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

rubytuesday

Edgware Road is totally different to Edgware.

You could get the 30 bus from Hackney.

This borough also has the most green spaces.

Maitane

rubytuesday wrote: »

Edgware Road is totally different to Edgware.

C'mon, give the Welshie a break I'm more used to mountains than boroughs and tube stations. Trains... underground? And no hills!

Actually, one of the guys at the new company was telling me that the area the company is in gets called little Beirut and that I'll fit right in. It's all very exciting.:j

rubytuesday

I'm just telling you because if you decided to live in Edgware to be close to your work you would be totally up the creek!

Anyway I see you're thinking about Walthamstow which isn't bad - a friend of mine lives there and he's happy.

There are lots of Arab shops and businesses on Edgware Road.

Gigervamp

Going back to your original question, it is possible to be OS in London. If anything, it's probably easier as there are loads of markets, all sorts of ethnic shops and plenty of foraging opportunities.

I live in Bridgend, and apart from the Polish shop, there aren't any ethnic shops nearby. The nearest are in Cardiff. I lived most of my life in London and also lived in Stoke for a while and I do miss the ethnic shops.

PhGage

Another vote for Walthamstow as a reasonable place to live with interesting shops, markets and decent transport links. There's even a nice-sounding Housing Co-op there for people who don't mind doing DIY.

Walthamstow and similar are much better than living a little further out where housing may be cheaper but you can spend 15-20% of your gross salary on your season ticket. (And the petrol's more expensive than surrounding areas with limited food shopping choices.)

rhiwfield

I lived in London for 10 years (worked there much longer) and it's very possible to be OS there.

First thing is you dont need a car! Transport is generally great and walking is often an option, especially if you ignore the tube map and look at the street map. Cars mean you need to park/insure, it is prob cheaper to hire when you need one. Markets mean you can get a lot of stuff pretty cheap and there's often lots of free entertainment, as well as loads of free attractions.

Lots of shops mean competition, so I never found prices high unless you go to the fashion or high end shops.

Badger_Lady

I lived there last year - it's totally easy to live cheaply as long as you're willing to be a bit adventurous.

Living - check out guardianships, where you can stay in empty buildings in London for a very cheap licence fee. I lived in a huge, stunning studio by Paddington Station for £412 a month including all bills: http://uk.cameloteurope.com/508/0/available-properties/available-properties.html Not all the properties are shown online. They get a bad rep when you search but I stayed in one place for 10 months and made friends for life - I couldn't recommend it enough. When I left I got my full deposit back no problem at all, and my friends moved into other buildings where they're still very happy. If you don't like it, just hand in your month's notice and you're free to go.

Social life - join up to http://theaudienceclub.com/ to get free / very cheap tickets to shows every night of the week. Who needs a TV when you can see live comedy in Leicester Square or a musical in Soho?

Food - obviously you can still keep up your OS habits, especially if you're in a guardianship community (in mine we created our own vegetable patch in the grounds and had grow bags on the roof, and people would pitch in together). But you can also enjoy the odd freebie through Mystery Shopping - there's a huge helpful thread on it in the forums and London is packed full of available jobs.

Following my experience, my sister is now living in London and having the time of her life. Her approximate monthly expenses are:
- £225 for rent, electric, water, council tax
- £50 for car insurance
- £80 public transport, petrol
- £120 food, drink

She doesn't bother with a TV licence (i.e. doesn't have a TV) so anything else she earns is pretty much for pleasure and leisure

Maitane

Thanks so very much for all the help everyone. I'll be sure to check out everything, the guardianship also sounds pretty interesting.

duchy

There's also markets for fruit and veg all over London. Most people who claim London is very expensive are the type of people who turn their noses up at "real" markets" and genuinely ethnic shopping areas and really miss out.

I think you're going to have a lot of fun and get the most out of living in London as you have the right attitude.

gettingready

Maitane - another East Londoner here. Wanstead/Leytonstone borders.

Love it here - and I commute to work to Camden.... sigh....

LIved in Walthamstow for over 5 years, fantastic for shopping - cheap market, cheap Turkish shops.....

Pity your your job will be so far as.. got a room to let