Mortgage Rate Rises

[danlightbulb]

Yeah in some ways it's not a bad thing. Our little house (little for a detached) is fine for us and our stops us from accumulating too much clutter

A small house limits opportunity.

You cant work on your own car (meaning no mechanical skill development as a youngster). You can't dabble in wood working. You can't get too interested in gardening. You can barely fit a computer into a small bedroom. No loft space for building a train set in. No storage space for bikes, outdoor gear or whatever.

Ever smaller houses mean ever smaller opportunity for people to have hobbies and widen their horizons or teach themselves new skills.

Maybe that's the idea, to make us a slave race, with no hobbies or interests except buying meaningless tat and having other people do your DIY jobs for you. We were meant to have grown out of the tiny 2up 2down houses of the 1800's but no we're back into those size of houses now.

 

[glenimp617]

I've rates don't come down, I'll probably get a tracker

 

[413x]

A small house limits opportunity.

You cant work on your own car (meaning no mechanical skill development as a youngster). You can't dabble in wood working. You can't get too interested in gardening. You can barely fit a computer into a small bedroom. No loft space for building a train set in. No storage space for bikes, outdoor gear or whatever.

Ever smaller houses mean ever smaller opportunity for people to have hobbies and widen their horizons or teach themselves new skills.

Maybe that's the idea, to make us a slave race, with no hobbies or interests except buying meaningless tat and having other people do your DIY jobs for you. We were meant to have grown out of the tiny 2up 2down houses of the 1800's but no we're back into those size of houses now.

I would hate to not have a garage and garden. But a garden is a burden in itself. That reminds me I have to go out and clear up more leaves!

 

[danlightbulb]

But a garden is a burden in itself.

It is if you think in modern terms. But if you think in terms of opportunity - growing own veg for example - then it should be something everyone should value AND something which should be mandated to every property to force people to be more healthy.

 

[fez]

It is if you think in modern terms. But if you think in terms of opportunity - growing own veg for example - then it should be something everyone should value AND something which should be mandated to every property to force people to be more healthy.

People mostly don't want to be more healthy. Bad food tastes good and we have built a society that removes any of the blame/personal responsibility for ones own health. We've actively started promoting grossly unhealthy body shapes in the name of "acceptance".

Veg isn't expensive but it requires cooking and isn't as tasty as that takeaway which costs lots but requires 0 effort.

 

[413x]

It is if you think in modern terms. But if you think in terms of opportunity - growing own veg for example - then it should be something everyone should value AND something which should be mandated to every property to force people to be more healthy.

Unfortunately our oak trees make it much too dark to grow veg. For most people it's probably not cost effective.

Carrots are so cheap it's not really worth growing them.


Only things I'd say that are worth growing are probably tomatoes. But then you need a greenhouse really.

Vegetable gardens are a surprising amount of work

 

[danlightbulb]

Unfortunately our oak trees make it much too dark to grow veg. For most people it's probably not cost effective.

Carrots are so cheap it's not really worth growing them.


Only things I'd say that are worth growing are probably tomatoes. But then you need a greenhouse really.

Vegetable gardens are a surprising amount of work

Agreed its hard work. My point is that having a garden gives opportunity to do those things. Why should we be reliant on mass produced veg, its a sign of our laziness.

 

[Gammawolf]

A small house limits opportunity.

You cant work on your own car (meaning no mechanical skill development as a youngster). You can't dabble in wood working. You can't get too interested in gardening. You can barely fit a computer into a small bedroom. No loft space for building a train set in. No storage space for bikes, outdoor gear or whatever.

Ever smaller houses mean ever smaller opportunity for people to have hobbies and widen their horizons or teach themselves new skills.

Maybe that's the idea, to make us a slave race, with no hobbies or interests except buying meaningless tat and having other people do your DIY jobs for you. We were meant to have grown out of the tiny 2up 2down houses of the 1800's but no we're back into those size of houses now.

This is a little bit of wild exaggeration, sure you can't have a woodshop like matthias wandel in your basement or pull up into a double garage with your 5 chest cabinets filled with tools to work on a car but it does by no feat mean your opportunity is limited. We did all those things + more like having gear for camping etc. That was in a 2 bedroom flat with 5 people in it. Claiming you don't have the space is for the most part just an excuse to not do it. You just make do with the space you have if you actually have a desire to do it. As a kid living there, i used to go around getting paid to do gardening in other peoples gardens (be a dogs body for older people who wanted to be involved but no longer could do the physical work). Theres always opportunities, just people don't take them up unless it comes along on a gold platter.

 

[platypus]

Potatoes are easy and no work at all, and a really good staple. Also great for the soil!

 

[danlightbulb]

This is a little bit of wild exaggeration, sure you can't have a woodshop like matthias wandel in your basement or pull up into a double garage with your 5 chest cabinets filled with tools to work on a car but it does by no feat mean your opportunity is limited. We did all those things + more like having gear for camping etc. That was in a 2 bedroom flat with 5 people in it. Claiming you don't have the space is for the most part just an excuse to not do it. You just make do with the space you have if you actually have a desire to do it. As a kid living there, i used to go around getting paid to do gardening in other peoples gardens (be a dogs body for older people who wanted to be involved but no longer could do the physical work). Theres always opportunities, just people don't take them up unless it comes along on a gold platter.

I accept my presentation of the issue was somewhat exaggerated yes. I stand by the principle though and it applies to loads of things.

It really is not feasible to be able to own a mountain bike if you live in a one bed flat. Sure you can do it, at great inconvenience, but it doesn't make the idea appeal very well.

And why shouldn't more people get to be woodworkers or car mechanics? Where has self sufficiency gone?

We're going backwards in my view, which is part of the reason we're all now struggling with demand and inflation, because no-one has any backup for when those things start costing more or being in short supply.

 

[Richie]

I accept my presentation of the issue was somewhat exaggerated yes. I stand by the principle though and it applies to loads of things.

It really is not feasible to be able to own a mountain bike if you live in a one bed flat. Sure you can do it, at great inconvenience, but it doesn't make the idea appeal very well.

And why shouldn't more people get to be woodworkers or car mechanics? Where has self sufficiency gone?

We're going backwards in my view, which is part of the reason we're all now struggling with demand and inflation, because no-one has any backup for when those things start costing more or being in short supply.

Now that you have your own place, when can we expect to see what you have done with the garden or some photos of the table you've built or car you have repaired?

 

[danlightbulb]

Now that you have your own place, when can we expect to see what you have done with the garden or some photos of the table you've built or car you have repaired?

We are currently clearing an area in the garden to grow some veg.

I don't have a garage, but am planning at some point (cost permitting) to build a reasonably sized workshop in the garden both for storage and for dabbling in woodworking.

My mountain bikes and scuba diving equipment is currently sitting in the dining room as I have no garage. Its a problem, but what could I do as I couldn't afford a house with a garage and many don't have one (hence backing up the point of my challenge originally). If I didn't already have those hobbies, would a lack of space for the equipment prevent me from starting them - yes I think it likely would have an impact.

I changed my own brake discs on my old cars in the old house, I did my own oil changes. This new house has a sloping driveway so I cant jack the car up on it - again another thing I couldn't do anything about because of budget limitations.

I know everyone has examples of this sort of thing, so the point stands, that a general trend in houses getting smaller, no garages, poorly designed driveways, will cause an overall limiting of personal opportunity.

 

[200sols]

Carrots are so cheap it's not really worth growing them.


Only things I'd say that are worth growing are probably tomatoes. But then you need a greenhouse really.

Vegetable gardens are a surprising amount of work

You are wrong on most parts apart from the last, its a decent amount of effort.

Home grown carrots taste totally different to shop bought, as actually do most home grown veggies. They are simply better, no question about it. Not everything is about cost.

 

[ChrisD.]

From mortgage rates to arguing about growing your own veg in a few posts, this place always delivers.

 

[413x]

You are wrong on most parts apart from the last, its a decent amount of effort.

Home grown carrots taste totally different to shop bought, as actually do most home grown veggies. They are simply better, no question about it. Not everything is about cost.

Oh yeah I know. Where I grew up. Almost everything was home grown. Potatoes, tomatoes, peas, beans etc. And it tasted better. But maintaining all that was a full time job! For most people limited on time it's just not worth it.

 

[Curlyriff]

We are currently clearing an area in the garden to grow some veg.

I don't have a garage, but am planning at some point (cost permitting) to build a reasonably sized workshop in the garden both for storage and for dabbling in woodworking.

My mountain bikes and scuba diving equipment is currently sitting in the dining room as I have no garage. Its a problem, but what could I do as I couldn't afford a house with a garage and many don't have one (hence backing up the point of my challenge originally). If I didn't already have those hobbies, would a lack of space for the equipment prevent me from starting them - yes I think it likely would have an impact.

I changed my own brake discs on my old cars in the old house, I did my own oil changes. This new house has a sloping driveway so I cant jack the car up on it - again another thing I couldn't do anything about because of budget limitations.

I know everyone has examples of this sort of thing, so the point stands, that a general trend in houses getting smaller, no garages, poorly designed driveways, will cause an overall limiting of personal opportunity.

Indeed all new 2 bed houses are devoid of garages. When you have then you need to make sure your house is insured to actually use as storage. Loft spaces are not designed for any sort of loading anymore even basic storage and you won't be insured if found to have anything in loft unless properly converted. Smaller gardens just big enough for a couple of seats and a small out door table and maybe a 6ft shed. No utility rooms/boot rooms to keep things clean and organised. Often front doors leading onto/into either kitchen or living spaces. No proper space for even a small dining table.

Housing stock is shocking and been on decline since 70/80s in terms of footprint so house builders can fit more plots on the land. Between the size and providing solar and ground source heat pumps. Those things need a true reform tbh. 25% larger properties as standard should be target. Especially as things like hallways, landinging and staircases have been made wider for building regs but the rooms around them getting smaller.

 

[TNA]

Unfortunately our oak trees make it much too dark to grow veg. For most people it's probably not cost effective.

Carrots are so cheap it's not really worth growing them.


Only things I'd say that are worth growing are probably tomatoes. But then you need a greenhouse really.

Vegetable gardens are a surprising amount of work

Agreed. We did this a couple of years ago. The amount of time it took for what we got was not worth it. We did a bunch of different things, the ones I felt had best results and would maybe do again were corn and tomatoes. Potatoes and carrots in particular seemed like a total waste based on how cheap they are to buy. Overall good to do it to get experience though so was well worth it from that point of view.

I plan on extend our house and also make a nice man cave/gym at the back at some point. Then I will have less grass to mow. Our dogs might not be thrilled though

 

[413x]

Agreed. We did this a couple of years ago. The amount of time it took for what we got was not worth it. We did a bunch of different things, the ones I felt had best results and would maybe do again were corn and tomatoes. Potatoes and carrots in particular seemed like a total waste based on how cheap they are to buy. Overall good to do it to get experience though so was well worth it from that point of view.

I plan on extend our house and also make a nice man cave/gym at the back at some point. Then I will have less grass to mow. Our dogs might not be thrilled though

Yeah this is what I found growing up. Used to like vegetable garden. But I had time then.

Its just not worth it when you can get a sack of potatoes for a few pounds. And carrots? They are pennies per carrot.

Also. Its not like you get toast year round produce. You'd need a lot of space for that. More work etc etc.

 

[MatsyLR]

I'm on a 5 year fix at 5.04% even if it went down to say 3.5% its only £28 a month, comes to £1600 over 5 year. I'll take that for the security of not having to worry about anything.

 

[Haggisman]

Agreed - they said they'd sent the form out with the redemption statements, but I've checked that email and it's definitely not on there, and nothing in spam around the same time, so they definitely didn't send it >_<

I've sent it over now and they're saying completion is due tomorrow, but we'll see, if it does take us into next week then I will definitely be raising a complaint about it.

Well, we did complete today, so a sigh of relief all round, wasn't happy yesterday though!!