Calling all Londoners !

Lollypops_3

Hi - I've just discovered that I can double my salary by taking a job in London. It'd certainly speed up my debt repayments ! The question is - what's the going rate to rent a room in a shared house/flat within travelling distance of the City ? Also what are the travelling costs like to travel in from various areas? Any advice much appreciated.

Savvy_Sue

Probably double what you're paying at the moment ...

It's a "swings and roundabout" situation. The further out you are, the more your travel will cost but the cheaper housing will be. I certainly wouldn't move to London just for the money ...

fran_from_willesden

Travel depends on if you're using the Underground or Overground (Silverlink/Thameslink) services. I live in Zone 2 and am lucky I can walk to work. They've recently put the prices up again on buses but if you get an Oyster card, it can work out cheaper.

Accommodation varies - again depending on where you are. I can only say about where I live in NW London. One bed flats (i.e. studios) go for between 125 - 200 pw. A room in a house can cost anything between 400-500 per month, and this is without bills.

Coming from London originally, I moved back home after uni to pay off immediate debts - which I've done but I wouldn't have done it if I'd had to pay rent and bills. You don't realise just how expensive it can be! Saying that though - I know a hell of a lot of cheap pubs in central London!

I would say to do some research abot where you'd like to live and how far from where you'd be working it would be. Good luck!

Bendybops19

I was going to take a job in london because it pays more (i live near watford) but after working out all the expenses, i would actually be earning slightly less than i am now!!

Lollypops_3

Thanks for the responses.

Rather than moving lock, stock and barrel to London I was thinking of going contracting for 18 months or so then moving back home. In the longer term I'm planning to set myself up as a complementary therapist but want to start that when I'm debt free and have 6 months or so living expenses in the bank. At the moment it feels like a far off dream ! I'm just investigating options to speed things up a bit (Impatient little sod that I am !). The rents quoted are managable but I think it's the travel costs that could be the crippler ! I've got some friends in London and Reading and it'd be nice to be closer to them for a bit too. Given me food for thought though...:think:thanks again !

Caterina

It is possible to find bedsits in SE London at approximately £70-80 max inc. bills, around Lewisham (zone 2 - but grotty) or Charlton (zone 3 but really nice), even cheaper in Woolwich or Plumstead (zones 3-4 some areas grotty some very very nice).

Then you have the travelcard costs to take into account, a monthly zone 1-2-3 travelcard usually costs £96 but if you renew it at the same station and the trains are late in the last month (they ALWAYS ARE!!!) you get 5% discount and pay £91.20 instead.

What work do you do? Could you contract to work near where you choose to live? You need to balance the housing cost against the travel cost - say if you need to work in the City it would not pay to LIVE there too, because the cost of rent would far outstrip the cost of travel.

People think that London is a very expensive town but (apart from housing and travel if you commute a long way) it needn't be - there are plenty of cheap options for food and entertainment and even loads of free things to do! The transport costs are also very convenient compared to some other places, where there are no all-inclusive travelcards etc.

Travel itself needn't be crippling, as you could part-commute and part-bike or you could use buses more than trains (any ONE ZONE travelcard will allow you to travel on buses throughout London for example).

If you want more ideas about living cheaply in London I would be happy to chat with you, pm me if you want!

Shame I have turned my spare room into a study (I need it for work) as I used to rent it out very cheaply (£100 pw inc. bills AND full board) until a couple of years ago!

Caterina

nabowla

If you're thinking about renting a room in a shared house/flat, have a look at http://www.loot.com to get an idea of current prices. Some of the cheapest places can be really grotty but there are also some real bargains about. It pays to look at quite a few places within your budget before you decide on anything.

the_canty

live in east london -cheap(ish) rent & cycle to work - save's a fortune on travel expenses.

check https://www.moveflat.com for flatshares

but i agree with sue - I would'nt move to london just to save some extra money - it's about lifestyle choices also.

ms_london

I live in Tooting Broadway, rent is £280 per month, with about £50 bills (thats everything). I have a double room & share the flat with 2 girls, its pretty cheap - even for Tooting.

Zone 3 travelcard is about £90 a month.

I come from a village in Herts, but its cheaper for me to live in London rather than live outside & commute.

Its difficult though as I dont want to live in London forever, but you get used to earning London Wages. Yes London can be expensive, but there are HEAPS of free things to do.

If its for the short term I would do it. I moved to London with debt, knowing I could earn more here than at home. Yes London can be expensive to rent, but there are some good places out there, you just have to find the right place & weigh up the pros and cons.

I use www.thegumtree.com to find my places to rent, not bad for jobs too, and meeting new people.

Good luck & let me know if you need any advice.

Ms_London xx