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Thread ID: 35929 2003-07-26 00:45:00 OT: Living costs in London? nomad (3693) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
162871 2003-07-27 07:36:00 Those canal boats sound like a lot of fun. I don't know that I would want to live on one through a winter though, they would be too damn cold wouldn't they? Susan B (19)
162872 2003-07-27 07:42:00 insulation, central heating...

Mind you, we were there in summer during a heat wave. The Brits kept saying - NZ. Don't you find it hot there? Reply was that the weather they were having was worse than an Auckland summer!
Heather P (163)
162873 2003-07-28 10:25:00 As Misty says I am living in London at the moment.
Rent is a big part of your expenses and you usually need to pay four weeks bond and then a couple of weeks to a month in advance. This can be a huge upfront cost in $NZ.
Sharing a house is the cheapest option. If you want to share a room it will probably cost around £50 a week. Small single rooms (and I mean small) start from around £60. You get these in the Antipodean areas like Acton (West London) or Shepard's Bush.
I know many people living in Tooting, a mainly Indian area down South (great for cheap Indian restaurants) good transport links and reasonably cheap. You can get a large double room in a big house here for around £70-£80. It's not the nicest area in the world (smelly fish market and fairly dirty) but not unsafe.
General cost though is around £100 a week for a double room.
It would be a good idea to find out where you will be working before committing to a place so you don't have to travel too far. Backpackers are around £10 a night, but you get sick of it pretty quick!
In regards to other costs...
Basic food items are pretty cheap, bread, tinned goods etc, but you end up spending a fortune in supermarkets on fresh food. Markets sell fruit and vegies much cheaper than supermarkets. Movies vary a lot, costs around £10 in the city but some local cinemas only charge £3-£5.
A pint will set you back around £2.60 in a pub, wine from £10. Much much cheaper to buy from off-licences (like dairies that sell beer!)
Kitty Cat (3264)
162874 2003-07-28 11:13:00 lol, i like how an OT conversation on living costs in london turns to the price of dial-up and broadband :-) such geeks,

My sister lives in London, and as she has said and many others in this thread, you can't compare NZ$ to UK$ you need to earn pounds to spend pounds.

If you have a uni education you shouldn't have any trouble finding some of those UK$ to help you along the way
roofus (483)
162875 2003-07-28 11:47:00 Yep, I am a uni graduate. Seeking a career out of it ..

The thing I have stumble across is the salary is not that high when living costs can be so high. I am assuming 250 Pounds per week for expenditure. Heck, I have been on job websites and their pays are like 15-18k Pound annually. Hopefully I get 70 Pound left over in savings will be good :)
nomad (3693)
162876 2003-07-30 15:04:00 I Currently Live in London.

My rent is £300 a month(avg size room), bills equel about £50 a month, high speed net is £25 a month. - Cant live on dialup its too iffy.

Depending on where you live, you could spend between £80 - £250 on travel. Good food is not cheap, but you can get by on £30 a week for groceries, but the pub is what gets ya. £3 for a pint

Mobiles are not too bad - 500mins a month for £20, but roaming and texting can be steep.

Pretty much, if you pay $10 in NZ, it will cost at least £5 over here.
Work on that ratio.

Good Luck
nzjacob (211)
162877 2003-08-01 06:26:00 Thanks for the help. Now its much clearer ..
:)
nomad (3693)
162878 2003-08-01 06:55:00 C'mon Nomad - You don't get off so easily !
What are your plans now ? What have you learned that is particularly relevant ?
cheers
Misty
:)
Misty (368)
162879 2003-08-01 08:39:00 Well, still need to secure a job via the net, prob via a telephone interview or such ...

What a learnt; there are ways of cutting down costs and having clearer understanding of the costs. Hope the potential flatmates are good, enof hot water :D

I could just get dialup with minimal hours - emails u see. Some forum work too and current affairs. It is a pretty $$ place to live. Wages does not really increase by much as the living cost ....

Living off a boat over winter is not a good idea ;)

Oh, a question if I could! Would anyone have ideas of regions which a fresh grad could get some reasonably price accom?:| I do not mind travelling, jus hope the subway/train caters the routes.. Just one condition, I do not want coronation street type accom :^O
nomad (3693)
162880 2003-08-01 09:21:00 > Just one condition, I do not want coronation street type accom

Really? Then you have one big shock coming to you....... :D
tommy (2826)
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