In another thread, The Emperor Caesar referred to a thing called the ‘housing ladder’. It seems he was not talking about an implement used by builders and tradesmen for ascending the walls of buildings, but a phenomenon where people desire bigger and more expensive houses.
Personally I have made three steps on this ‘ladder’. One was when I went to poly and rented a bedsit. The next was when I started work and bought a small terraced house with Lady Tester. The third was when we sold the terraced house and bought a semi-detached house with reasonable sized garden in a nice neighbourhood. So, we have arguably joined in the rush to ascend the ‘housing ladder’.
But this is where our journey up the housing ladder ends. We are satisfied with our house. It has everything we want, like a kitchen, bedrooms, a bathroom, a living room and a garage for storing stuff. It is also quite affordable, and with our repayment mortgage we find ourselves paying less interest every year. Despite minor pecuniary concerns connected to benchtime in 2009, we have at no time been worried about paying the mortgage. This puts us in a position of considerable luxury. At times of good business and good income, we can celebrate our success by visiting fine restaurants and holidaying in luxurious surroundings. In less easy times we can still pay the bills, and can enjoy giving the house a lick of paint to add variety to our habitation.
So, to cut a long story short while it threatens to get Wilmslowesque, why do so many people desire to continue the ascent of the ‘housing ladder’? Do they derive great happiness from the double garage, the mock Georgian facades, the B&Q concrete lions in front of the driveway and the accompanying interest-only mortgage which won’t be paid off when they retire? Or would they be happier just living in a more modest home, paying off the mortgage and enjoying moments of extra income in a more spontaneous fashion?
Personally I have made three steps on this ‘ladder’. One was when I went to poly and rented a bedsit. The next was when I started work and bought a small terraced house with Lady Tester. The third was when we sold the terraced house and bought a semi-detached house with reasonable sized garden in a nice neighbourhood. So, we have arguably joined in the rush to ascend the ‘housing ladder’.
But this is where our journey up the housing ladder ends. We are satisfied with our house. It has everything we want, like a kitchen, bedrooms, a bathroom, a living room and a garage for storing stuff. It is also quite affordable, and with our repayment mortgage we find ourselves paying less interest every year. Despite minor pecuniary concerns connected to benchtime in 2009, we have at no time been worried about paying the mortgage. This puts us in a position of considerable luxury. At times of good business and good income, we can celebrate our success by visiting fine restaurants and holidaying in luxurious surroundings. In less easy times we can still pay the bills, and can enjoy giving the house a lick of paint to add variety to our habitation.
So, to cut a long story short while it threatens to get Wilmslowesque, why do so many people desire to continue the ascent of the ‘housing ladder’? Do they derive great happiness from the double garage, the mock Georgian facades, the B&Q concrete lions in front of the driveway and the accompanying interest-only mortgage which won’t be paid off when they retire? Or would they be happier just living in a more modest home, paying off the mortgage and enjoying moments of extra income in a more spontaneous fashion?
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