llamashak

Despondent, I know what those uni debts are like! I was the first year that got no grant and had to pay tuition fees. I suppose I was fortunate/stupid enough to work as well all the way through uni so I only ended up with a 1k interest free overdraft to pay off. I did a "doss" course - business management so only had 8 hours a week of lectures, when my mech eng mates were doing 34 hours a week in labs. I'm sure finishing uni used to be a rite of passage into the real world, with real opportunites, now it just seems grads have to take crappy mcjobs on top of their poorly paid day jobs just to start clearing the debt mountain... The only positive I can give you is that with a MEng 1st class honours and a fairly decent grad starting salary you will soon be climbing the salary ladder...just keep plugging away and good luck mate...

I have recently been made aware of some opportunities within my company to relocate to either the States or the Netherlands (where I have been working for the past 2 months). I agree with a lot of what Wannabe FTB has posted. I am only 24, have achieved my chartered professional qualifications, and both my girlfriend and myself have hit the higher 40% tax bracket. My girlfriend and I rent a place together which represents just 20% of our net monthly income. We have saved up a fair bit for a house deposit and are fortunate to be in a position where we can save 25k plus a year. But, having seen what has been happening over the past couple of years (housing/political/social/economic changes) we are now seriously considering the moving abroad opportunity (moving but keeping/increasing our UK salaries depending on where the relocation is to, which is even more tempting)... I would be interested to know if many other young, highly skilled/intelligent and relatively affluent professionals have been thinking the same thoughts? Or is it the grass is always greener argument, and we might as well just lump it over here?

BBB, As wannabe FTB points out, it is all well and good highlighting that small pockets of affordability remain in the UK, but surely it is pretty desperate suggesting that we all need to move to Bradford to get "inexpensive" property. The only reason I am able to attain the salary I am on is because I am in London. Even if I was to move to Bradford the sorts of organisation I work for (large US IT multinationals) are unlikely to locate in places like Bradford (hence you can pick up a property for 70k). Surely this is about choice. Someone shouldn't have to move to Bradford for a chance to fulfil one of their dreams of owning their own home. IMO, whilst the properties you have highlighted MAY constitute "fair value" in the North, where I live there is a distinct lack of "fairly" valued property (North West London).

Eep... I'm currently living in Amsterdam for a few months with work but am still tracking everything that is going on back "home" in Blighty. I just got a call yesterday saying my brother has just bought a "home" (albeit still SSTC so I may be able to convince him out of it...) He just spent 175k on a 2 bed place near Stansted Airport...despite my rational reasoning with him over the past 5 weeks desperately trying to disuade him... 175k! 2 beds! Stansted! I need to lie down...

I'm a guest (well not any more, I had to register). I have been reading the comments on the various fora on this site for about 3 weeks now with much interest. I will continue to do so from a distance as I don't want to get "sucked" into the debate...which I probably will end up doing at some stage!