help me get a life

[lolsteve]

So like a few others on here I've finished uni for good, left with a 2:1 on my masters which am pretty chuffed with

Problem is now a job, there's plenty out there but I want to makr sure I choose the right one. Already had an interview for a place just north of London off the m25 and been asked to go back for a follow up interview , seems like a lovely place. They're offering 20k starting which at first sounded like a lot at first but a few of my coursemates have found jobs for 23-25 with benefits and would be living in a lot cheaper areas.

Question is could me and ladysteve live(well) on my 20k plus her worst case minimum wage job or should I hold out for something better/cheaper living. Even though myself and ladysteve are wanting tk get our life together started I want to make sure its the right choice ,talking with my parents shows that I'm in no rush to get out of their place and I'm on jsa to help stop going further into my overdraft/cover travel to interview fees

[Dum-Dum]

Just north of the M25 where? as just a few miles can make a huge difference. If I lived down the road where some of my colleagues live in Berkhampsted, well, I wouldn't because I can't afford any houses there but here In sunny Aylesbury about 5 miles away I live very comfortably and it's actually easier to get into work and anyone whos been to mine will tell you the views are gorgeous.

I suppose the short answer is yes, if you wanted to live in one of the crappier areas of Aylesbury or Hemal Hempsted (don't go to Dunstable) and were happy with a flat rather than a house you'd live quite comfortably.

Oh and your welcome to come and stay here for a few days to see how you like town.

[C.A.R.]

What's the area bud?

I'm Stevenage, not far north of London and the living costs are pretty extortionate.

I was on £25k, privately renting a small house @ £715 PCM plus bills...and it was a real struggle. Mainly cos my Mrs didn't work, which has now changed.

You're looking at £600+ For even a flat locally, with houses now fetching £750+

Do the sums, if you're both working then it may be doable, but the last thing you want is to end up like we were and be struggling on a 'seemingly decent' wage but having no money left over at the end of each month. It sucks, trust me.

[Ben Jay]

im north london just off the m25 also!

[Dum-Dum]

Also £20k is pretty much minimum wage surely? Even Tesco pay over £7ph, 40 hour week, is nearly £300 a week, 52 weeks is about £15k PA

I suppose the 2 of you earning a combined £35-40k would be better off than me earning that as you wont pay anywhere near as much in tax or pension

[pug306driver]

what did you study for your degree?

[DavidA]

I live in Wiltshire and I'm on a reasonable salary, but I looked recently at a couple of jobs around Stevenage and Bedford and I'd be looking at about £400pcm extra to live in a place similar to what I have now so it made no sense to move.

Yes the wages in London are higher, but house prices/rents are extortionate anywhere within the commuting area...example my sister's "cosy" two bed terraced house in Watford rents out for about £300 more than my 3 bed semi with a garden and garage in a village in Wiltshire.

Certainly pays to shop around as far as jobs and living conditions are concerned.

[lolsteve]

It's in Waltham Abbey, Essex. Seems a nice place (although most places do against bradford)
Places nearby seem to be commanding around 750-850 for a nice 2 bedroom flat which makes me very sad when i think back to northern prices

The idea of being worse off than when I was a student isn't all the appealing especially when I was hoping to have some cash to actually be able to invest in the modifications/have fun.

My degree is in Civil & Structural engineering so there's plenty of work out there for me not like a media degree which I would struggle more for

[Niall]

im north london just off the m25 also!

And right there is your reason not to move down here!

20k is absolutely sod all within the m25 mate. Don't forget its not just the rent thats expensive. Everything is!
If your on your own, you would want to be earning a minimum of 25k with no other bills (loans etc) to pay other than your cost of living. If its you and the engine destroyer, a combined 35-40k should see you live comfortably in a flat providing you watch your spending. e.g no take aways every other night and going down the pub.

[Eeyore]

Okay let me put my experience into this.

I come from Ipswich and went to uni in liverpool. Rent was £95 a week for the an amazing big terraced house and living with mates. Thats £380 a month for the room.

I have now moved to London to work for IBM. Rent is £550 a month for a smaller room living with one mate and two other guys. Needless to say I do all the cleaning and I hate it some times.

My job at IBM is good but I dont have the time to do anything any more. I know some people work more than 9-5 5 days a week but I am really annoyed at how much of my time isnt spent doing what I want.

My advice... don't rush into it and enjoy yourself before starting real life. Avoid london unless youre earning 25K+ otherwise it will all go on rent, living, travelling and you will have no disposable income.

[C.A.R.]

The options are to either earn a very high wage or commute for 1-2 hours and miss out on life at home.

It's absurd that wealthy people can go out and 'buy-to-let' as it's basically a license to print money..but it makes so much sense if you have the money to do so. Demand also ramps the price up, meaning there isn't often room for negotiation on the advertised price, even if you commit to stay for x years.

If you're partner is working it will make life 10x easier

[Poodle]

That''s a terrible wage for the area mate, you'll struggle to live on that by yourself, let alone with Ally in tow.

[Niall]

That''s a terrible wage for the area mate, you'll struggle to live on that by yourself, let alone with Ally in tow.

Come to mention it, isn't it a terrible wage for a uni graduate anyway? I was sure that getting a degree was a 100% guaranteed way to walking out straight into a 100k a year job right? :p

[Scott]

Let's not get into that whole debate

I'd hold out if I were you buddy, especially if you're in a position to do so for now. You could find a job for that salary nearer to home and be better off due to cost of living.

[DavidA]

The options are to either earn a very high wage or commute for 1-2 hours and miss out on life at home.

That's something I considered with the job I went for in London, but at £6k+ for a season ticket into the city plus 2 hours each way on the train I canned it.

[Eeyore]

The options are to either earn a very high wage or commute for 1-2 hours and miss out on life at home.

That's something I considered with the job I went for in London, but at £6k+ for a season ticket into the city plus 2 hours each way on the train I canned it.

Same here. it was going to be 7 grand for a year train pass and 2 hours each way. Even with rent its only 6 and it takes me 20 minutes door to door.

[Dum-Dum]

Waltham Abbey is really nice but its overpriced and anywhere round it that isn't Waltham Abbey is shit. Also you'd technically live in Essex and only lady gardens live in Essex.

If you want to work in London for the higher wages Chesham is acceptable and as far out as you can get on the tube (any further and its a train which gets expensive) however its got a very asian community as most of the houses are "unity" build (they crumble and fall apart so you can't get a mortgage) but because you wouldn't buy there theres a reasonable rental market.


Also don't be put off by this commuting bollocks about it taking 2 hours to get from somewhere nice into central london. Aylesbury to Marleybone is 50mins on the train plus however long you have to walk either end and TBH commuting gives you time to play on facebook, read a book or do some work if your a weirdo.

[1616six]

Reading this makes me so glad I live in Norfolk. 3 bed semi can easily be found for £500pcm, my mum lives in a 2 bed cottage with large garden on a nice road (Dum you've been there when you collected some seats) & she pays £420pcm. Live near A11, A47 & A17, nice area. Granted jobs are more scarce but I never realised other places were so high, but I suppose that's just the living cost that comes with London.

[Niall]

Reading this makes me so glad I live in Norfolk. 3 bed semi can easily be found for £500pcm. Live near A11, A47 & A17, nice area. Granted jobs are more scarce but I never realised other places were so high, but I suppose that's just the living cost that comes with London.

This is why London is shit to live in...in my opinion anyway. Cost of living is stupidly high, everyone is rude and arrogant, even the nice parts you can't leave something unlocked for 30 seconds. Places like Chelsea, one of the poshest parts of London and everyone has gates and grills on their windows and doors. What kind of way to live is that!

[lolsteve]

I think i'll give that job a miss then, not really a fan of london anyway. Would actually prefer to go a bit northern again maybe Sheffield
It would be nice to have a job and something to work for but I am in no rush and would like to know our first year or so isn't going to be just about surviving when my course mates are living quite comfortably. It's not fair for me who worked hard to get the masters or Allie who has waited for me to finish

Some of the employers I think are trying to take p*** though, got offered an interview for a job in Slough on 16k a year

[Seb_Ryan]

This is why I like south wales.. 3 bed house costs me 310 quid a month on a mortgage lol

[1616six]

I think i'll give that job a miss then, not really a fan of london anyway. Would actually prefer to go a bit northern again maybe Sheffield
It would be nice to have a job and something to work for but I am in no rush and would like to know our first year or so isn't going to be just about surviving when my course mates are living quite comfortably. It's not fair for me who worked hard to get the masters or Allie who has waited for me to finish

Some of the employers I think are trying to take p*** though, got offered an interview for a job in Slough on 16k a year

Sheffield/surrounding areas are lovely, we're in chesterfield every month at ambers sisters house & have been saying for a year or so that we'll move up that way (derbyshire border). She lives in Clowne which is nice.

What sort of job are you looking fit? Get on LinkedIn, I've got a few mates that have been scouted through it.

[Niall]

What sort of job are you looking fit? Get on LinkedIn, I've got a few mates that have been scouted through it.

This. I've been offered 2 job interviews by being scouted on Linked in the past 4 months. Well worth signing up and spending half hour filling out your info.

Don't discount London or the south completely though. There are more jobs down here than up't norf but the cost of living is more. If your sensible, you can get a job paying a hell of a lot more than the equivalent up north and be better off even with the rise in living cost.
In my industry, your looking at up to a 15k a year difference between north and south. Thats no small amount of money!

[Eeyore]

Some of the employers I think are trying to take p*** though, got offered an interview for a job in Slough on 16k a year

Im sure they will mate. Some people will be desperate for a job.

Dont sell yourself short. Having a job gives you money but it doesnt make you happy. Id much rather have my time.

[DavidA]

Another recommendation for LinkedIn. Admittedly I've been working a little longer than my 306 has been driving so I've got a little more history than someone straight out of Uni, but when I spent a bit of time working in recruitment it was praised as the next big thing for recruiters and I've been on it over 6 years now.

Recently barely a week has gone by when I haven't had someone try and offer me a new position...start building your network and see how far it can get you.

As for the north, I spent about four years in Lancashire and you certainly notice the difference in costs, the equivalent Barrett two bed starter home was double the price in Bristol.

[Piggy]

Geeeeese...

20k for a uni graduate?? Seems harsh after all the effort n work!

Hope you get something worth ya weight pal

[procta]

all I can say is get a proper rover 1st

[ginge191]

That''s a terrible wage for the area mate, you'll struggle to live on that by yourself, let alone with Ally in tow.

Come to mention it, isn't it a terrible wage for a uni graduate anyway? I was sure that getting a degree was a 100% guaranteed way to walking out straight into a 100k a year job right? :p

Shall we....



I'm still unsure why everyone is about money? You want money, make money; don't work for someone else.
Secondly, as long as your content with what you're doing it shouldn't matter? Are you living to work, or working to live...?


Personally, being a recent graduate and now an employee the world, it seems, is open to me. Knowing I'll be buying a house this time next year is a nice feeling.

As Rowell said above; don't rush into something because it seems wise now.

[Dum-Dum]

As Niall says don't discount the south as the pay difference can be huge. I'm on nearly £7k London weighting, better benefits and more opportunities for overtime compared to if I moved up north although I have seriously been looking at a move right up north.

[lolsteve]

Have heard of LinkedIN but just thought it was another failed social network like google+ etc

It's hard to say what I'm looking for since the Civil + Structural engineering career path is very diverse, I could specialise more in something like bridges or roads which would mean bigger multi million projects or go for structural consultee which is smaller scale refurbishment and domestic calculations which is easier and more plentiful

Regards to the north/south pay divide it doesn't seem to exist for this, my northern coursemates are on the 23-25k jobs and in the south I can only find 18-20k