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?

My bf lived out of Travelodge fir a few years cause it was cheaper than renting. If you sing up to loyalty programmes and go to end of tube lines like Uxbridge etc. You can get quite good deals for £40-50/night and then the free nights. I mean it sucks and he ate like crap but it was cheaper for him than renting a flat.

If you earn just under £40k, you'll be taking home £2 to £2.5k pm, so it's clearly nonsense that all suitable housing within commuting distance of your job is more than this amount per month.

I can't help on suitable areas, but the suggestion to look for a room as a lodger rather than house sharing with 'young professionals' sounds like a good one, especially if it is cheaper.

If you market yourself as 'quiet female professional seeks room near X to rent' you should be attractive to many homeowners who want a lodger but are worried about letting to someone who is rowdy or messy. Obviously take precautions to avoid the type of person who might be a threat to you, so maybe look for an older single woman/couple than a single male.

But you can't have everything and there has to be a compromise somewhere. You can't exclude most suitable properties due to where they are (not near family) or type of people you live with (not with people who want to socialise) or look to rent a whole property in an expensive city as single person, unless the sky's the limit, moneywise and it's not, unfortunately.

The other question would be, is your salary fair for your job and have you had a pay rise recently? As someone posted upthread, NMW is £20k and £30k is the minimum starting salary for a graduate trainee, so as an experienced professional you should be earning substantially more than this, so it's always worth seeking a promotion, pay rise, or look for other opportunities in your sector that pay more.

I used to get booked for jobs everywhere. But if it was London, I literally couldn't afford it, as the train fare (£100 return ticket) would have eaten up my daily rate. When I asked if they'd pay for the train ticket they'd say no. Everything to do with London, is ridiculously expensive. Honestly I'd speak to your boss and explain you're considering leaving, because your financial situation has changed. The only way you could stay, is if they let you work from home. They might suprise you. Best of luck op.

it's absolutely appalling that anyone has to seriously consider quitting a 40k job because they can not afford to rent even a studio flat . Its shit OP and totally not ok .

This

We have friend who rents a room with a family in zone 2. They have top bedroom with en suite.
Very private, quite and affordable. Easy commute too.

I think you need to to turn this on its head.

Can you ask to go into the office full-time and take a season ticket loan? You will be far less attractive to a landlady if you are wfh.

London rents are eye-watering at present. A friend of dd's has just taken a flatshare (2 bed/2 sharers) for £1150 but that includes bills - in Tooting and it's a bit shabby according to dd.

DS and DIL are renting centrally a small one bed flat. It was £1750 last August. They are expecting the rent to increase to £2000 when they renew.

I feel for you op and hope you find a way. The DC tell me that flats are being snapped up almost before viewings open at present.

Just a thought, over summe, is it worth contacting London fringe uni's to see if any student rooms are available.

Where does your contract say your place of work is? If it's not the London office then you should be able to claim travel costs as expenses from work.

What would you plan for where to love and how to pay for it if you were to quit your job?

LIVE

(Sorry, dreadful typo, particularly given why you need to move.)

Whereabouts in the north, because mine is 745 and that’s for a 3 bed semi that cost under 200k.
not all mortgages are the same!

I know it has a bad rep but have you looked at Croydon. The transport links are great and it may be a bit cheaper.

Not sure it’s been suggested but have you considered Croydon? It’s very well connected, you can get to London Bridge in 15 mins direct (and then tube on to Canary Wharf). I’ve had a quick look and flat share rents are about 700-900pcm. There are also some studio and one bed places for £950+

Up to half your salary for rent is not unusual but you could definitely find something within budget in East London/Essex, for example, if you are willing to share. Such would also reduce commuting costs. Try openrent or spareroom.

You move out. Right out.
many people including my husband and I live in the Home Counties and have a 1.5 hour commmute each way into London. Done it for 20+ years.
London salary is so so much higher than local salary that it’s worth the cost. Train cost is higher that’s true but it makes it affordable to rent or even buy.

There’s a lovely looking studio for £625 in Hastings, which is not far from london if yiu are only doing a few commutes, and it’s by the sea with lovely restaurants and shops. We love it there.

🙄 extortionate GWR rail fares too!

Try this, they may support you, you can only ask.

I'm sorry for the crappy position you're in. But what did you do for accommodation etc before your ex?
I think it's shit that a woman has to be dependent on a man because she doesn't earn a living wage in the city she's in.

My cousin works in Central London part time for a law firm. She lives in Northants and commutes, the law firm pay for her season ticket for the train. Would this be an option for you?

We were priced out of London and moved to Harlow. You can rent a one bed here for £1000 a month. I’ve seen two beds for £1200-500. You could get a lodger? The train goes directly to Liverpool street. You could also look at places like Peterborough. Do you have a car? It might be cheaper to drive to the office. I’ve also seen flat shares in places like Wood Green/Bounds Green for 500 a month.

Won’t that drive house prices up in your area and price locals, on local wages, out ?

You can afford to live within commuting distance, but you need to be realistic about what you can afford: likely a studio, or a flat share or being a lodger. You could look at an informal arrangement of rent for work. Ie babysitting in return for reduced, or even free rent. Lots of families would jump at this idea, if you put an add up.

You could also look at welwyn garden city.