I can't afford to get to work

[FiscallyChallenged]

I was laid off my last job in July, and received my last set of wages (3 weeks worth) at the end of that month. I live in London, and I didn't get a travelcard last month because I didn't see the point if I wasn't going to be travelling every day, and I needed to make my money last as long as possible.
I started my new job last week, and have to pay pay-as-you-go fares to get there and back, which costs £7.60 per day. It would be cheaper to get the bus, but there's never any telling how long it would take- I took one home on my first day and it took almost three hours! I now have £15 left, I'm not paid til the end of next week and I have no idea what to do. It's way too far to walk, I have a bike but it's a bit of a wreck and doesn't have any lights. I'm already surviving on an apple and cup-a-soup for breakfast and lunch. I can't get a season ticket loan as you have to buy the ticket first before you're reimbursed. There's nobody I can borrow money from.

Help! Any ideas?

I would never normally tell anyone to use a payday loan, but if you can pay it back on Friday then its what i would do if i was deperate and it was only for two days, there are so many adverts for them that say they transfer the money within minutes.

I know its not great, but if you need the money quickly and you will pay it back then maybe its an option?

Mrssmith I was thinking the same. Good luck OP. I hope you get something sorted the bike sounds like a shout

OP I have some bike lights you are welcome to. They're old school but are brand new. If you would like them, pm me your address and il pop them on the post in the morning

I think it's gonna have to be the bike option. Admittedly the thought of cycling 10 miles each way along some of the most dangerous roads in London in the dark on my little bike does make me shit myself a bit! Nobody drives in to work so no chance of a lift.

Bike, or if bus is affordable but just a lengthier journey, maybe alternate. It's not ideal, but it's not for long either.

Hi op. Give London Mutual Credit Union a try www.creditunion.co.uk/

What time do you start/finish? Do you really need lights?
They're £5 in Wilkinsons.

What about a car share scheme, like www.liftshare.com?
Can work out quite cheap, but obviously depends on there being someone near you offering lifts.

The bus. Pain, I know, but it's only temporary.

Bike. It's light fairly early still and not dark until before 8pm yet so you should be ok without lights for 1 week if you can be cycling and home by 7ish.

When you do get paid I would def look at a cheaper way in as £7.60 daily is a lot. If you can train/ tube to edge of zone 1 and then walk/ cycle fold up bike it's over half the price as long as you don't enter zone 1

Creature - very few people drive into Zone 1 for work as you would be paying parking per hour fees plus congestion charge (£10 daily)

Another thought, bus is capped at £4.40 a day regardless of journeys so you could maybe string together three buses?

Ah, I see? Can you tell I don't live in London?!

20 miles a day on a bike, through London traffic, if you're not used to cycling, sounds at best knackering and stressful, at worst dangerous. This may be one of the only times I'll ever say it, but I'm with the payday loan people.

As someone who cycled from zone 3 to central London for many years I'm not sure i would advise a presumably inexperienced (in traffic) cyclist to commute on a "wreck". Inexperienced female cyclists are at significantly higher risk of death or serious injury.

And as well as lights, for a journey from zone 4 to zone 1 (presumably 45 mins minimum) you would need appropriate clothing including a helmet and some hi viz gear. And check the brakes for fucks sake!

Get a payday loan or an advance, and consider equipping yourself for safe cycling in future.

I saw you live with your partner. Could they not help with travel costs?

Sorry, didn't read to the end of your post.

Go to cash converters and borrow cash against your telly/phone/laptop/xbox etc. it's similar to a pay day loan except it's less simple and there's more at stake (if you don't repay, you lose the item) therefore it's not so easy to get into the habit of borrowing from them....apply for a payday loan and you will be hounded by emails, it's too easy to just go online, get the cash and spiral into debt.

Mist- it really depends from where to where surely? Ie Richmond zone 4 to Earl's Court zone 1 would be fine as cycle paths virtually all the way to Hammersmith, then can take side streets last 5 mins so very little traffic

sockqueen yeah some irresponsible advice on here from people who have probably never cycled in London rush hour traffic. It's dangerous. And you would need to spend more money than you will save to make yourself safe and your "wrecked" bike roadworthy (minimum of lights, new brakes, puncture kit and hi viz clothing).

A bike might save you money in the longer run but it's not a sensible solution here.

ArtandCo she said the roads are dangerous. Regardless, it's rare for a l
london journey to be possible entirely on safe paths, and someone who isn't used to cycling and starts doing 20 miles a day will be physically tired and their judgement will be impaired long before they get home.

I cycle commute and usually I'm the first person to encourage people onto their bikes, but I really don't think it's a good idea to go from, I assume, very little daily cycling to 20 miles a day through London. Could dome combination of tube and virus bike be cheaper than tube all the way?

Virus bike?? I meant boris bike

Sure, but I think it's not impossible. Op has said its only 9 days so it's not a huge race to get into work in 45 mins, just to get in. If op goes slow, takes the back streets where possible, can even walk on path/ over crossings in what she deems dangerous areas it will be a lot more realistic. She can't spend £15 on bus if she needs to eat also.

Another possibility is cycle but can you couch surf at friends closer for a few nights so you aren't doing the full trip there and back daily?