Bristol couple's struggle to get on property ladder
Sophie Clipston, 26, and her partner Adam Kay, 34, live in Clifton, Bristol, and have been saving for six months to buy their first home.
But the couple say the rise in duty on tobacco, alcohol and petrol mean they will be forced to cut back on nights out if they want to get on the property ladder.
-
Sophie earns £1,200 a month working as an occupational therapist, while her partner Adam rakes in £1,350 a month working as a museum curator.
The couple spend £900 a month on rent, £300 on household bills, £250 on loan repayments and £360 on car payments and running costs.
They say their essential outgoings combined with a busy social life are making saving for their first pad ''almost impossible''.
Sophie said: ''It's really hard to try and get on the ladder and this budget certainly hasn't helped us – it's almost impossible to get on the ladder. We are like any other young couple, we work hard all week and live to enjoy ourselves with a few drinks and some cigarettes on the weekend.
''However, once again, the budget has hammered us on the things we like to enjoy and if we are ever going to able to buy our own place, we will probably have to stop going out.''
But Sophie heaped praise on Chancellor Alistair Darling for unveiling £1 billion to boost the housing market.
She said: ''We've been trying to get our own place for a while now and we have a little bit put away but it is just so difficult to get started so any help the Government can give us on this is always welcome, so well done to them for that.
''But to me, it just seems that they give you something with one hand and take it away with the other.''
7 Comments
by Mags, Brigstow
Thursday, April 23 2009, 2:44PM
“Oh good god... they're just asking to be chuckled at.
Move from the most expensive area of Bristol, ditch the car (why do you need a car if you're living so close to every amenity you could possibly need, plus a train station, bus routes & cycle tracks? oafs) and give up your filthy fag habits. There - sorted. A new 'pad' is within your reach.
Tsk.”
by Mr Landsdown-Smythe, Leigh Woods
Thursday, April 23 2009, 12:51PM
“To Vic, below.
Vic, you don't happen to be their Landlord do you?
Wouldn't want to lose good regular paying tenants like that . . ;-)
No wonder you suggested they stay put . . :D
Thankfully my mortgage is now paid off, so I'm not paying rent or mortgage. That's all because when I was younger I gave up practically all my prized possessions to get on the property ladder. I suffered for several years, but it eventually came good . . :-)”
by Vic, Bristol
Thursday, April 23 2009, 11:02AM
“Why the clamour to 'get on the property ladder'? It is a peculiarly Bristish thing. In the rest of Europe renting a home is much more the norm and much more sensible.
I think it is an aspiration fuelled by those with a vested interest, ie. estate agents, banks, building societies, local authorities (who don't want the burden of providing social housing) and, TA-DA, the media who gain from the advertising revenue of the shysters in the aforementioned list.
So carry on smoking, boozing and renting!”
by Paul, (ex Redland)
Thursday, April 23 2009, 9:42AM
“Being in the same postion a few year back I have a little simpathy, but if they are really serious then I think they might have to reassess a few things.
Your rent, I lived in Redland for half the amount. Shop around foa cheap one bed flat!
Do you need to spend all that money on cars, we sold one of ours and just walked more.
The simple truth is if you really want to buy you have to make a few sacrifices, no one is going to give it to you on a plate. Soon its gonna be a good time to buy, relatively low house prices, slowly improving mortgage market. Stamp duty exemption extended. This is you chance, make sure you have enough deposit to take it. Good Luck”
by tinker, BS1
Thursday, April 23 2009, 9:30AM
“Anothr typical example of hand out Britain.
take take take, handout handout handout greed greed greed.
Inflationary increases on tobacco, alcohol, petrol means we cant buy a "pad" somewhere, if we bleat to the paper the maybe someone will do it all for us.
you couldn't make it up!
.”
by OpinionGerbil, arg295
Thursday, April 23 2009, 9:15AM
“maybe if they lived somewhere other then Clifton then they may be able to reduce their living costs.
this isn't news though is it ?
Clifton couple bleating about not having enough money. What next? Bedminster couple say benefits not enough to cover their smokes...”
by asfred, Bedminster
Thursday, April 23 2009, 9:08AM
“I understand their concerns with the Government, but come on if they really wanted to buy your first house, then why are they living in Clifton spending £900 on rent? How about moving a little further out of town, where rents are half this amount! and maybe if they are serious about buying a property, then cutting back on nights out/ socialising isn't such a bad thing! Everyone has to compromise sometime in their lives to achieve their goals!”