ᐅ Dissatisfied with new construction due to other options now available
Created on: 27 Sep 2021 12:51
C
Crossy
I was just about to create a second account for this thread, but in the end, I decided against it. I’m not even sure if this thread belongs in the financing section. The purpose of this thread is not to show off; I’ve been thinking about this for a while now, and my dissatisfaction is growing. Maybe some of you have had similar experiences, and I would be interested to know what you did.
I’m unhappy with our house. Not because it has any serious defects. It suits our current life situation, we have enough space, and next spring the garden will finally be finished and look great. Like many others, during the planning and construction phase, we set priorities because of our budget and gave up on some nice extras. Now, nearly 2 years after the financing was completed, our financial situation has changed significantly.
When we arranged the financing, I was just returning to work after my second parental leave, filling in as a temporary replacement during another parental leave. I knew the job was poorly paid (considering the required qualifications), but the overall package worked well, and I was confident I could manage it alongside the children. I always believed I would earn more in the long term and that this was only a transition back to work. Nevertheless, we based our financing on our income at the time because the financial future, even with good prospects, was uncertain. Therefore, we chose a more conservative approach and did not rely on future salary increases or push our budget to the limit.
Now, almost 2 years later, our financial situation looks completely different. I’m still with the same company but no longer in a temporary replacement role—I’m now a department head, and I have increased my working hours to fulfill this leadership position. Meanwhile, my husband has changed employers and was promoted. All in all, our combined income is about $4,000 more per month. And now I am annoyed by all the little things in the house that, in hindsight, wouldn’t have been a problem for us. With an additional $100,000–150,000, our house would be my dream home.
Many things cannot be retrofitted easily or without significant effort. I wish my dissatisfaction would fade over time so I could enjoy our very nice house and our financial freedom, but mentally I am thinking about selling and looking at plots nearby. My husband is bothered by a few things in the house as well but is generally more content and mainly wary of the hassle involved in building a new house.
I’m unhappy with our house. Not because it has any serious defects. It suits our current life situation, we have enough space, and next spring the garden will finally be finished and look great. Like many others, during the planning and construction phase, we set priorities because of our budget and gave up on some nice extras. Now, nearly 2 years after the financing was completed, our financial situation has changed significantly.
When we arranged the financing, I was just returning to work after my second parental leave, filling in as a temporary replacement during another parental leave. I knew the job was poorly paid (considering the required qualifications), but the overall package worked well, and I was confident I could manage it alongside the children. I always believed I would earn more in the long term and that this was only a transition back to work. Nevertheless, we based our financing on our income at the time because the financial future, even with good prospects, was uncertain. Therefore, we chose a more conservative approach and did not rely on future salary increases or push our budget to the limit.
Now, almost 2 years later, our financial situation looks completely different. I’m still with the same company but no longer in a temporary replacement role—I’m now a department head, and I have increased my working hours to fulfill this leadership position. Meanwhile, my husband has changed employers and was promoted. All in all, our combined income is about $4,000 more per month. And now I am annoyed by all the little things in the house that, in hindsight, wouldn’t have been a problem for us. With an additional $100,000–150,000, our house would be my dream home.
Many things cannot be retrofitted easily or without significant effort. I wish my dissatisfaction would fade over time so I could enjoy our very nice house and our financial freedom, but mentally I am thinking about selling and looking at plots nearby. My husband is bothered by a few things in the house as well but is generally more content and mainly wary of the hassle involved in building a new house.
haydee schrieb:
With plenty of space and glass facing the garden. You don’t need a beam for that. The beams are oversized and therefore somehow disproportionate to the rest. And who plans their island facing the garden? I’ve rarely seen that here. We have it with our little island.
Schimi1791 schrieb:
That’s why it’s probably better to plan a “backup kitchen” right from the start. No, maybe just come back down to earth and plan a nice, functional kitchen that is more than just a showroom 🙂
Schimi17911 Oct 2021 09:35ypg schrieb:
...
No, maybe just come back down to earth and plan a nice, functional kitchen that’s more than just a showroom 🙂I should use an "irony sign" more often...
ypg schrieb:
And who plans their island facing the garden? HaOur kitchen was specifically designed with a garden view; that was the first priority in the orientation. In real life, aircraft carriers are always cluttered with airplanes.
this is the view of my garden from my 200x120cm (79x47 inches) island; on the left side of the plan, there is another 2m (6.6 feet) wide panoramic window overlooking the garden
in my country, kitchens are ALWAYS located next to the patio door, no one wants to look out onto the street, privacy is very important.
in my country, kitchens are ALWAYS located next to the patio door, no one wants to look out onto the street, privacy is very important.
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Georgian20191 Oct 2021 12:48pagoni2020 schrieb:
I agree completely.
Early retirement or a life without work is often seen as the path to happiness, similar to emigrating to an amazing new country... Someone who leads an unsatisfying life during their working years won’t find it any different in retirement unless they change THEMSELVES. The grass is always greener on the other side...
I once read about a sickness or suffering that even affects younger people, caused by longing for retirement almost like it is a hopeful salvation. But what do you do after your third cup of coffee, after the tenth documentary, etc.? For me, there is hardly anything better than having meaningful activities throughout your life. You just need to manage to separate your happiness from money; that, however, rarely succeeds... the calculator keeps running in the background.
What surprises me is that improvements in quality of life are often linked to new purchases or freedom from work, but rarely to changes in lifestyle towards having more time and less money needs.
@Bertram100 – I fully agree. There is a book where countless older or even terminally ill people were asked what they would do differently "next time." Their answers were exclusively about interpersonal relationships, never about a kitchen or a car; such things were deliberately excluded and looked back on with bittersweet amusement.
That exists, and it is great if someone takes a new direction they couldn’t live before. But in my peer group, that seems to be the exception; I hear a lot of complaining instead. I sold a small company when I was 40 and was thus able to live as a private individual without work for a little more than 4 years. I really enjoyed having no appointments or time pressure. I could do whatever I wanted all day long... sleep in (at least until 8 a.m.), have a relaxed “Sunday breakfast” every day, make time for hobbies anytime, short trips, long trips... Eventually, the money runs out, and you have to return to the daily work routine. I would gladly live as a private individual again, and my goal is definitely to retire much earlier… 55 would be great. I expect to receive a decent inheritance, although of course I hope my family lives as long as possible and grows very old. If I inherit at 70, I won’t be unhappy. If I inherit at 55, I will be sad about the loss. But I will also be happy because I will definitely put my current professional life behind me.
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Georgian20191 Oct 2021 12:54Tolentino schrieb:
"Slang for a large cooking and sink island that stands out prominently in the room."
Quote from an online message board about kitchens.In my opinion, kitchens with large stylish cooking islands or kitchens integrated into the living room are overrated. Yes, a kitchen should be practical and cozy. However, a kitchen is meant for cooking, and I don’t want frying odors in the living room. It’s no coincidence that in the past cooking was done in separate kitchen areas or detached kitchen buildings.Similar topics