Cost of Living in Hampshire

MoaningMyrtle

It is difficult to live on a salary of £20,000.

missymugwump

Average Rental Prices in Hampshire

beds 1
Jan 2009 £581
Feb 2009 £579 - 0.3%

I think you may struggle at £500 -£550

How about renting a room in a family house ?
Safer
If new to area they may take you under there wing (lots of people renting rooms to help with mortgage)
You may be able to top up salary with a bit of babysitting or dog walking ?
Only an idea

mbynwa

MoaningMyrtle wrote: »

It is difficult to live on a salary of £20,000.

What about £25,000?

oldMcDonald

mbynwa wrote: »

What about £25,000?

I imagine it all depends very much on your circumstances!

I know a bus driver on less than that who lives there - I also have a neice on a joint salary with her husband of £45k who found it too expensive and moved to nearby Chandlers Ford. It's all very dependant on lifestyle choices (as it is in any area). Bus driver I know rents a room and is saving a deposit to buy at some point....neice and her OH have been getting new cars every other year and enjoy several holidays a year......

SpaceInvader

I will be on mid £20s salary wise and live fairly frugally but I do enjoy walking and my car is on it's last legs.....

missymugwump - I have looked into lodging rather than renting which I would think would save me about £200 a month for the same reasons you suggested (safer, know someone) but I'm a bit wary as I know there are no real legalities when it comes to lodging. If they change your mind, you could be out fairly quickly!

There are other issues I need to think about too. I think the issue longer term is not being able to buy in the local area without a very hefty deposit and having to struggle most months. I would rather have some leeway and a "job" rather than a "career" and know that I'm not struggling financially.

Possible new job is on outskirts of Winchester and I'm not averse to commuting in itself but, of course, this also adds to the bills.

missymugwump

SpaceInvader wrote: »

I will be on mid £20s salary wise and live fairly frugally but I do enjoy walking and my car is on it's last legs.....

missymugwump - I have looked into lodging rather than renting which I would think would save me about £200 a month for the same reasons you suggested (safer, know someone) but I'm a bit wary as I know there are no real legalities when it comes to lodging. If they change your mind, you could be out fairly quickly!

There are other issues I need to think about too. I think the issue longer term is not being able to buy in the local area without a very hefty deposit and having to struggle most months. I would rather have some leeway and a "job" rather than a "career" and know that I'm not struggling financially.

Possible new job is on outskirts of Winchester and I'm not averse to commuting in itself but, of course, this also adds to the bills.

ahh but that works in your favour too if you don't like them ?
In your position it's what I would do for a few months until you are familiar with the area
A lot less commitment than signing a minimum 6 month tenancy and being stuck with it

Richard_Webster

Villages around Winchester will be very very expensive. Can you give us a better idea of exactly where you will be working?

Generally Southampton properties tend to be a little cheaper than Eastleigh/Chandlers Ford properties, but it does depend on location. How much can you afford?

Commuting out of the City like me against the flow into Southampton will be generally easier than the other way.

The M3 is best avoided in the mornings as it gets crowded with people commuting to London.

SpaceInvader

Richard_Webster wrote: »

Villages around Winchester will be very very expensive. Can you give us a better idea of exactly where you will be working?

Generally Southampton properties tend to be a little cheaper than Eastleigh/Chandlers Ford properties, but it does depend on location. How much can you afford?

Commuting out of the City like me against the flow into Southampton will be generally easier than the other way.

The M3 is best avoided in the mornings as it gets crowded with people commuting to London.

I don't really want to say exactly where I will be working but can PM you if you would be willing to help?

Richard_Webster

By all means PM me!

Jazzyjeff_2

I would say mid 20s is perfectly acceptable to live on as a single person. When I left uni I was on £15k and managed to rent a 1 bed flat and still able to go out etc (abeit not save anything). You need to decide where you want to live - town centre / rural etc?? Central Southampton takes about 30 mins to get into Winchester for me, Bishops Waltham is more rural and is reasonably affordable, chandlers ford is kind of in the middle as in not a city centre but fairly developed. What do you want?