Update from Ratty

PoundsLookAfterThemselves

Imelda wrote:

Hi red_ratty_rat,

Glad to see you're updating us, what areas have you been looking in? You might find that although walking to work is lovely, by moving a few miles out you will save far much more on your rent than you spend on your travel. Also as travel passes are weekly/ monthly you get to do "free" stuff at weekends. Check out the oyster card offers on the tfl website ( https://www.tfl.gov.uk ) for cheap days out and cinema tickets. Let us know what you decide!

Thanks I will look on tfl.gov.uk NOW.

I have an oyster card. I have not registered it yet suppose I should do that.

PoundsLookAfterThemselves

Stuffed up my new budget already and I haven’t even moved yet. Just found a place and its gorgeous but rent and bills inclusive are £850. Okay if I do a bit of money saving.

ms_london

red_ratty_rat wrote:

Rent and bills £850 all pcm

Oh my good god :eek: !!!!

Thats almost 3 times what I pay. I hope its a palace - esp when you wont be able to afford to go out

Best of luck though red_ratty_rat - I hope you settle in well. xx

lynzpower

I was thinking that Ms London, red-ratty rat, dont suppose you want to buy a 2 bed flat for less than that do you

lynzpower

Red-ratty-rat

Support come from me as well. Ive been there thats all, and wouldnt do it again, but im sure once you are here, things will be easier to navigate.

Make sure you get your free copies of time out subscription when you come, and enjoy it!!

Love lynz xx

laughing_cow

Second Jobs.

Definitely worth getting some bar or waiting experience and attempting to get work at one of the trendier bars, clubs or hotels. A girl I know worked in the bar of one of the coolest hotels and earned a fortune in tips, as well as having some entertaining celebrity anecdotes. If you work in this kind of place you also get to know lots of useful people - ie people who can get you in free to other bars/clubs etc, just as you will get them into 'your' bar/club. (And of course, if you're cute, you can get off with one of the celebrity clientele and sell your story to the papers - that'll keep you going for a while :eek: :rotfl: ) It's also worth pointing out that many of the better establishments pay for taxis home for their staff, so you won't be hanging around waiting for a nightbus at 3 in the morning.

Other ideas - go for a job in a place related to your interests - ie if you like going to gigs, get a job at the Astoria/Brixton Academy/Forum etc, sport - Twickenham/Wembley when it's open. That way you'll get to see loads of things you like for free, and you might be lucky enough to catch sold out/sought after concerts like Madonna/Radiohead etc etc. Cinema and theatres are good ideas too, although you might end up seeing the same play/film over and over again!

Shops - M+S is renowned for having good staff benefits. Supermarkets offer discount on food etc - but check out how long you have to work there before you qualify for this. Most big companies such as these may also offer holiday pay, proportional to yoru contracted weekly hours of course. The trendier department stores are renowned for having a lively staff social scene if you want to make new friends.

I did bar work during the first few years of living here, albeit only in a local pub for crappy money. However, I met loads of great people and am still very good friends with one over 10 years later.

Good luck!

ms_london

Surely if you found somewhere with cheaper rent you wouldnt have to do 2 jobs?? I'd prefer that than killing myself doing 2 jobs - especially when you're new to London & want more time to see/do the things you've come here for? :cool:

lynzpower

Ive found trying to get babysitting nigh on impossible, although Im sure I havent tried half as muhc as I can. the babysitting agencies pay badly, although bits & pieces can be found on the gumtree, but you have to be quick to get them. You might find more luck if yuou put ads in your local newsagent etc.

Chell

charlie007 wrote:

my second job is working with kids in care, really rewarding and fits in well with my full time work. Don't really need the extra money now like i previously did but it is something i hope to keep doing

I do the same, sessional work for Social Services.

yoshihirouk

Thenotsowyzewun wrote:

Actually this is a common misconception.
If you earn over £40,000, you pay the Basic Tax Rate on the first £39,999.99 (i.e. approximately £7,700 (this is not accurate - the first £5,000 or so of your earnings is always tax-free)).

Still, you are right in thinking that of every £100 over £40,000 £40 (40%) goes to Income Tax.

What might be of more concern is where Working Tax Credit ends, depending on how close you are to this figure (the Benefits Board would be able to provide such information if anyone's interested).

Besides, since when do people earn over £40,000 doing Pet Sitting and Babysitting (except Royal Butler's of course lol).

Is it a mis-conception or truth about 2nd jobs having a high tax rate? I am looking into a 2nd job but would like to know this first.