Springo, you are clearly not alone in your current situation given the responses to your initial post!
Point i : I’m in an almost identical situation. 26 years of age, IT going-nowhere graduate job with a large corporate in Bournemouth, circa 30k a year with a mortgage. It is mind numbing in its tedium. Fairly recently single, which is a situation I intend to maintain until I’ve sorted myself out in terms of my current premature midlife career crisis. I have been interested in flying since a childhood spent island hopping in F27s, Islanders and so forth in and around PNG and the Solomons, my first “hands on flying” being in a Chipmunk with the ATC. I’m a Brit, but due to a gap year currently hold a Canadian PPL with a night rating and about 200 hours.
Point iii : I am currently looking at Canada or New Zealand as viable options for working (contracting) overseas for a couple of years whilst getting cost effective commercial training, perhaps with a longer term view to stay. IT is a wonderful ticket into many countries at present, even in the current climate, so in your position you have geographical options. With my current debt load, taking on another 40k or so in a “big hit” is not an option, I’m going to have to train gradually and can only see it progressing in conjunction with paid work. I’m not that concerned about where I fly, I love travel, and the UK seems an overly expensive and complex place to begin a career compared to some. If I move, I can sell my house, which will certainly help somewhat in terms of funds. I aim to be in a position to pursue commercial work by 30, by which time I hope the world will be a better place for pilots seeking jobs.
Points v and vi : You are certainly not alone in thinking that perhaps not everyone wants to fly for a big airline. Ideally I’d like to stick to props and fly regional. But I presume (although I’m sure someone will correct me here) there are always financial pressures to advance to bigger aircraft and larger airlines.
Feel free to mail if you’ve any queries about anything in the above!
Thanks and good luck, SSS