We’ve decided to rent a place in Preston, instead of Bolton.
Preston still has reasonable train links into central Manchester, and offers a much cheaper rental market, and housing market. It also has great food and great cycling routes nearby.
The neighbourhood we’re looking at is in South Ribble, so not technically in Preston, but it might as well be considered so.
It is a very, very nice area with very large, very cheap, very peaceful homes.
Currently we plan to stay here for the foreseeable, with my wife going to start a degree in foreign languages next academic year, on the University of Lancashire campus based in Preston.
I have decided not to pursue a PhD, and instead go for a role in industry in Cyber Security, after I finish my masters degree and OSCP, because I need the money :)