Can it be possible to be wholeheartedly OS in London or am I just being a bumpkin?

Maitane

Hi all,

I'm not one hundred percent sure where to look for good advice on this one but the OS boards have never really failed me yet.

I'm from the People's Republic of North Wales and whilst I live in Snowdonia, speak Welsh and generally get considered a country bumpkin (joscin by the Welshies) by most, I'm actually a proper city girl but my stints in various cities including Barcelona were not particularly frugal. I always chose the stupidest way/place to live, went a bit crackers and always had to go home, tail between my legs.

Both my partner and I have been offered jobs by friends (coincidence weirdly enough) in London. Both jobs are stable but can it really be possible to continue my progress on OS in London? So far, I've got rid of all my store cards and my overdraft, nearly there with my one remaining credit card and really cut our outgoings. I really don't want to go back to the old days.

Anyone who has any advice on things as where to look at living and what not, please post! I could do with any and every suggestion out there before I'm asked to make a decision next week.

Thanks,

Maitane

MiddyMum

What salaries will you be getting in London?

Maitane

I'll be getting around £1,700 a month after tax (and without commission). I have about £600 worth of outgoings a month - I'm repaying old mistakes as fast as possible.

Mr Maitane hasn't done any negotiation yet but he'll definately keep his current salary of around £1,400. He has outgoings of around £250 a month.

MiddyMum

I think you will be OK, as that is a joint income of £3100 a month after tax. However, it really does depend on what your living requirements are. If they are:

* House
* Garden
* Good-ish area with good train links/tube
* Nice shops nearby and no kebab shops or poundland etc

Then you are looking at, at least £1250 (modest sum) a month rent, not including your council tax and bills. You can get rent for cheaper say £800 a month but the area will not be as good, and you may not feel safe walking home at night. If you decide to move outer london and commute in, you will have rip-off train fare to contend with.

Maitane

Thanks for the help. We don't have a garden now or tonnes of space. There's only the two of us and we're fine to be in each others' faces all the time. A one bedroom would be preferred but I reckon we could get away with a studio for six months or so.

Also we've lived in properly rough areas before (me in Liverpool, Birmingham, Paris and Barcelona and OH in St. Paul's in Bristol) and as we generally keep to ourselves, go places together and don't look for trouble, we're not too fussed.

Would you have any suggestions of areas to look in MiddyMum?

MiddyMum

What part of London will you be working in? I am hoping that someone more clued up about specific London areas will reply to your post soon. I only lived in Surbiton which is Zone 6. I really recommend it, lovely area, nice and safe and you can get a 1 bed flat/studio for £800 a month. It also only takes 17 mins to get into London Waterloo...

rubytuesday

I have lived in Hackney for fourteen years which is considered rough and I absolutely love it!

Mind you it's getting quite trendy so I'm not sure what rents are like.

Found this.

http://www.foxtons.co.uk/living-in/hackney/rentals/

Dippypud

http://www.livinginlondon.net/

London is big and exciting, but finding the right place to live in London is difficult. Accommodation is expensive and London's size and diversity means finding a suitable flat or house to let or buy is a challenge. LivinginLondon.net lets you find the area of London that's right for you in terms of location, cost, housing, entertainment, local facilities, transport and, of course, the people. It offers an area by area guide based on London postcodes and gives details of houses, flats and apartments to let or for sale in each area. Just click an area on the map.

My bestest advice, buy a pushbike.:D

Maitane

Thanks Middymum. I know that area - we do have friends and colleagues who live in London and the area already, someone told me to try Kingston-on-Thames or generally South.

Thanks RubyTuesday, much appreciated.

The job is near Edgware Road, I think the nearest mainline is Paddington.

Maitane

Thanks DippyPud.
My other half already has a pushbike and can ride for miles. Me on the other hand... I might need to practice up here first!

Toonie

I've lived in London most of my life and manage to do so at present with an after tax income of around £1000 per month. I live in zone 3 (Walthamstow) and share a 2 bedroom house with a garden with my friend and we pay £1150 a month in rent.

Where you choose to live really depends on where your jobs are going to be. Also, do you want somewhere that is not too city like (zone 3 and further out). Do you want good transport links?

If you can let us know where your jobs will be we could give better suggestions. (Cross posted...will have a think).