Is it pointless to move to london without a highly skilled job?

melysion

I've lived in several areas of London but the people are unfriendly everywhere in the city and the travel costs remain the same. There are some plus points to living there of course - employment prospects for a start. But unless you are on a significantly higher salary than me, you can't take advantage of most of what London has to offer and I've come to believe it's simply not worth being 300 miles away from my family for. But that's just my experience. It may be quite different for the OP.

t0rt0ise

I live in London and I love it. I live in zone 1, work in zone 2 in a job with the public and don't find people at all unfriendly. I tend to go to a lot of free things, museums, exhibitions, markets etc. And have also been to a good few TV recordings which are free and fun, 8 out of 10 cats, Have I got news, Big Fat Quiz and so on. Pubs are great as there's so much choice. Lots of Wetherspoons if you want cheap. I don't do clubs any more but there's plenty of those too.

So I'd say if anyone wants to do it, just do so. It is what you make it so enjoy it.

boliston

melysion wrote: »

I've lived in several areas of London but the people are unfriendly everywhere in the city......

Seems strange that people should be unfriendly everywhere in london - does someone suddenly become unfriendly if they move to london? I find that it tends to be small towns where people are often quite narrow mined and unfriendly rather than larger towns and cities where people tend to be more broad minded and accepting of others.

[Deleted User]

I can't say London is unfriendly - it's just that people keep themselves to themselves more that t'up north. I've struck up conversations on the tube and train occasionally; and people will typically help out people in need (e.g. prams and stairs). One major difference is the pace. I feel like i'm stuck in slow-mo when I visit places outside of London. DON'T STAND ON THE LEFT on the tube. You'll get shouted at.

I moved to Zone 3 about 11 years ago, working in zone 1 for 7 years, then eventually decided that I would like to own something larger than a shed, so moved out to zone 6, then on to the outer edges of the M25 (one day to be zone 7 or 8).

I don't imagine life would be rather nice living in London earning much under £30k. I'm sure it can be done (and I was on less than that when I moved) but ideally you want to have a job with some kind of prospects - as the cost of living will generally outstrip national inflation. Rent and transport will be a major cost.

If you want to cut the price of drinking when out, stick to Wetherspoon's, Sam Smith and Nicholson's pubs.

Polarbeary

I live in zone 3 with my partner. Rent is £600 for a nice, spacious one bed flat in a decent area - close to national rail station and overground. Bills are around £100 each including council tax.

I do like to spend but save around £500 a month. It helps that my partner has a very good job though!We are looking at buying our own flat this year.

I don't know how people live on minimum wage jobs in London. Do they get buses from zone 6? Live with parents? Council housing? There are a lot of jobs in London but not all of them pay well. There are good career prospects if you get the right job.

Personally, I would need at least at least £27k to live here but £32k plus is ideal....

controversy

London sucks to be honest. High property rent = low disposable income for working class.

London doesn't support the working class so why should the working class support London?

Cubanista

Hey,


Sorry for late reply. Thanks for all the replies i really appreciate it. I have been looking around online and saw a room/bedsit to rent near Paddington station which was around £800 per month with bills included. Not going to move there lol but i was just looking around to see the general prices in zone 1 or 2 within a price range that would be comfortable for me.


I have been thinking how much i may need to stay in London for at a minimum of 6 months so i can apply for work while i am there. I am thinking around 5k or 6k will get me by. I will shop at the cheaper stores such as aldi or lidl, and go to Iceland for frozen food.


I am not a party goer and i very rarely drink, neither do i smoke, so i save money through this too. Of course i may go out for a drink a couple times a week (not alcoholic) but for the most part i will be searching for work and until i find work, i will just enjoy London and go places, of which are free.


I am still not entirely delusional lol. I do still understand that it would be a huge step and without a guarantee of a job it could be difficult. However, i would still have a home to return to if things didn't work out.


I would of course want things to work out because it's an aim of mine to live in London. There is so much more opportunity in the city than out here in the sticks, and so many more people and different nationalities to socialise with and meet.


Any more insight would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks,


Cubanista

[Deleted User]

Rent around Paddington can be pretty high, and the area can be rough around the edges if you don't know it - so I wouldn't expect much for £800 a month (I remember 10 years ago a 3 bed flat rent next to the station was about £2000 pm). I've visited a 4 bed flat that was going for £4500, but that was in a decent street and done out nicely.

For £800, you'll be looking at an ex-council flat and some interesting neighbours

duchy

Have you a goal that studying could realize ?

If you don't have a degree why not consider studying in London ?

Either in central London or more affordably Kingston or Roehampton and live in Halls.... for example.

If you found you hated London there's nothing to stop you transferring to a different uni after your first year.

London is an easy place to find part-time work to supplement your income.

Just a thought- a way to live in London AND increase your prospects

At 25 I'd choose a degree with an optional year or semester abroad and view it as an adventure

richdeniro

One thing you will really have to be prepared for is the majority of workplace environments in London, especially if you plan to stay in sales.

London offices are a warzone. Its a darwinian jungle and very nasty.