Hoorah! I've been offered a job, I start in London on Monday! Help.

[Raven11]

Tonight I've been offered a grad job in Canary Wharf starting Monday. Right now I'm living in the Midlands, have about £600 savings and I'll be earning 18k a year. I do have a fair amount of friends in London and they're in a similar position to myself. They've offered to put me up for a couple of days but they're obviously really tight for space/none of them own a sofa!

I don't really know London that well except for the touristy bits.

So a little about me, I love 'going out', not a fan of commercial, I do dress up but I never wear heels etc. I do love the hustle of cities and people usually think where I live is dodgy so I'm sure I'll get on anywhere. I have a basic idea of the cost of London and I know I'm going to be skint.

What areas should I be looking at? What should I know? Any tips? Ahh.

I definitely recommend looking on www.spareroom.com

I have a house in Stratford and used to make ends meet by taking lodgers. I'd charge £600 a month inc bills, payable monthly in advance plus £600 deposit. I think that's about standard for round here, maybe slightly on the cheap side. I think you'll need that overdraft.

Good luck op!

How on earth can any firm justify offering £18k in central London?! Thats a fucking joke!

I agree that being a lodger is probably your best bet. Good luck!

I don't think it'll be impossible to live on £18k! I moved out of Whitechapel (Zone 1) a couple of years ago and was only paying £500pcm inc bills for a big nice furnished room in a flatshare with a roof terrace (with no dining table and a minuscule kitchen admittedly). Evidently MNers have far, far higher standards than I do The upfront costs will be the kicker as others have noted, and agency fees can be £300.

Definitely use social media to find flatmates among your friends' friends - IMO it's much more important to live with nice people than in deluxe surroundings.

Congrats on this new step!

Oh, and I only spent two days looking (which was intense - take photos and lots of notes about the condition of the property, the area and all the financial details or you'll forget).

I would say Essex there is a train into Liverpool street from Romford and surrounding areas

Also try South London; Forest Hill, Brockley, New Cross. Much cheaper than East London and v easy commute and cheaper than East London

What company is offering such a low graduate scheme salary in London? They're usually £30k+.

I live v near Lewisham, so if I can offer any advice on where near here to live, feel free to PM me. Congrats on the job!

I rented a room for £400 pcm on a Monday to Friday basis for a few years. It was in Battersea, 10 minute walk to Clapham Junction station. Completely self-contained, very compact and bijou. Is that an option while you look for somewhere more full time? This was 2010 -2014 so not long ago.

www.mondaytofriday.com

Congratulations on the job!

The upfront costs will be the kicker as others have noted, and agency fees can be £300.

The way to get round this would be to rent from someone who doesn't use an agency but that then carries its own risks. Is there any way you can borrow money for the initial expensive bit?

Walthamstow

People tend to go out direct from work, not necessarily where they live, so just concentrate on affordable and the commute.

Congrats on the job. I have to ask though, what kind of Canary Wharf company is offering jobs to new starters in 2017 starting on 18k? I started as a grad in 2001 on 23k in Canary Wharf and it’s bloody outrageous if ‘grand jobs’ are being advertised with 18k as the salary these days,

London will be difficult with 1300 to play with each month for rent, commute, socialising, food, bills.

My DD1 started on £21K in London and managed fine. She found a room in a flat on Spare Room and landed very lucky. She gets on well with both her flatmates and actually all 3 of them have just recently moved to a nicer place.

She started off in Willesden Green which was cheaper and very handy for her work - she could walk there if she wanted. However the general area didn't have much going on. They have now moved to the Clapham/Brixton area which is much further from her work but a much nicer area. They decided they would rather live in a great area and travel further for work. I guess that is a decision you need to make OP?

18k for a grad job in CW does not seem right, to put it mildly.

Are you sure you have all the facts - they aren't going to pay your travel or something else as a perk are they? If not, they are taking the piss (sorry); or it is just "a job", not a proper graduate role.

A friend's daughter got a grad job at a bank in Croyden paying best part of £30k (completely unrelated to her degree btw, so not like they paid a premium for a subject matter expert). If I was the employer, I'd be expecting to pay at least mid-20s at the very least for a proper graduate role and I am not in London, if not low 30s.

The other thing I would say is, just because they have offered it, doesn't mean you have to take it - either their first offer or the job at all. You could probably find local work paying more!

Could you not air bnb for a couple of weeks whilst you find your feet ?

It does seem very low!

I had a grad job in London 20 years ago, earning £18.5K and I have to say I really struggled even then... I never had enough money to buy nice things, I couldn't afford new clothes, I couldn't afford to go out much and constantly worried about money.

I cannot believe any reputable firm would be offering such a low graduate salary. That's more an internship salary. Does that include London weighting?

Lived on £18k 20 years ago in London and it was bloody hard work. That was with extraordinarily cheap rent and no travel expenses as well.

Have a look at Surrey Quays as well - surprisingly affordable and is a short walk to Canada Water tube (one stop to Canary Wharf) or can get the boat over.

Congratulations!

Realistically on 18k you are going to be in a shared ex-LA flat where the sitting room is also a bedroom so there is only a small kitchen to cook and hang out in (apart from your room).

I would prioritize location either 1) near your friends or 2) so you can walk/bike to work and save the tube fare.

Until you find your feet you want to be as close as possible to friends/action. Don't be far out needing expensive uber rides home after a night out.

For 2 - Look in East London - Poplar, Mile End, Stepney, Limehouse, Bow. Westferry, All Saints, Langdon Park, Deavon Row. Also Hackney Wick/Fish Island.

These are all close enough to Canary Wharf and also not many miles to the city, Shoreditch, Vicky Park, London Fields etc

Leyton and Stratford maybe too as they are on the night tube and good for the Wharf.

Isle of Dogs is cheap but is really cut off from 'London' unless the DLR is running.

Surrey Quays

No no no no no don't look at SQ - its fucking nightmare to get back to after a night out.

I live in Plumstead/Woolwich - mentioned upthread. It will be much cheaper for you here than some of the other places mentioned and it’s getting less rough by the day. The Royal Arsenal development has several nice bars / restaurants and even an m&s food hall
You would get on the dlr at the start of the line so usually get a seat and it’s relatively cheap. Happy to PM if you want more info.

I don't think it'll be impossible to live on £18k! I moved out of Whitechapel (Zone 1) a couple of years ago and was only paying £500pcm inc bills for a big nice furnished room in a flatshare with a roof terrace (with no dining table and a minuscule kitchen admittedly). Evidently MNers have far, far higher standards than I do

@Gaudeamus

I think most MN don't understand the reality that you can get a room in a shared flat for 500/600 in a Zone 1 or 2 location as long as you are happy to share a tiny kitchen and bathroom with 3/4 other people and live in an ex-LA block.

That is how most of my friends lived for years. Most people prioritised a fab location and walking/biking home after a night out over having their own flat.