The irony......!

Got2change

ringo_24601 wrote: »

What is your current standard of living? I flat shared when i was on 26k in london (and still saved towards a house deposit)

I think my signature pretty much sums up my standard of living....*sigh*

But to expand a little -

Divorced, getting on a bit, rented house (that is another long story) - only significant tie to this area has four legs and will probably be going to horse heaven this winter. Financially about to hit sub-rock bottom (BR being rock bottom I suppose); due in no small part to waiting for six weeks+ for a job to fall through, hence no real job hunting and corresponding lack of motivation (and serious depression) kicking in.

A humorous aside:

I remember gettinga really serious b******ing from my Grandmother when - aged about 9-10 - I told a girl at school about my unusual (for that era) background. She went mental at me for "airing my dirty linen". I bet she's turning in her grave now.

therealdessie

Okay, here goes:

1. If you're claiming JSA then your claims adviser can help you with the travel - just ask them as soon as you can - it may come from their discretionary fund
2. Don't assume that fare was the cheapest - two singles might be cheaper, you could get/use a travelcard, and don't forget the interview won't be at peak time. 2 hours is a long time but if the train is direct and reasonably priced it could be nice for a short while
3. Use places like Gumtree to look for flat shares in outer London, you'd be surprised how many there are - especially seeking professionals like yourself
4. It's only an interview, don't stress about what might/might not have happened yet - sieze the day!

robpw2

Go for it girl the job centre will pay you to go to an interview out of your area!!
you can join flatshare.co.uk
or other flat share website and gumtree if you need places to stay

ITS MEANT TO BE I THINK

tinkerbell84

Friend of mine used to commute from north Derbyshire to London every day - it's do-able in the short term. They ended up moving to Northampton for the shorter commute.

£28K is perfectly possible in London. You'll take home around £1600 per month. Even if you spent half of that on rent and travel you'd be doing okay.

Go for it - you may be about to change your life forever :beer:

caroline789

Go for it, won't hurt to go for the interview and see what happens.

This could be fate, the fact that they still wanted to see you after the closing date plus the fact that it is your "dream job." Location is a variable.

£28K in London is perfectly do-able, there are some fairly cheapish places to rent out the outskirts of town and only about a 30 minute commute in on the train.

I'll join you for a cocktail in town to celebrate if you're successful!!

Horace

Go for it, you only have one life so live it.

Employers will usually pay expenses for travel - so ask them, and as someone else has pointed out ask about relocation fees as well.

You can buy an Oyster Card https://www.tfl.gov.uk - but you need to put some money on it so that you can travel about (used on tubes, local trains and buses within the London area) - it is often cheaper to travel using an Oyster card than it is without.

Sure rents, can be high in London as anywhere but you may be able to find a flatshare. Food prices are much the same as anywhere else - you just have to shop carefully like you do already.

I am a great believer in fate, you were supposed to go on that website and you were supposed to see the banner for the job, you were supposed to apply for it, you were supposed to get an interview and.......the story continues:D

Good Luck.

chocolatechipcookies

I think you should go for it. You don't have to live in London, you could live in a town outside the city. Have a word with the people at the job centre, a friend of mine got some money for a suit for an interview. Maybe if you take your receipts, they'll reimburse the train fare. If you get the second interview, figure out how much bills might be and plan out how much you want to spend on rent. Have a look to see what you can get on rightmove, or contact the local council about council flats/houses.

Edinburghlass_2

If you don't go then you'll have everyone here to answer for, take the opportunity and run with it and run fast

Got2change

I don't know what I'd do without you lovely people to brainstorm with....
xx
Everyone is so encouraging - thank you everybody, and great suggestions and advice.

It's strange; I have travelled to the other side of the world with an 8-year old in tow and been on a few solo holidays - yet the thought of uprooting within this country scares me witless.

Anyway, back to more immediate problems:

The train fare will be £30 each way - the interview is mid-afternoon, so I can get trains outside of rush hours/peak times. This is cheapest fare and coincidentally shortest journey at just under 1.5 hours so v good. The offices are about 4 miles from Kings Cross and I am a bit wary of the tube so will look into the cost of a taxi.
I have spoken to the Jobcentre about the scheme where they help and I am trying to stop them from contacting the company until after I've been; it's just a pride thing you know.... Similarly, I really want to ask the company is they will pay travel costs but, again, it's my pride - I just don't want to set off wrong-footed. But if anyone can think of a dignified way to word the question, I'd be happy to hear....
I am trying hard not to put the cart before the house and contemplate leaving this village - mainly because I think there is only a slim (to none) chance of me actually being successful. But I have considered the costs (as you do) and the only sensible option would be to actually move to London properly (I really would like to try and keep this house for when everything falls through but I would have to be on a City salary; I don't want to be thinking £28,000 isn't enough when I would consider myself lucky to earn half that at the moment).
So again, big big thank yous to all - I appreciate everyone's input, I really really do.
xx

chocoholic123

I have no idea where you live - but have you looked into the Chiltern line for trains?
Birmingham to London return (with inclusive free tube fairs all day) is only about £25. Don't remember exactly, but it was a lot cheaper than the mainline trains.