Living in London

[Seamus123]

.....

 

[Vermilion]

I know, it's a bit of a tangent. I did think about posting this in the general board but I fear I'd get huge amounts of abuse rather than helpful answers and kind words, which I know I'll get here.

Right. I'm currently applying for a job in London and am deliberating a lot over whether to pay around £4,000 a year to commute from Reading to work or to try and find a place to live nearer - because then I'd only be paying for the tube as opposed to over £3,000 for a season ticket on the railways.

If I were to look for a place nearer it wouldn't be anything as extravagent as my own flat or house - I'd be renting, most likely in a house with other people as I've had throughout Uni. I don't really know, though, what sort of salary I'd need to be earning to be able to finance living in the capital in such an arrangement.

I wouldn't want to be living on the breadline, per se - as I could live at home and commute and, whilst £4,000 would go on travel, the majority of my salary would still be mine - and would like a bit of disposable income so I can occassionally go out, buy a new CD. Normal stuff, I suppose.

I'm just not sure about how much of a dent council tax, all the bills etc will put in my salary as Council Tax wasn't applicable for us students and, even though I did manage the utility bills at University for the last 2 years, would like some information about how it all sizes up in the real world.

Any advice would be wonderful. Thankyou!

Well, what area of London were you looking at? If you aim for student areas, something near a university, then you'd be more likely to find house-shares and the like. Council tax would also vary from borough to borough, I should imagine indications could be found on each borough's website...

If I were you then I would seriously consider waiting until you have landed a job and spent a few months working there before moving out of home... Not only is a new job stressful enough without dealing with new housing issues too, but you may meet some people at your new job with whom you could share a house...

So give it six months to a year and see how you feel then

It'll also give you a chance to put some savings aside for a rainy day.
x
V

 

[evanslily]

I agree with Vermilion that it's probably best to do the job (if you get it -good luck!) for a few months first before considering a relocation. There's always a chance you'll hate the job--and then you'll have moved for nothing.

And the commute from Reading's not too bad. Half an hour or so from Reading to Paddington, isn't it?

I think I'd stay put, definitely, at least at first.

Lily

 

[Seamus123]

Great advice, thankyou.

There would be a 3 month probationary period when I started - like a lot of jobs, I guess - before I probably joined them, so that'd be ideal for scoping out if I like it enough and could afford it and could find a place closer. So, if I get the job, I could do that; it'd be ideal.

Reading to Paddington takes about 30 minutes and it's 20 minutes on the tube to the offices, so it's under an hour. The time isn't worrying me at all, it's the cost.

 

[Handprints]

It's been a couple of years since I've lived in London so this may be a little dated, but... If you do move and hope to keep your rental costs about the same, you're likely to end up in the far south or the northeast of London, which means your commuting time will be about the same, even if it's a little cheaper. If your new employer is fairly central, or at least accessible by a number of tubes/buses, you're probably not going to notice an enormous difference in total costs/convenience whether you move or stay.

Hope that's of use,
H