Just before Christmas, my youngest son David and his wife Michelle moved into a brand new house. It was, of course, very exciting for them and for us as we watched and waited while they house-hunted, chose, bought. They have been living in a rented apartment for seven years while they worked and saved, so to have their own house was a dream come true. It was not easy for them moving in just before Christmas, but the move went relatively to plan and now they are settled and happy.
At the moment they are decorating the nursery, ready for the new arrival in May! Another exciting event to look forward to and another grand-baby for me.
Dylan will have another cousin (he already has two).
Watching the young couple planning their living quarters has made me very clucky and brought back lots of memories. When David was born I already had two little boys, so the first thing I heard the midwife say was ‘Mrs. S., you have a hat trick!’ Although I would have liked a girl, I didn’t mind a bit that the baby was a boy because I could pass down clothes and toys and save a lot of money.
When I got married for the first time, in 1970, we were able to afford to buy a small flat (apartment). It was a struggle and of course I would have preferred a house, but since we were both working, the flat was convenient and easy to clean, cheap to run and ideally situated. We stayed in it for four years until the first child was born.
These days it is much hard for young couples to get started. Mostly they can’t get on the property ladder until they are at least 30 years old, whereas we were 18 and 22, much younger. Mortgages are very hard to come by. When we were married, it was only the husband’s salary that was considered and 100% mortgages were unheard of. My husband was still studying part-time in the evenings and day release so he didn’t earn very much but somehow we got by.
Did you have an easy start or are you still waiting to get started? Was it easy for you to save up for somewhere to live or have you always rented?
Oma 
I have always rented and still do, Star. Now that I am in my seventies, the thought of taking on the burden of a home doesn’t sound very appealing at all! We have enough to get by on our fixed income and live modestly. I laughed out loud when you said you are “getting clucky.” That’s a British term if I ever heard one! I am reading “Call the Midwife” right now and really enjoying it. 🙂
Funny! We have ‘Call the Midwife’ on TV at the moment but I didn’t know there was a book.
There are many advantages to renting a home, I know. These days, even if you do own your own home, the chances are that you will have to sell it to pay for care home expenses eventually.
Lovely photos and Congratulations to the would be parents … 🙂 …. Some lovely photos … And you are so right, I left home at 20 to get married, and my son was into his 30’s when he left home…. The property ladder so difficult to get onto now for the younger generation, but thankfully both my children well settled… 🙂
Exciting. Best of luck to your son and his family.
Lovely photos 😀 It’s really difficult for young people to get a home these days. I really don’t know how they do it…
Rental was the way to go when I first got married. I didn’t get a house until my second marriage. I actually think renting is better for the young folk who kill themselves with mortgages etc.