🏡 What If You Bought a Home in 1995 vs 2025?
Jun 6, 2025
(Prepare to Be Shocked)
In 1995, you could walk into a bank with a steady job, a modest deposit, and a dream—and walk out with a mortgage.
Today?
You walk in with a spreadsheet, a side hustle, and a prayer.
Let’s pull back the curtain and compare life then vs now. You might think you know how bad it's gotten—but wait until you feel it in your bones.
📈 The Numbers Don’t Lie. But They Do Hurt.
Category | 1995 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
🏠 Average UK House Price | £55,437 | £286,000+ |
💰 Avg Salary (Full-Time) | £17,000 | £34,963 |
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate | 7.5% | 4.5% (but inflated house prices) |
💷 House Price-to-Income | 3.2× salary | 8.1× salary |
📉 Stamp Duty Threshold | £60,000 (Most paid £0) | £250,000 (Most pay £2,300–£10k) |
🍼 Childcare (Full-time) | £35/week | £270/week |
⚡ Energy Bill (Monthly) | £40 | £200+ |
🛒 Grocery Cost (Per Week) | £40 | £100+ |
In 1995, the numbers lined up with your life.
In 2025, the numbers line up to say: “Not for you.”
😲 Let’s Make It Real
In 1995, with £1,200 a month, you could:
✅ Pay your mortgage
✅ Cover bills
✅ Eat well
✅ Save for holidays
✅ Sleep at night
In 2025, £1,200 might just cover your rent.
Forget savings. Forget breathing room. Forget peace of mind.
This isn’t just inflation.
It’s financial time travel in reverse.
You’ve moved forward 30 years... and lost your footing.
💸 But Wait—Aren’t Salaries Higher?
Yes. Technically.
But growth in house prices has obliterated wage growth.
From 1995 to 2025:
House prices surged 5x
Wages barely doubled
You’re working harder for less of everything
👀 Why This Matters (Even If You Already Own)
If you own, you’re part of a game you didn’t design—but now benefit from.
If you don’t, you’re chasing a train that left the station 15 stops ago.
This is why young people aren’t lazy.
They’re priced out.
This is why you feel behind.
You’re not imagining it.
This is why home ownership feels mythical.
Because for many, it now is.
📌 Final Thought: What If the System Isn’t Broken—Just Rigged?
It’s time we talked about it.
It’s time we shared it.
It’s time we helped people understand:
🏡 The real cost of homeownership isn’t just money.
It’s time, freedom, and hope.
📥 Want to Know What You Can Actually Afford in 2025?
Use our free calculator to simulate your real-world numbers.
→ Launch My Move Budget Calculator
Breakdown:
1995 vs 2025 Home Costs
Stamp Duty, Bills, Groceries, Childcare
Time-to-own: Then vs Now
What £1,000/month used to get you
