London on £20k
- Started
- Last post
- 33 Responses
- toodee
A friends moving to London for a job on £20k. What sort of lifestyle would you have on that?
- zr0
- itstimefortea0
hand to mouth
- flashbender0
poverty
- flashbender0
squalor
- flashbender0
or a long ass commute
- MrMackem0
Part Time?
- detritus0
Depends on their expectations. I know and live with people who live well on considerably less than that - but they don't value swanky bars and drinks, designer labels or the various accoutrements of the aspirational consumer class.
If you want to come down and begin engaging fully, I'd suggest a few grand more than that per annum, but really - life is what you make of it, regardless of income. Trite thing to say. I know.
- Chimp0
I started on a lot less than that (8 years ago though) and managed to get by. As time goes on your wage will increase at a faster rate than outside of the capital. Well hopefully.
- itstimefortea0
You'd be able to survive like, but you wouldn't be able to save or go out a whole lot. I started here on 18k. Its definitely doable.
- WeLoveNoise0
20k in Manchester can be heard graft if you value your social life so id say you need more down south
- crabe_b0
I started on 18k too - it is doable but as it's been said above it is hard to save money and you won't go crazy. It will also mean you'll have to share a flat leaving in zone 2 or 3. As Chimp said your wage will increase quite fast with experience.
- Atkinson0
Seriously, It'd be easy. London isn't that more expensive, all things considered. Rent isn't far off any other major city. Commuting might cost a little more. Power / food costs the same / less in some parts. 20k will be plenty if they're not already and don't intend to become a crack head, and even then they can nick stuff to pay for that.
- Xopher0
20k in Sheffield, £600 rent (between two) – was more than enough. That will be a bit harsh in London though.
- calculator0
How do people that work in McDonalds, cleaners etc. survive on (presumably) less?
- I have always wondered thisflashbender
- council housing probably in most casesJimbo82
- multiple jobs?Lillebo
- Multiple jobs, government cheese and liberal social programs.chalk
- Ranger0
As long as they're not supporting a family or having to make repayments or anything then you can live on it easily enough. They won't get rich or have much to save, they'll have to live in a shared flat and use public transport or cycle and they probably won't be eating at fine dining clubs. Getting into London is the hardest thing, and they'll find it a big experience just moving here in itself. They can worry about jumping jobs into better salaries once they're set up and getting they're head around the work scene. I moved to London on 22K and managed fine, it soon goes up as long as you can prove your worth.
- Chimp0
I would make the move. If you don't like it you can always move back.
- Gordy220
Like Chimp, I started out on not much - 15k about 10 years ago. It is doable but it is f*cking hard. Tell him to think about living way out east - I lived in Barking. A shithole but rent was cheep and it was on the tube.
- Nice bevel on your site there Gordy ;)Chimp
- So barking is Bad? I lived in Wood Green. Do you even know where that is?!maikel
- Hey, I live in Manor House - we're the Dalston/Hackney of 2012, Maikel - sit tight.
:\detritus - i used to live in hackney... (and i'm still alive)maikel
- My ex lived in Hornsey so know Wood Green. Lived in Bethnal Green for 8 years so know Hackney
Gordy22 - I used to come out the tube in Barking and sometimes there'd be 4 or 5 yellow Police Incident Boards...Gordy22
- Feel guilty Gordy?
http://www.qbn.com/p…HAYZ1LLA - lived in wood green for 2 years, worst place on earth - good kebabs though.kingsteven
- maikel0
I started on 25k here in London. It was enough for sharing with one mate in zone 3, paying some debts and travelling a little.
Def too little if you like designers' brands, michelin starred restaurants, members only clubs and decent cocktails.