Whirlybird has the right idea
Thank you...but I haven't posted yet.
At the moment, unless the North Sea have suddenly started recruiting low hours pilots again, the only thing you're likely to be able to do is instruct. Now, do you think you'll like instructing? It's much less about flying than about dealing with people, all sorts of them. At the start, you'll do mainly trial lessons. Personally, I love it. But a love of flying and of all types of people seems to be a pretty rare combination, on the whole. And you won't even to do that much flying; you'll do an awful lot of letting someone who can't fly try to kill you.
If, at the end of the day you can stand back having spent everything, not get work, then say "well I had a ball trying" go for it, but it sounds like your circumstances won't allow that?
Since you've asked, that's roughly what I did. I'm single, the money came from an inheritance and then another windfall (thank god for London property prices!). Sensible people would have bought a new house or gone round the world, but I had the choice, I tried it, and I've no debts. But I also have only a very little freelance instructing work, and so far no likelihood of gettting more. And if I'd had to borrow all the cash and had dependents, although I might have done it, I don't think I could feel so sanguine about it now. In fact, I think I'd be pretty fed up. And when I started my CPL, the North Sea were recruiting; had I known they'd stop, I might have done differently.
Having said that, it's true that "if only" are the two saddest words in the English language. No, you don't want to end up at 70, wishing you'd at least tried. But neither do you want to end up penniless with a broken marriage. Only you can decide.
But if you do go for it...
1)Save up some money first; don't get too much in debt.
2)Register for VAT; very easy, and will save a lot on your training.
3) If career development loans still exist, they're interest free for two or three years...only £8000, but it all helps.
4) Train and hourbuild abroad; I hear South Africa is cheap, though not tried it.
5) Be nice to everyone; in this business who you know makes a lot of difference.
Think hard...and good luck whatever you decide.