Moving to London

Object [quote]chris crash
Things to remember about london:
Smeear makes hats, Scott makes bags don't get confused or you will end up with a really big hat or really small bag.
Dale is the one in the mankini, and Emilié is the one in the knickers again disastrous results if you confuse them.
keep your fingers away from Hippy's mouth
there is a number of pints where Pikey Wane changes form a hilarious drunk messenger to one of the most powerful destructive forces known to man, the number changes, but keep track of it (was anyone else at bloody mary's birthday party).
Jos and Roberto have lots of shiny bike things for sale
you will need to dedicate at least 3 days a week to bike events, these are thursday westend beers, friday drinks at the snow, and sunday polo, this is your minimum commitment.
and ride on the left.

...And the Trixie Chix throw the best parties.

and come to the monopoly night ride on 15th march to get a taster of all the above action :)

roxy [quote]Object [quote]chris crash
Things to remember about london:
Smeear makes hats, Scott makes bags don't get confused or you will end up with a really big hat or really small bag.
Dale is the one in the mankini, and Emilié is the one in the knickers again disastrous results if you confuse them.
keep your fingers away from Hippy's mouth
there is a number of pints where Pikey Wane changes form a hilarious drunk messenger to one of the most powerful destructive forces known to man, the number changes, but keep track of it (was anyone else at bloody mary's birthday party).
Jos and Roberto have lots of shiny bike things for sale
you will need to dedicate at least 3 days a week to bike events, these are thursday westend beers, friday drinks at the snow, and sunday polo, this is your minimum commitment.
and ride on the left.

...And the Trixie Chix have cuddies.[/quote]

fixed

repeatclicks, there's much to be said for many parts of London and most people will tell you something different. As it happens I'm going to be renting my flat out around that time (really lovely Victorian conversion, big living room/fitted kitchen, good size bathroom, double bedroom with very high ceilings) for around 800. It's very close to Camberwell Art School. If your fiance would like to check it out send me an email joeluden@gmail.com cheers.

As some of you may know, but probably don't, I'm finishing my Chemsitry degree in Glasgow this year and am applying to study medicine next year. If I get rejected I have two options.

1. Work as a health care assistant in Scotland.
   
2. Work as a health care assistant in England.
   
   

My main motivation for wanting to work in England is that it means I have a good shot at getting my fees paid by the NHS for my 2nd, 3rd and 4th years of my 4 year medicine course if I'm "normally resident in England on the first day of the course".

If I'm working in England I may as well work in London. I don't really know anyone anywhere else and I don't think nursing is a great job in which to meet new friends. My questions are:

1. What is the hospital distribution like in London (size, spread, location, catchment)?
   
2. How far could I commute in the mornings/evenings?
   
3. is £16,000 pa enough to live off in London?
   
   

Hopefully I'll get into Glasgow or Newcastle this year and wont have to worry about working next year but I just thought I'd investigate.

Thanks

1) dunno (sorry)
2) how fit are you? how early do you wake up? it depends... i will make a random guess and say 10 miles? 15? 20 if you're really keen?
3) no. well, maybe, but you'll probably be paying a very high proportion of your income in rent and council tax, or living in a dump. i'm sure people survive on £16k, but it can't be that much fun...

but there are plenty of students who seem to survive here, so maybe i'm just a spendaholic.

16,000 in reality isnt much (depending on how you spend obviously) - its possible if you try finding a place to stay not in the immediate london area (zone 1-3 on the underground map). I live in ilford, it takes me about 30-40 minutes via underground to get into central or so or 40mins or so cycling.

The further you live out the cheaper it is - public transport ain't that bad depending where u go.

£16000 will make you the envy of every courier you meet. Which you will, in hospital probably.

that's taxed though. couriers don't pay tax (or at least the ones i know don't)

£16000 will make you the envy of every courier you meet. Which you will, in hospital probably.

I repeat.

It works out at just over £1000 a month. I lived off that paying £250pcm on rent and bills last year but I don't think I could live off it paying £700pcm on rent and bills.

1. There are a good range of hospitals spread out throughout london. Along with a fair smattering of private institutions.
   ( http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=hospitals+london+nhs&sll=51.496133,-0.062141&sspn=0.128245,0.345383&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=12 )

2. As far as you feel comfortable?

3. £16'000 is fine. I live in Hackney and pay £450 a month including bills. If you ride everywhere transport costs are nothing. I think there is a misconception that London is generally a really expensive when really when you get past the rent its pretty much the same as everywhere else.

1. £16'000 is fine. I live in Hackney and pay £450 a month including bills. If you ride everywhere transport costs are nothing. I think there is a misconception that London is generally a really expensive when really when you get past the rent its pretty much the same as everywhere else.
   

You have a good point. I'd not pay anything for transport except from travel to Glasgow occasionally and I have enough airmiles for quite a few flights. I currently live off £459 after rent, bills etc.

I think there is a misconception that London is generally a really expensive when really when you get past the rent its pretty much the same as everywhere else.

everywhere else where??!! ;)

rusty if you find a room in a share house somewhere not too close in, you might be able to get away with £450-500pcm on rent/bills. if you're willing to ride everywhere, don't drink in pubs much, bring your lunch from home and get your mum to buy your clothes (or just survive on old clothes or a while) you will survive.

everywhere else where??!! ;)

rusty if you find a room in a share house somewhere not too close in, you might be able to get away with £450-500pcm on rent/bills. if you're willing to ride everywhere, don't drink in pubs much, bring your lunch from home and get your mum to buy your clothes (or just survive on old clothes or a while) you will survive.

Tesco's is same everywhere.
London is as expensive as you make it.
I make my own lunch. Buy my clothes from Uniqlo and have to limit myself to going out on the weekends and the occasional drink after work. But hey im happy. London is great cause there is so much free stuff to do.

Move down mate, you'll adapt.

I suppose I'd have to budget for my bike getting nicked ;)

Tesco's is same everywhere.
London is as expensive as you make it.

ah, i meant outside the UK as well. it is one of the most expensive places in the world to live, on the whole.

i agree with the second bit. once you get over rent, anyway.

ah, i meant outside the UK as well. it is one of the most expensive places in the world to live, on the whole.

Tokyo. Makes London seem like Nothern England!

anyone making jokes about whippets, rickets and poverty will be making my list.

£16,000 isn't an enormous amount of money to live on but it can be done and it can be done comfortably, especially if you're sensible with your money. Don't listen to the other people on this forum, they're all rich and have no concept of the value of money!

Tokyo. Makes London seem like Nothern England!

"One of" ;)

One day i want to live somewhere really cheap. Also warm. London is neither of these things.

My rent is nearly two thirds of my salary. Stupid rent. That's my own fault though.

My advice is don't get cats, it makes moving impossible. (in London)

I'm moving to London for 2 years and think I'll need to stay with family because rent appears too expensive for me

Any other hidden expenses {extra taxes etc} that I should know about?

Reading up on the net is useful but often confusing with conflicting information

I used to have job where my basic salary was £12500 pa. On the top of that I was getting about £60-100 on commisions. And I survived and even was able to save some cash. Depends what lifestyle you are used to. If you go out twice a week, buy all new gadgets and other shite like iPhone, having phone contracts renewed every 5 months and having Sky+ whatever is that shit called then yes, you might have problem eith £16k pa. Otherwise for start you will be fine and soon I am sure you will be able to find better job.

I used to have job where my basic salary was £12500 pa. On the top of that I was getting about £60-100 on commisions. And I survived and even was able to save some cash. Depends what lifestyle you are used to. If you go out twice a week, buy all new gadgets and other shite like iPhone, having phone contracts renewed every 5 months and having Sky+ whatever is that shit called then yes, you might have problem eith £16k pa. Otherwise for start you will be fine and soon I am sure you will be able to find better job.

I'd just be doing this for a year. After that there's a chance I'd be a medical student in London for 4 years (or maybe somewhere else in England). After that I'd probably move back to London as a doctor and could then give advice to people on this forum that "It's not possible to live on London without a salary of at least £30,000"