Living in London on minimum wage

gemandjule · 2022-03-01T22:02:22+00:00

My son, age 25, is moving to London. He split up from his long term live in girlfriend in October. He has decided to move to make a fresh start. He has a job in retail (bookshop) which he enjoys as he loves books and has a masters (with distinction) in English literature from a red brick uni. He’s hoping to get into publishing but for the short term will be on minimum wage working in kings road. He’ll be looking for a house share. How difficult will it be to afford to live in London on minimum wage?

QueenslandBlue · 01/03/2022 22:09

Very, but people do. Why does he need to be working in London right now?

Akire · 01/03/2022 22:10

Had he tried looking at spare room sites? In my area around £150-250 a WEEK for often tiny rooms sharing kitchens and bathrooms. Obviously more gritty the area or the sub letting he may find cheaper but these days good house shares want professional people on good wages with large deposits etc. Gone are days where on low wage you could genuinely rent a room for £80 a week as a lodger. The further you move out the cheaper but then the cost of travel is £££ he’s going find it tough

DownWhichOfLate · 01/03/2022 22:12

It won’t be easy or much fun. Does it have to be London?

movingsoon13 · 01/03/2022 22:15

I've just moved back to the east midlands after living there for 2 years I was on around 23,000 a year whilst living there and struggled, high rent, tfl prices went up again, food is more expensive etc, my monthly outgoings including rent, phone, food, day trips, travel etc were around 1500 a month at least

movingsoon13 · 01/03/2022 22:16

just to add in my second year I went to look at house shares in ealing and the rooms were around 800 a month with 800 deposit and that was fairly cheap

Original poster

gemandjule · 01/03/2022 22:27

He wants to live in London because he loves theatre and writing. He’s newly single and so wants to follow his dream. I’d love it to work out for him but I’m concerned. He does have probably about £3500 saved as he has been living at home since he split up with his girlfriend

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DownWhichOfLate · 01/03/2022 22:29

Can’t he stay living at home whilst applying for more suitable and better paid work? It’ll be quite a miserable existence on minimum wage.

Tealightsandd · 01/03/2022 22:30

@DownWhichOfLate

It won’t be easy or much fun. Does it have to be London?

This.

He's going to have to be prepared for some grotty accommodation. If he's out a lot and only wants a bed to sleep in, it might be ok.

He might think, because a lot of Londoners are on minimum wage, that they're managing - but the reality is many aren't managing. Unless they're in social housing, live with parents rent-free, or have a higher earning partner.

Has he already got the job or is it application stage? He might get lucky and find a half decent large house share. Can he move back home to you if he needed to? If so, he's still young - and if he's desperate to try London, it's not the end of the world if he gives it a go and it doesn't work out.

I wish him luck.

TasteRevolution · 01/03/2022 22:33

I know someone in publishing- it’s not well paid, she’s in her 4 that year and still not earning a lot. As for living in London on min wage for the culture - I think it’s more accessible/cheaper in other cities - London is tough.

MarmiteCoriander · 01/03/2022 22:33

If he could find his closest lidl or aldi for food, he will likely be fine. Even local food markets and stores often have bowls of fruit/veg for £1. Really depends on his income and outgoings.

Drivingish · 01/03/2022 22:38

Would he consider another city that might still fit the bill? Cardiff is like London in miniature, all the same things going on only on a much much smaller scale, he should still be able to do all the work and interests he wants just with less choice but would be able to afford to live.

bowlingalleyblues · 01/03/2022 22:38

He should to look in suburban outer London for lodging that includes bills and think about cycling, not eating out and living a lower cost lifestyle rather than trying to flat share in a trendy central area and be eating out etc. good luck to him.

Original poster

gemandjule · 01/03/2022 22:39

He has the job. He’s been living at home for the past few months and to be honest it’s really getting to him. We’re all very close and he’s very grateful to have been able to move back to find his feet but he hasn’t lived at home since he left to go to university. We live in a lovely but quite sleepy town and it really doesn’t have what he’s interested in. I think he’s feeling like he has to seize the day and make something of his life again so I’d really love him to get back on his feet and find his mojo. He’s made a lot of compromises in the past 18 months or so to try to facilitate his girlfriend’s career and since that all blew up I think he now just wants to follow his own dreams

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Original poster

gemandjule · 01/03/2022 22:42

@bowlingalleyblues

He should to look in suburban outer London for lodging that includes bills and think about cycling, not eating out and living a lower cost lifestyle rather than trying to flat share in a trendy central area and be eating out etc. good luck to him.

He’d definitely be prepared to do all that. He’s quite tough and self sufficient and has always worked through university. He just has a dream and wants to follow it. He’s had a tough year or so and I’d love him to catch a break.. I’m just not sure that London will allow him to do that

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Shainago · 01/03/2022 22:49

I moved to London on my own at 21 with barely any money to "live my dreams" and "discover myself". Reality caught up on me very fast.
You lose interest for recreational activities pretty fast when you struggle to pay rent and don't know when your next meal is going to come from.
If he doesn't live in the city center, he'll also have to take into consideration bus/subway fares.

There are so many more lovely cities that are much more affordable than London and will help him develop his interests. He could alao go on day trips to London.
Then maybe, once he gets a job in his field, he could move to London and enjoy the perks of it.

Stichintime · 01/03/2022 22:49

Would you mind if I PM you?

Tealightsandd · 01/03/2022 22:50

Suburban outer London accommodation is still very expensive for minimums wage. But it's worth him looking. If he can find a room as a lodger that might be nicer than some of the cheaper houseshares.

I hope it works out for him. If he finds it's not for him or too expensive, it's not the end of the world. He can always try another more affordable big city if he doesn't want to return home.

MegBusset · 01/03/2022 22:50

It will be tough and he won't have any frills but there is something special about being young and single in London following the career of your dreams. Yes he will live in a grotty house share. He will also have experiences and make friends that he simply won't be able to do living at home or in a small city. In similar circumstances I worked several nights a week in a pub as well as a day job, this gave valuable extra income as well as a ready-made social life.

I hope he has a great time and it works out well for him.

Original poster

gemandjule · 01/03/2022 22:50

@Stichintime

Would you mind if I PM you?

No, not at all

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Stichintime · 01/03/2022 22:52

Just worked how to do it, will send soon!

Original poster

gemandjule · 01/03/2022 22:54

@MegBusset

It will be tough and he won't have any frills but there is something special about being young and single in London following the career of your dreams. Yes he will live in a grotty house share. He will also have experiences and make friends that he simply won't be able to do living at home or in a small city. In similar circumstances I worked several nights a week in a pub as well as a day job, this gave valuable extra income as well as a ready-made social life.

I hope he has a great time and it works out well for him.

I think this is what I would love for him, I don’t care how broke he is if can have a fun experience and have friends and be excited about life for a couple of years. He can then take a safer option if he’s sick if being broke. But maybe that’s too romantic

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UnderripeBanana · 01/03/2022 22:54

The tube adds up but cycling is free. Nights out drinking can be very very expensive but there are studenty ways around it. Lots of free food on olio. If theatre is what he likes then west end theatre can be very cheap if you know how, I rarely pay more than a tenner and often much less. And there are lots and lots of free exhibitions and events. Basically without kids to provide for you can have a lot of fun for surprisingly little.

Rent is extortionate though. How much will he get a month?

Rickrollme · 01/03/2022 22:58

I would encourage him to try to make London work if at all possible. At such a young age he can share a grotty room and eat ramen noodles but there is no substitute for being in the heart of it all, among other like-minded young people. The people he meets and experiences he has could open up future opportunities that he will won’t have anywhere else. If it’s miserable he doesn’t have to stay but at least he tried. As he gets older his responsibilities will increase and he may never have this kind of chance again. I think 25 is awfully young to compromise your dreams if there is any alternative.

Original poster

gemandjule · 01/03/2022 23:01

@UnderripeBanana that’s all really good advice. It’s theatre he’s really passionate about. He’s working close to the Royal Court and really excited about that

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Shainago · 01/03/2022 23:03

If his heart is set on London I would recommend maybe looking into LHA London for accommodation. They offer affordable long-term rooms or roomshares, are in the heart of London, and are catered. He won't have to worry about food or extortionate travel fares this way. He will also be in safe areas and will be surrounded with people his age.
He can leave after a month or two if he decides London isn't for him and doesn't have to sign a yearly rental contract with a huge deposit.