Living in London on £32k a year
Discussion
I have the option of a new job in London that's £29k+10% shift allowance so basically £32k a year. Where I currently am in Central Scotland I could (almost) live like a King on that kind of money but I know London is very, very different. Would it be a case of 'living' or 'surviving'? I don't smoke or drink so there's no worries about 'vices' or affording the occasional night out. I know I'd be looking at either a tiny 'Studio flat' which means 2-3 rooms and very small or sharing and having a room to myself. Is it doable?
Thanks.
Thanks.
£32k is nothing in London. It's not that much in central Scotland either.
Just start out at looking for a little flat to rent and see how little you've got left.
I enjoy visiting London, I'm equally glad to leave at the end. I wouldn't want to stay long term, certainly not with a low salary.
Just start out at looking for a little flat to rent and see how little you've got left.
I enjoy visiting London, I'm equally glad to leave at the end. I wouldn't want to stay long term, certainly not with a low salary.
Edited by Driver101 on Thursday 12th February 03:06
One man's idea of comfortable differs to the next.
Personally, i think that's plenty. Friends have got by on much less (mid £20k) and lived in reasonable comfort, ie; nice car (5 year old 118d) decent food shop, occasional night out. Etc.
Be aware of what pistonheads might consider enough. I've basically been told not to get out of bed for less than £70k from someone, to instantly be told that anything over £20k a year is nigh on rich folk territory by someone who disagreed. Very many deciding factors.
As the poster above says, look at small places and see how much you have left. Good luck.
Personally, i think that's plenty. Friends have got by on much less (mid £20k) and lived in reasonable comfort, ie; nice car (5 year old 118d) decent food shop, occasional night out. Etc.
Be aware of what pistonheads might consider enough. I've basically been told not to get out of bed for less than £70k from someone, to instantly be told that anything over £20k a year is nigh on rich folk territory by someone who disagreed. Very many deciding factors.
As the poster above says, look at small places and see how much you have left. Good luck.
Pebbles167 said:
One man's idea of comfortable differs to the next.
Personally, i think that's plenty. Friends have got by on much less (mid £20k) and lived in reasonable comfort, ie; nice car (5 year old 118d) decent food shop, occasional night out. Etc.
Be aware of what pistonheads might consider enough. I've basically been told not to get out of bed for less than £70k from someone, to instantly be told that anything over £20k a year is nigh on rich folk territory by someone who disagreed. Very many deciding factors.
As the poster above says, look at small places and see how much you have left. Good luck.
Believe me, Mid 20k would be absolutely fine for me. £70k? I'd be positively well off! Considering I'm getting by in Scotland on £20k a year I can't see London being £1k a month more expensive surely? I don't mind sharing a place TBH. I'd like to think I'm not that anti social but I would like the option of having my two boys down when it suits so I doubt living with others would make that possible.Personally, i think that's plenty. Friends have got by on much less (mid £20k) and lived in reasonable comfort, ie; nice car (5 year old 118d) decent food shop, occasional night out. Etc.
Be aware of what pistonheads might consider enough. I've basically been told not to get out of bed for less than £70k from someone, to instantly be told that anything over £20k a year is nigh on rich folk territory by someone who disagreed. Very many deciding factors.
As the poster above says, look at small places and see how much you have left. Good luck.
£32000 will see you take home around £2000 per month before you deduct pension payments or any other deductions you have.
A one bedroom flat will be at least £1000 per month. A central location nice flat will be more than your take home pay per month.
So even a flat at £1000 per month, add all the bills up, then you'll have little left from your £2000.
Try adding in getting back and forwards from home or running a car and £2000 per month is long gone.
A one bedroom flat will be at least £1000 per month. A central location nice flat will be more than your take home pay per month.
So even a flat at £1000 per month, add all the bills up, then you'll have little left from your £2000.
Try adding in getting back and forwards from home or running a car and £2000 per month is long gone.
That there London is a big place, narrow it down a bit. I live just outside London on the M25 a 3 minute walk from the Fenchurch street train line. Decent 2 bed flats go for about £700 a month and living on and commuting to the city for £30k would be the norm around here, no one seems to be living in poverty 
Edited by s p a c e m a n on Thursday 12th February 06:26
I lived in Muswell Hill on £31k a year. I paid £550 a month for a room in a flat share (all bills inc).
I still kept my M5, still went out. £31k is just £2k a month take home, so you take home slightly more.
I'd personally live outside of London and get the train in if I did it again. I'd try and live the "right side" out of London to make life a bit easier, but other than that I didn't go bankrupt!
I still kept my M5, still went out. £31k is just £2k a month take home, so you take home slightly more.
I'd personally live outside of London and get the train in if I did it again. I'd try and live the "right side" out of London to make life a bit easier, but other than that I didn't go bankrupt!
Its doable to work in London but depends where you want to live.
Moving out to the 'burbs will be cheaper but you will have to pay for the commute. I think my missus used to pay about £150 a month from out in Zone 4 which wasnt too bad...
If you want to be closer into town itll probably be a room in a house share OP. That being acceptable will depend on what you are doing now.
Moving out to the 'burbs will be cheaper but you will have to pay for the commute. I think my missus used to pay about £150 a month from out in Zone 4 which wasnt too bad...
If you want to be closer into town itll probably be a room in a house share OP. That being acceptable will depend on what you are doing now.
You'll struggle to afford your own place but there's plenty of rooms you can rent in shared houses out there. Spareroom.com, Gumtree, and some trade websites (for example RollonFriday, a website for City lawyers), has a section for accommodation).
You'll be fine as long as your rent is under £600 a month I reckon. The good thing about London is that the prospects of going up the ladder quickly are so much better than other cities - think of the first few years as an investment into future pay rise
You'll be fine as long as your rent is under £600 a month I reckon. The good thing about London is that the prospects of going up the ladder quickly are so much better than other cities - think of the first few years as an investment into future pay rise
What do you have to lose, what's the downside ?
I expect like most people you would regret not having taken the opportunity to try, taste something new.
Go for it.
PS. London is amazing and expensive (if you want). I'd love to live there again one day.
I expect like most people you would regret not having taken the opportunity to try, taste something new.
Go for it.
PS. London is amazing and expensive (if you want). I'd love to live there again one day.
Edited by craig_m67 on Thursday 12th February 08:44
craig_m67 said:
What do you have to lose, what's the downside ?
I expect like most people you would regret not having taken the opportunity to try, taste something new.
Go for it.
PS. London is amazing and expensive (if you want). I'd love to live there again one day.
But she said that she lives in Central Scotland and has children. I personally would rather stay with my children than move away (not that I have children).I expect like most people you would regret not having taken the opportunity to try, taste something new.
Go for it.
PS. London is amazing and expensive (if you want). I'd love to live there again one day.
Edited by craig_m67 on Thursday 12th February 08:44
Of course you can make it work property will be the big one but if you don't mind sharing.
The bigger question is do you want to live in London? London is a lot different from Scotland or anywhere else in the UK. I have friends who have done it made some money and got out quickly others like it and stay.
The bigger question is do you want to live in London? London is a lot different from Scotland or anywhere else in the UK. I have friends who have done it made some money and got out quickly others like it and stay.
Have a look on Rightmove (rental) for some flat prices, work out the cost of your season ticket on the TFL website, ditch the car because you won't need it in London (PH heresy but it will just be a big extra expense) then factor in the cost of getting to/from Scotland to see your two boys as often as appropriate. TBH, I'd be surprised if you actually had any spare money left after all that.
A mate of mine moved to London straight out of Uni 9 years ago & got a very modest job earning early very low £20k's.
He lived in a house share with a few other people, although he pretty much lived on baked beans on toast, didn't have nights out, he was quite fortunate that he worked somewhere that he could walk to every day (40mins), so saved a lot of money not using the tube for the commute.
He's now earning in the region of £90k, lives in a nice place (rented), numerous holidays a year etc.
I've no inclination to live in London, but if you can get your foot in the door & work hard you can climb pretty quickly.
He lived in a house share with a few other people, although he pretty much lived on baked beans on toast, didn't have nights out, he was quite fortunate that he worked somewhere that he could walk to every day (40mins), so saved a lot of money not using the tube for the commute.
He's now earning in the region of £90k, lives in a nice place (rented), numerous holidays a year etc.
I've no inclination to live in London, but if you can get your foot in the door & work hard you can climb pretty quickly.
Gassing Station | London | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff