To quit my job because I can't afford to go

[Megapops]

I have my dream job, I absolutely love it, and thought I was on a decent salary. Recently the organisation has asked staff to go into the London office 2-3 days a week. Not a problem.

But.. just broke up with my partner who I've been livng with for a few years and I'm obviously looking at moving out into my own place now. To rent a modest, 1 bed place within an hour/hour and a half commute to work is more than my monthly salary. And to rent a room in a houseshare costs around half my salary. Living further out means more expensive train fares too. I'm looking right outside London too. (Considering moving back into a houseshare, and it costing half my salary is also making me die a bit inside).

I dont know what I'm going to do? The only solution seems to be to quit my job and move somewhere else because I literally can't afford to go to work. Although rent doesn't seem much better anywhere! Any advice?

Have you considered St Albans
I lived there for 4 years and I loved it there. 20 mins on the train to central london

heres a link to an apartment
875
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/136632896#/?channel=RES_LET

Different opinion here... it's just a job, and a job is only one piece of your whole life. There is benefit to sticking with something you love when everything else feels unsteady after a break up, but I wonder if thinking more long term might be a better plan?

What's your hopes for your future, aside from your job? Would you like to meet a new partner eventually, would you like to own your own home, would you rather live in a city or do you imagine yourself living more rurally etc. What do you enjoy doing that you might want to spend your salary on instead of rent?

A houseshare in London that people have suggested is great if that's what works for you. But if, longer term, you actually want to be able to save for a house, or rent outright rather than sharing, and you'd like the financial flexibility to e.g. go on holidays or eating out or taking up a costly hobby, then maybe this is the opportunity to really review your whole life and try to decide.

If I were you, I'd continue looking at options in London I could afford, but i'd also look at jobs elsewhere, areas you might like etc. Scope out all your options and see whether something could come closer to your 'dream job' and also give you flexibility in other areas of your life.

At the end of the day you're shooting for something that is beyond your means. It's your choice if you want to do it and struggle, or change jobs and work somewhere more affordable.

It sucks but if you can't afford it that's the reality. There are loads of organisations I would interested in working for in central London, but I would be in your situation if I did, so I don't.

If you need to be in Canary Wharf why are you looking west? Try the south east. Abbey Wood is on the Elizabeth Line and will get you in to town in 20 mins

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/136324076

40k isn't a decent salary in London. Is what you do easily transferable?

Is your ex pushing you to leave quickly?

If not, I'd consider looking for a new job but in the meantime explain your circumstances to your workplace.

Exactly my thoughts. SE London and Kent are the places to look. Easier to get to Canary Wharf and cheaper than Surrey.

When I worked in Canary Wharf many people (inc me) lived in SE London/Kent and took the train or bus to Lewisham and got the DLR. Indeed I would look at Lewisham or Cstford.

Have look at Redhill for flats under 1k and your commute will be cheaper than from Crawley.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/86224605#/?channel=RES_LET

Are you getting London Weighting on top of that salary? If not you should be.
If you've got the dream job based on WFH and now they want you in the office, that payment is to cover travel/rent in the higher costing areas. Worth asking your HR.
If you've been receiving it but WFH, then you've done well up until now 🤣.
Good luck, I hope you find something!

This. I would explain and see what accommodation could be made.

The Elizabeth line is your friend then. You can broaden your search all the way out to reading.

If you want to stay within oyster zones look between Hanwell and West Drayton. You will be able to at least afford a house share, but should get a studio/1 bed.

Speak to your boss. Maybe you can go in less / not at all for a while until you’re sorted. Longer term might be worth looking at moving to a cheaper area / looking for jobs in a cheaper area. I live in the South East but my plan is to move back to my native North wales when my youngest DD leaves school in 3yrs. It’s so much cheaper there and I can get a transfer

Op I feel for you. I absolutely understand the combination of the upset of the breakdown of your relationship and the eye watering cost of renting alone. I second what others have said about a room in a house.

I'm in SE London- zone 2 (20 mins to Canary Wharf station) and let a room out in my house for £650 per month. I currently have someone here for 4 months until end of September.

It works well. She comes and goes as she pleases. Has a bit of friendly interaction with me / my 2 teen DC if she's in the kitchen cooking but otherwise is largely happy in her room. Her and my teen DD share a bathroom (their rooms are loft rooms) but they tend not to keep the same hours. Maybe that kind a of thing could work? I advertised on my local area's Facebook page to find her. Might be worth picking a few areas you are interested in and seeing if there is anything on there?

I'll probably be looking for someone new once this person leaves in sept so feel free to PM me. Good luck

You could easily get that in zone 3 in London.

Are you in civil service? There might be possibility to wither change the pattern for you or possibly move you to different office if you were open to it?

What does your contract say as your place of work? If its home then they should be paying on the days you go into the office.
When you got the job was there any expectation you should go into London at any time? If not you could ask hr about London weighting.
Has your work got a noticeboard online or equivalent? Do you get on well with your colleagues? I would ask as often people know of places or need a housemate.
What about something like this
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/135008252#/?channel=RES_LET
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/132168875#/?channel=RES_LET
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/136351958#/?channel=RES_LET
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/136630643#/?channel=RES_LET

I would be honest with work and tell them you are thinking of quitting because you cannot afford the commute. They might reconsider their stance regarding you coming into the office.

How about Milton Keynes? Much cheaper to live, fast train in to London is 32 minutes … obviously you would have transport costs but might be doable.

So this has just happened to someone in my team. Speak to your line manager now before it escalates and you have no choice but to quit. Good employees are hard to find and I suspect they will try and accommodate short to medium term changes until you get yourself sorted. It may still end up you needing to look for another role elsewhere, but it would you wouldn't have to quit and then search for a new role. Buy yourself time and don't rush into a decision.

For what it's worth I was in your position a few years ago and realised I was paying my employer for me to work there purely due to commute costs. Not a comfortable place to be. So yes, move roles ultimately to something better paid or closer to your new home, but don't shoot yourself in the foot in the meantime.

We live in Haywards heath and my oh commutes to Canary Wharf. It takes just over an hour, no need to stay overnight. Presumably you work in finance, there's not much else there. Rent here is not expensive. Or there's Burgess hill cheaper still and only an extra 5 mins. Hastings is even cheaper but a longer commute. A day return is I think £ 60. I go to blackfriars, but off peak and it's £14.50 with my rail card.

We both lived in a houseshare when we met in Brighton mine was £800 and his was £650 but its all bills included remember, you just buy food.

My DD has a flat share in zone 3 with great transport links for £600 a month plus bills. It is possible.

Try my area, my local stations are Upper Warlingham (east grinstead line) and Whyteleafe (Caterham line). 30 mins to Victoria and there’s a Thames link service in the morning, maybe 2-3 trains that stop at various london stations. Cheaper than central london, and a nice area

Try looking much further out. Southampton is 1hr 25 into Waterloo, you can get two advance single tickets for around £39 total. Rents are affordable. I’m sure there are other similar towns on a wider radius.

I know you said you don’t want to return to ESsex but it’s a massive area. What part are you looking to avoid?

Thurrock would be ideal, cheaper rents than London and good links to London with the c2c.

Definitely look at commuter towns... have you thought about Swindon? An hour directly into Paddington. Good luck!

Are you getting London Weighting on top of that salary? If not you should be.

Most companies I know are phasing out London weighting given that the workforce is most likely renting/mortgages in areas no different from anyone else in other offices given WFH - tube ticket for the day is what £13? For all zones? Not much different than commuting into Birmingham or Manchester from the suburbs. Rents and commute is high everywhere