work wont make me redundant, and also not interested in letting me go part time.

Why not start looking for another part-time job and leave when you have one sorted?

Why not start looking for another part-time job and leave when you have one sorted?

yeah, think that could be a good start. maybe 3 days a week might work to start.

just to add, I am sat behind a counter, where I have been sat for 17 years. we are having a fibre optic open day, which means a free lunch for anyone who attends.
the shop is full of scrounging tosspots, who spend nothing and use our competitors most of the time. just here for the freebies.
same tosspots, same spiel from the reps............I want to smash my head against the counter............ 😆

I want to smash my head against the counter............

Smash a freeloaders head against the counter - you'll be out the door sharpish then! 😀

[quote="freeagent"]I made a lot of bad life choices in my 20s, and didn't start properly working until I was 33.. and I'm paying for it now big time.I made a lot of [i]good[/i] life choices in my twenties and didn't start properly working until i was 31. Almost finished paying for it now (not far off 50), probably *ahead of most of my peers, wouldn't change what i did. Was well worth it.

*ahead as in smaller mortgage and probably closer to being able to either retire or go part time.

I made a lot of good life choices in my twenties and didn't start properly working until i was 31. Almost finished paying for it now (not far off 50), probably *ahead of most of my peers, wouldn't change what i did. Was well worth it.

No kids??

TBH, the situation is our own doing, I'm well aware we could move to Suffolk and be mortgage free, but I'm not convinced our kids will thank us for it a few years down the line. I think there are better opportunities for them living in London - particularly for the older one who is all about drama/dance/theatre.

[quote="freeagent"]No kids??No, we have kids. We made our decision to take a side step away from the UK ratrace long before they were even considered as a possibility.

Been reflecting on the past year, when I moved from a PT to Full Time role.
- Ive put on weight
- I spend weekends just recovering, haven't been out on a bike ride for a year
- I haven't read a book for leisure
- I'm generally in a low mood
- I spend more money on booze and smoking just to try and relax

When I was PT I actually described myself as "happy".

Workaholics love FT work, but many people resent it. I'm in the latter category...I need to make a choice soon.

badnewz - Member <snip>and bought his house for £4k way back

£4k in 1970 is not the same as £4k now...

@Boblo, very true, I'm not suggesting it is. It was a lot of money back then, especially when credit was hard earned. But still it wasn't 6 x earnings, as is the case in much of the UK today.
I don't begrudge the guy, he worked hard and saved. But even if you do that now, you would struggle, especially with the fact that jobs are increasingly short-term and insecure.

£4k in 1970 is not the same as £4k now...

My mum was saying this the other day....

First house cost £4.5k. With their combined wage she and her husband were earning more than that in a year. If I wanted to buy something in the area I grew up (not that I would want to as it is a shithole) it would cost over 300k.... About 11 times what I earn now.

To add salt to the wound, a friend of mine, his grandmother bought a house in Notting Hill for £10k under Thatcher's campaign to sell off social housing. Now worth £2million!