Working in Canary Wharf - Accommodation on a Budget

[greggy50]

Hello

Just as background I am currently on a graduate scheme living in Chester 1 year in now and picking up £25k moving to London in October due a £1k rise as year 2 of my scheme + £2.5k London allowance (Crap) so will be on £28.5k.

Therefore realistically my budget for a flat share/room will have to be about £850pm - £900pm inc bills as that will then give me £225pw for food/drink which will be a struggle...

In terms of travel have a contact at network rail so can get 75% off my oyster card so travel is going to be very cheap for me at least and also flogging one of my cars so should have a £10k slush fund I can dip into if needs be!

Just wondered what area I should be looking for in terms of house shares will be October - End of March so 6 months initially and ideally want to be access night life okay and also the office (40 mins max commute)

Thanks
Greg

[//j17]

If you're working on the Isle of Dogs then I'd look along the DLR/Jubilee line East.

I'd have thought your budget would get you in to a professional flatshare on the IoD or in one of the areas on those 2 lines.

[voicey]

Try Lewisham - it's 15 mins on the DLR to the Wharf and the trains run every few mins. I'm about to complete on a brand new 1 bed flat moments from the station that I'll rent for £1,100 per month. You should easily be able to find a flat share for your budget.

They are pouring money into redeveloping the town centre and there are loads of new flats being thrown up. It also has good connections to town with London Bridge just 11 mins away on the train.

[was8v]

Christ you'll go from living like a king in Chester (relative to your student days) to not having a pot to piss in living in London + everything is more expensive in London.

Can you not get qualified outside of London and then get a £££ job in the smoke?

[//j17]

was8v said:

Can you not get qualified outside of London and then get a £££ job in the smoke?

In theory, yes. In practice most of the big corporates are in London and that's where the majority of their graduate placements are, and come the end of the graduate programes it's the internal tranees who've 'done their time' and that the company knows that are at the top of the list for job openings.

The money isn't spectacular, but it's about standard for graduate programes and there's loads of other people in the same position and it's not like scurvy is a common issue for them! Go for a flat share in an unfasionable area and you'll be fine.

Oh, and learn quickely who the managers are, especially the ones who like a drink. Usually they know you're on the slave programme and will buy most of the drinks

Edited by //j17 on Thursday 13th August 17:31

[greggy50]

Found somewhere in Canada Water paying £900pm but that includes all bills and a cleaner that does your ironing!

2 Bed Duplex and can get the clipper to work so its an ideal location really I am in Queen of Denmark Court sharing with one other 23yr old lad however he works in banking so suspect he gets paid a bit more than me...

6 months initially but only have about 10 months left on Grad Scheme and I can them come off and get a decent pay-rise so if I enjoy London may stay here for a good while longer yet. Move in next weekend and cannot wait to try it out!

[greggy50]

was8v said:

Christ you'll go from living like a king in Chester (relative to your student days) to not having a pot to piss in living in London + everything is more expensive in London.

Can you not get qualified outside of London and then get a £££ job in the smoke?

Its a rotational graduate scheme so I move places every 6 months and therefore didn't have much of a choice... One of directors was keen to offer me a placement and hinted may be a role in Bid Management/Business Development at the end of the scheme which where I work is decent money so it is worth taking the hit financially for a few months for future prospects it should bring.