The Problem of Wanting to Increase Birthrate
The Problem of Wanting to Increase Birthrate
They're saying our birthrate needs increasing
But misses the point of house cost
In the 60's a mortgage was affordable
But in today's market one can get lost
The husband could work at his occupation
And the couple have children without bother
While the partner could stay at home working
At being what she wanted – a mother
These days it is normally necessary
For both partners to work for some years
Before they can get a deposit
To action buying a house in first gear
Even then it is quite often necessary
For both to continue to work
To pay for the subsequent high mortgage
Of which neither are able to shirk
Not only does this delay their child bearing
But the relationship is put under stress
While the strain it keeps on at their finances
And the stress does increase, not get less
Don Matthews March 2019
M.C. Newberry
Fri 10th Apr 2020 17:57
What goes around, comes around. In the mid-80s, I saw prices
of UK property rise to a level that sounded warning bells, with no
interference in the free market that buying and selling property
occupied. I took the decision to sell just about anything of value I owned at that time to raise the deposit on a top floor studio flat
in a side street near my present address, prepared to endure the
long term penance of repayments that would benefit the mortgage
lenders three times over. As retirement approached, and the £££
demands of the leaseholders increased, I decided to return to
renting in my solo situation. By that time the sale value had almost
(but not quite) trebled - but, of course, so had the prices of other properties so the only beneficiaries were the freeholders and the lenders..unfetterted by government policy at that time.
I've not regretted my decision because it suited my freedom of movement and, as long as the rent stays affordable (with personal
sacrifices, of course), nothing will see my stress levels affected
regarding the costs of property maintenance and the possibility
that I might wish to move to somewhere a lot cheaper where
rent is concerned. A double advantage at my own late time of life.
We are all victims of rising property prices at some time or other
but I certainly sympathise with today's buyers in the knowledge
of just how "vested interest" from the market manipulators has
pushed up prices towards impossible levels when compared
with incomes.