Moving to zone 1 in London, is this enough money?

McCloud1

steampowered wrote: »

There are lots of people in the city who work late but don't live in Zone 1 (though I agree when you are working late commuting times is a very important consideration).

You could consider a cheaper area like New Cross or Peckham, which is still very well connected to central London.

It sounds like you'll be very busy with work and study, so may not have much time to spend in your flat! It sounds like a studio would be fine, but personally I'd go for a 1-bed in a slightly rougher area.

Well the issue is it needs to be close to uni and close to work, but uni is over in Bloomsbury and work is next to Moorgate. I need to be able to get from home to uni within 30 minutes because I will often be working from home until 17:30.

I suppose the commute to work is less of an issue, it's more the distance from home to uni that matters.

McCloud1

camptownraces wrote: »

Can you negotiate an earlier finish with your employer? - if not, you will find it difficult, unless those college evenings coincide with the days you work at home.

Seems to me that it's your time that is borderline, not money.

I don't think you can reliably get from Moorgate to Birkbeck in 30 minutes using the Underground. The trains will be crowded and it will take a few minutes to get to the surface using the lifts at Goodge street (no escalator as I recall), plus crossing the main road and walking at speed to the college.

I can make sure my home working days coincide with uni most of the time, I have a lot of flexibility there, though sometimes it will be out of my hands. I can probably leave a little earlier if I do have to go into work.

There will be some days where I will have to priortise work and just not go to classes, but I'd hope it would be no more than once per month.

bouicca21

A colleague did a Birkbeck degree, whilst working in west London suburbia and living out in Essex. Another did it whilst working in central London and living in suburbia. Never occurred to either of them to move to central London. Birkbeck is dead easy to get to from almost any part of London or commuter route.

thriftylass

McCloud1 wrote: »

£150 on food...I spend £75 every 4 days on shopping including toiletries and cleaning products. I'm so screwed aren't I....

I think it's time to start writing down what you eat and cook. Also start keeping a spending diary so you actually know where your current money goes. To have £1800 spending money and not knowing where it goes or feeling it's not enough is crazy even in London. Definitely check out the grocery forums. We spend £400 a month for a family of 4 and we're not hard core. We eat meat, drink, have fresh fruit and veg (although Scotland prices, still). Nearly 20 quid on food and toiletries A DAY sounds like you live off take aways and ready meals etc. Time to learn to cook, plan your lunches, batch cook a bit etc. Not as hard as it sounds btw.

You admit you're not good with money. First good step. Now maybe learn to change it .

Oakdene

McCloud1 wrote: »

£150 on food...I spend £75 every 4 days on shopping including toiletries and cleaning products. I'm so screwed aren't I....

.

Thats £525 a month :eek:

I (granted we live in a cheaper part of the country) spend less than £150 a month on food, toiletries & cleaning products a month for me & my teenage daughter.

McCloud1

thriftylass wrote: »

I think it's time to start writing down what you eat and cook. Also start keeping a spending diary so you actually know where your current money goes. To have £1800 spending money and not knowing where it goes is not very sensible. Definitely check out the grocery forums. We spend £400 for a family of 4 and we're not hard core. We eat meat, drink, have fresh fruit and veg (although Scotland prices, still). Nearly 20 quid on food and toiletries sounds like you live off take aways and ready meals etc. Time to learn to cook, plan your lunches, batch cook a bit etc. Not as hard as it sounds btw.

You admit you're not good with money. First good step. Now maybe learn to change it .

Oh I'm not just 'not good' with money, I am horrific with it, and you're right, I am definitely not sensible. People keep telling me I need to settle down with a nice woman who will keep me in check!

I don't eat ready meals, but I do eat extremely well as cooking is one of my hobbies, my average Monday-night dinner could be served in a high-end restaurant.

I will check out the grocery forums as you suggest, I know I can make huge cutbacks, its just I don't know how to eat well with proper nutrition on a budget.

TamsinC

McCloud1 wrote: »

£150 on food...I spend £75 every 4 days on shopping including toiletries and cleaning products. I'm so screwed aren't I....

Blimey - I spend £80 - £100 a week on family of 5! You can do better - cook from scratch, meal plan and buy non brand products! My daughter went to uni in London - £25 a week for food.

thriftylass

You don't need to spend £600 a month on food for yourself to get a proper nutrition. As I mentioned we eat healthy and nutritiously including fresh meat, veg, fruit. I think you should be able to cut that in half considering you'd like to keep some luxury groceries or brands. Maybe give us some examples of a typical shop and what you eat a day as I would struggle to spend that much money on home cooking. Do you buy brands, organic etc.

You'll get there if you keep an open mind

need_an_answer

Learn to live like a student if you are going to be one.

High end eateries can wait until you are qualified and in the job you want.

TBH I'm not sure what motivation you want other than the only person who can change all this is you.

You have a very healthy disposable income and presumably have had for some time,what about any savings or is that something that you will consider in a few years time along with the good woman to look after you!

I appreciate you jest as do I but if you really want this lifestyle change then you will need to embrace it or carry on as you are wishing that things will change.

If that doesn't motivate you then nothing will.

My child is currently studying for a prestigious degree that they hope will lead to something good in the future, and manages to socialise and feed themselves for £90 a week.
It by no means translates that they live in poverty and a lot of students live on much less.

My philosophy has always been if you want something then cut your cloth accordingly.

best of luck with your future study and plans.

jenberry

I'm not an expert on London prices but my sister and best friend both live in Zone 1, spending £900 each on rent and bills. They each live with one other person so obviously living alone would be more expensive, though admittedly they both have lovely, spacious flats and probably got a bit of a bargain where they live. Very best of luck to you, I have the utmost respect for you working full time and going back to uni, it's not easy and you seem very determined xx