London and Low/Minimum Wage Earners

Cpcompany

Hopefully I have posted in the right section, apologies if not.

I just wanted to get some feedback on peoples coping/management strategies when living in London on a low wage.

I am 36 years old and currently I work part time and get 7 Pound an hour. I work 25 hours a week and also get about 20 quid tips on top. I might have another job starting next week for doing 18 hours on minimum wage.

I managed to put some savings in a Cash ISA and still had a few grand left but that has been whittled away to nothing since moving to London and paying for a BTEC course.

I have found it incredibly hard getting work after returning from living abroad. I havent even been able to get interviews for fairly simple roles such as admin and data entry, even though I have been in constant employment since university in reasonably good jobs (sorry if I sound arrogant here).

Currently I pay 410 quid a month in rent in a 5 bedroom shared house, about 30 quid a week on food, I havent totalled travel up, but I travel zone 1-2. My only real extravagance is my gym membership and a a few supplements here and there. I make my own food for work, dont really go out anymore and have started spending sensibly on clothes and music.

I also intend to start driving lessons once my second job starts in order to give me extra opportunities for work.

Anyone with any similar experiences who can let me know how they managed?

Also, I am thinking about opening a Halifax account and putting all my savings in there in order to save up for a new ISA next year.

Also, would it be possible for me to claim any benefits such as housing benefit?

Any feedback/replies is greatly appreciated.

zx2011

You can check your benefits at http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx (Some are esitmated see page for details.)

Or at http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DoItOnlineByCategory/DG_172666

You can check for housing benfit(now called Local Housing Allowance) at you local counci's website.

More info at http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_10018928

Joe_Bloggs

The key issue is the £7 per hour. You and anyone else would struggle to live on this. I guess there may be an influx of graduates in the next month. I could not find out how many.
J_B.

Cpcompany

Thanks for the links.

Well, I didnt get the other job.So I am still stuck on 25 hours a week.

I will give the DSS a ring next week and see whats what.

Mishomeister

Ty to get a Working Tax Credit

Joe_Bloggs

What was the BTec In ? Does this relate to your degree ? I am sure that the most treasured secrets are recent job vacancies.
J_B.

Cpcompany

Joe_Bloggs wrote: »

What was the BTec In ? Does this relate to your degree ? I am sure that the most treasured secrets are recent job vacancies.
J_B.

I am on the BTEC now. Its in Music Production. Really I am doing it for a hobby, but as I paid for it out of my own pocket, I intend to finish it.

My degree is in Marketing, which I did many moons ago.

cashbackproblems

London is not the place to be on minimum wage, yours is worse by the fact that your not even working full time. The only way out of it is your job situation as 400p/m rent is about as low as you can go. Have you look ed around the UK, do you have family you can stay with free while you find a better job? Housing benefit for a single person is only 70pw i think but thats if your on benefits..could be less as your earning

Cpcompany

cashbackproblems wrote: »

London is not the place to be on minimum wage, yours is worse by the fact that your not even working full time. The only way out of it is your job situation as 400p/m rent is about as low as you can go. Have you look ed around the UK, do you have family you can stay with free while you find a better job? Housing benefit for a single person is only 70pw i think but thats if your on benefits..could be less as your earning

I moved to London as the job situation is much worse in the North East. Most of my mates work in manual/building trade and a lot have moved abroad in the past year.

I suppose I could go back, but living at my parents at my age and signing on would be done as a very last resort.

Cpcompany

I am going to call for income support tomorrow as I was informed today that I am not entitled to working tax credits.

One slight problem is that I am deeply suspicious that my landlord is subletting a council flat. Not sure what I should do in this situation.

Has anyone experienced this before?

CIS

One slight problem is that I am deeply suspicious that my landlord is subletting a council flat. Not sure what I should do in this situation.

He may have permission (its unusual but is sometimes given) but most likely he hasn't. IF he hasn't got permission then its likely they would take steps to recover the property and cease his tenancy.