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House and home

Bungalow or house

(62 Posts)
GillT57 Sun 08-Dec-19 14:01:13

Love my bungalow. Moved in to our first one in our middle 40s, not anything deliberate, it was in the right place at the right time, but when we downsized in our mid 50s, we did move to another bungalow and set about future proofing it with the intention of staying. The garden is possibly bigger than we may be able to manage in the future, but ok at the moment, and I do like the space and light.

merlotgran Sun 08-Dec-19 13:55:17

I should have put a grin after my comment about bungalow legs.

Yes, it's infinitely preferable to having to install a stair lift.

Franbern Sun 08-Dec-19 13:54:59

Am loving living in a flat, so nice after my house. When I downsized from the family house when I was 62 years old, I was told that I should go to a house as the only exercise I might eventually get was going up and down stairs.
Sadly, as the years past, this became very difficult for me, particularly later in the day, when my small staircase would begin to like Everest.
So lovely in a flat, and as I am on the first floor, always try to use the stairs to go down instead of the lift.

wicklowwinnie Sun 08-Dec-19 13:52:29

We did the same thing in our 50s. Best thing we ever did. If you can, have a reasonably sized detached bungalow. The yearly maintenance in a flat will more than cover the cost of getting a gardener and upkeep of the bungalow. Many flat dwellers tell me it can feel very lonely and shut away from life.

crazyH Sun 08-Dec-19 13:40:40

Would love a bungalow but I always remember my 85yearold friend, who, when I suggested she moves to a Bungalow, said the only exercise she gets is going up and down the stairs. So I think I'll stay in this house, and I'm not there yet .

Calendargirl Sun 08-Dec-19 13:40:07

I don’t think ‘bungalow legs’ should put you off. Try and keep active, walking, using stairs in shops instead of escalators. As I mentioned in my previous post, people in houses who now have to install stair lifts, living with stairs hasn’t saved their legs.

Calendargirl Sun 08-Dec-19 13:35:38

We moved from a semi detached house to a bungalow. Similar age to you. Brought up in a bungalow until 13.
Love our bungalow, as you get older just makes sense to be on one level. How many people have to install stair lifts as they age?

TrendyNannie6 Sun 08-Dec-19 13:33:32

Thankyou so much for that Merlotgran, that was something that never entered my head, I was thinking more of everything on the same level etc etc .

TrendyNannie6 Sun 08-Dec-19 13:31:11

Couldn’t live in a flat Jane10 we have 2 dogs and 2 cats so would really have to be a house or bungalow, there are some wonderful flats aren’t there

merlotgran Sun 08-Dec-19 13:28:37

We moved from a large farmhouse to a cottage style bungalow in 1998 when we were in our fifties. It was previously a farm worker's tied dwelling and needed renovating but we never regretted downsizing.

Maintenance is so much easier but my only word of warning is it doesn't take long to develop 'bungalow legs.' when you're not going up and down stairs everyday.

Jane10 Sun 08-Dec-19 13:26:45

Or a flat? The right one an be ideal for downsizing. We love ours. It's a bonus that we can go on hols and not worry about it.

TrendyNannie6 Sun 08-Dec-19 13:23:26

We are hoping to move in next year, mostly to downsize, and can’t make up our minds wether to live in a bungalow. Always lived in houses, Has anyone made the move from large detached house to a bungalow, we are both in our sixties,