Reply to: Average spend in London

[dezze]

A colleague is renting a room in a great flat in Greenwich - the owner is the only other resident and he's paying just over 400/ month for week nights only. Potluck but there are some good deals around. I'll ask how he found it.

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[MarillionFan]

A pint is £5, a sandwich £3-4 and a coffee £2.50-3

Coke will cost you about 20 quid a line
Hookers around £60 but if you drop SimonMacs mum a line she can do you a special of 3 for 50p

[nomadd]

You need to budget a minimum of £100 per night into your rate, doing it on less is a killer.

This^

Were is the work located? If it's somewhere like Docklands, that £500 / week should easily get you a one or two bedder close enough to work to walk in - hence foregoing the worst aspect of working in London: the commute. Rightmove currently shows 1000+ rental properties in Docklands for that kind of weekly budget or less.

[SueEllen]

WBBS.

I've had just over 3 months of living away from home (on a 6 month contract), flying home Friday night, away again Sunday nights, and I've had enough of it. I don't think I'd have even considered it if I had kids - as it is my wife has told me that I'm never allowed to do it again, and I don't want to. Going away for 6 weeks at a time is one thing, being away long term with weekends only at home is worse.
Renting a room in a shared flat whilst away - better (and cheaper) than a hotel as I can cook for myself, but sharing the bathroom is a pain, and flatmates can be a bunch of lazy bastards when it comes to taking bins out, etc.

As BB said, unless you really have to do it - no work closer and you need to bring in the money - then think long and hard. I only did it as a trial to see whether it was something we could put up with, as we've talked about moving to a nice area, but where there's no local work and I'd have to work away every week, and we've decided that it's not an option.

Of course, everyone's different, but it's not for me, or my wife.

Be a lodger, make sure you are the only lodger and only share with the owner.

[Ticktock]

WBBS.

I've had just over 3 months of living away from home (on a 6 month contract), flying home Friday night, away again Sunday nights, and I've had enough of it. I don't think I'd have even considered it if I had kids - as it is my wife has told me that I'm never allowed to do it again, and I don't want to. Going away for 6 weeks at a time is one thing, being away long term with weekends only at home is worse.
Renting a room in a shared flat whilst away - better (and cheaper) than a hotel as I can cook for myself, but sharing the bathroom is a pain, and flatmates can be a bunch of lazy bastards when it comes to taking bins out, etc.

As BB said, unless you really have to do it - no work closer and you need to bring in the money - then think long and hard. I only did it as a trial to see whether it was something we could put up with, as we've talked about moving to a nice area, but where there's no local work and I'd have to work away every week, and we've decided that it's not an option.

Of course, everyone's different, but it's not for me, or my wife.

[BlasterBates]

Not worth it. I would either move to London or stay where you are. In my view it´s something you do because there´s nothing else suitable near by.

[Old Greg]

These guys do a backpacker rate of £9 per night rising to £10 per night in high season.

Prices & booking - Lee Valley Regional Park Authority

[EternalOptimist]

you can live in a sh!t hole for 20 a night and live on kebabs and chips for 8.

do it for the little one.

[cojak]

The only time I spent £115 on meals was on a CUK Grub Club night.

[evilagent]

Could you consider renting a room in a decent house?
The average monthly rental costs are advantageous in comparison with hotel, but with the benefit of the flexibility of coming and going as you please without having to book per night, etc.

A room gives you the flexibility of home-cooking, more room / space, etc.

Downsides is possibly sharing a bathroom, etc.

[GB9]

An ok single room in an ok hotel will cost you between £50 and £80 depending on how far in advance you book. Travel on top. Then food, depending on whether or not you want to eat out or buy food from a supermarket. (Remember, pre-made up food can't be claimed for expenses, stupid as it may seem).

[Paddy]

The boss of a solutions architect i used to work for is head hunting me and dangling a carrot. Just wondered what the average spend is in london on digs(for 4 nights), food, travel? THen i can work out if the carrot is big enough for me to move as i dont know as yet if i will be renewed.

Thing is my son is 15 months old and that might come in to the equation. At the moment i travel about 30 minutes in car and my rate is above average having been contracting for 9 years with no breaks.

Tricky choices...

You need to budget a minimum of £100 per night into your rate, doing it on less is a killer.
Consider that most London clients will happily fork out £300+ pn for permies coming from remote offices.

[doodab]

A decent one bed will be around £300pw in rent and a 1-4 oyster card is £180pcm.

A pint is £5, a sandwich £3-4 and a coffee £2.50-3

[cojak]

But if you want to pick numbers out of thin air....

Digs can go as low as £35 if you choose a hostel around one of the train stations.

£5 - £8 for an M&S tea.

Travel - lord knows. From where to where????

[cojak]

<Checks Forum, shrugs.>

Son, you're on your own....