Hi, can I survive on £19k in London as a single bloke who likes to socialise at weekends and the odd evening?

Question

I have a job offer of £19.25k a year working in horticulture. It's good for the industry at the level I will be working at but I'm very concerned I will struggle to enjoy any sort of existence in london on this income.

I have friends that I would like to see at weekends and evenings and would need to rent accomodation within zone 2 and use public transport to travel to and from work. I would like to be able to save a bit also to finance some travels at the end of two years in london.

Am I mad thinking I can enjoy city life and save a little on this income???

Answer 1

2 words: rent and boy :)

Answer 2

No you cant

Answer 3

If you could share a flat or more realistically a room then perhaps. I left London in 1992 and I was earning about 17K then and living in subsidised accomodation and I was permanently skint.

Could you take on another job some evenings to supplement income? not necessarily in the trade suggested by the first answer.

you could try this

www.freeflats.com

Answer 4

My only suggestion would be to get some bar work maybe 2 nights a week as well - this would give you some social life and extra income, you would have weekend to see your friends etc.  I do not think you would be able to afford to live alone, do you have any friends in the area you would be able to share with?  If not, think about renting and letting a room out.  I still can't see you saving much but good luck to you anyway.

Answer 5

AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM

Answer 6

Doubt it mate, unless they threw in some cheap accommodation too. I left London exactly 10 years ago and I was earning £26k which was modest even back then. Rents and housing have gone through the roof (so to speak) since then so I couldn't see how you could survive in anything other than a monk-like state.

Good luck though.