1 in 35 Londoners are millionaires

[edge]

I feel sorry for ordinary people in London , how the hell do they survive with the house prices ect, must be really hard to get by on a average wage and have any quality of life.
I have noticed the last year or so a lot of southern familys appearing around liverpool just wondering is there some sort of white flight going on as they all seem to be white working class types, might be just the ones im coming into contact with mind you, rather than a fact.
I couldnt live down there, its a bit strange like new york has its own buzz sort of thing nice to visit but not for any lenth of time.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I feel sorry for ordinary people in London , how the hell do they survive with the house prices ect, must be really hard to get by on a average wage and have any quality of life.
I have noticed the last year or so a lot of southern familys appearing around liverpool just wondering is there some sort of white flight going on as they all seem to be white working class types, might be just the ones im coming into contact with mind you, rather than a fact.
I couldnt live down there, its a bit strange like new york has its own buzz sort of thing nice to visit but not for any lenth of time.

I'd say the biggests costs down here are property and dining/drinking out. Both are incredibly expensive, but there are a lot of great (free) parks, museums, galleries and all that. Public transport is a lot cheaper than other places, and I don't think normal shopping items are any dearer.

We're paying 'reasonable' rent, ie cheaper than most in our area but still triple what my mortgage is on the BTL I own near my folks, and whilst we don't earn huge chunks between us, we have a really good life (we think) We're just careful with money and that, not buying stuff we don't need or anything.

 

[edge]

I'd say the biggests costs down here are property and dining/drinking out. Both are incredibly expensive, but there are a lot of great (free) parks, museums, galleries and all that. Public transport is a lot cheaper than other places, and I don't think normal shopping items are any dearer.

We're paying 'reasonable' rent, ie cheaper than most in our area but still triple what my mortgage is on the BTL I own near my folks, and whilst we don't earn huge chunks between us, we have a really good life (we think) We're just careful with money and that, not buying stuff we don't need or anything.

suppose if you were brought up there its what your used to, wasnt slagging it off lots going for it shows, places to see, shoppimg ect, maybe its a but fast paced for me, but it mindbogling for myself when you see the price of houses ect, just cant see how or if people like bus drivers get by down there.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

suppose if you were brought up there its what your used to, wasnt slagging it off lots going for it shows, places to see, shoppimg ect, maybe its a but fast paced for me, but it mindbogling for myself when you see the price of houses ect, just cant see how or if people like bus drivers get by down there.

I moved here in my late 20's so can fully appreciate how expensive it can seem. As I said though, things like property and beer are the main ones. The buses here are considerably better value than those where I grew up. There were no free cultural things down there either, with the majority charging an arm and a leg. Horses for courses isn't it? I expect driving a car is expensive what with parking for it and the congestion charge, but I don't know many people that need one really.

The general busyness of the place I will grant you though. Thankfully I don't commute any more so don't have to suffer that particular pleasure

 

[evilwebby]

I moved here in my late 20's so can fully appreciate how expensive it can seem. As I said though, things like property and beer are the main ones. The buses here are considerably better value than those where I grew up. There were no free cultural things down there either, with the majority charging an arm and a leg. Horses for courses isn't it? I expect driving a car is expensive what with parking for it and the congestion charge, but I don't know many people that need one really.

The general busyness of the place I will grant you though. Thankfully I don't commute any more so don't have to suffer that particular pleasure

Rents certainly take up a large chunk of monthly wages for a lot of young Londoners, that's why so many people, even professionals earning top rate tax still house-share. I don't know if was ever any different, though, and house-sharing has pretty much been the norm for a long time. And rents have certainly gone up in the last few years - the Olympics effect.

However I do find that it's possible to live sensibly. My wife and I earn what I consider to be good wages, yet we still have very modest outgoings, save a considerable chunk each month, and overpay a good amount of our mortgage.

Entertainment and eating/drinking out can eat up as much or as little or as much of the budget as you want it to, really. Maybe I'm just an unsociable old fart now, but what I have found as I have got older is that if you actually find something that you like doing, such as as sport or an artistic interest you spend less time and money on just socializing. Ask young people today what their hobbies are and most of them can't actually give a good answer.. er "drinking, socialising, going to the pub, into music" etc. Nothing wrong with having a good time, but none of that actually defines you in any way.

 

[evilwebby]

An example of silly money imo is this "Secret Cinema" thing. £55 a ticket to watch a rerun of Back To The Future.

Now, great film that it is, I don't know that I'd pay £55 just to watch it on a rebuilt set with some Z-grade actors to give it an authentic experience.

Add in food, drink & travel prices and you're probably looking at £100/head. I can certainly think of other things I'd rather spend a hundred bucks on. Just get the DVD and watch it at home FFS.

http://metro.co.uk/2014/08/08/10-re...ents-back-to-the-future-is-a-rip-off-4824912/

 

[Bruce Wayne]

An example of silly money imo is this "Secret Cinema" thing. £55 a ticket to watch a rerun of Back To The Future.

Now, great film that it is, I don't know that I'd pay £55 just to watch it on a rebuilt set with some Z-grade actors to give it an authentic experience.

Add in food, drink & travel prices and you're probably looking at £100/head. I can certainly think of other things I'd rather spend a hundred bucks on. Just get the DVD and watch it at home FFS.

http://metro.co.uk/2014/08/08/10-re...ents-back-to-the-future-is-a-rip-off-4824912/

If you want the cinema experience for older films then https://www.ourscreen.com/ might be worth checking out.

 

[dholliday]

Thought of you @dholliday

You mean you thought of me because I'm already like this or that I need to be like this? I'm as far away from that ideal as anyone else, I reckon lol

Public transport is a lot cheaper than other places

I thought travelcards are expensive now? When I lived in London it was £4.30 for a Zone 1-4. Now it's £8.90, or even £11.40 if buying before 0930. In my usual travels back then I often needed the tube/train combi, sometimes busses too, so travelcards were the way to go before I discovered I could actually cycle everywhere (that was a revelation!).

maybe its a but fast paced for me, but it mindbogling for myself when you see the price of houses ect, just cant see how or if people like bus drivers get by down there.

Oh yeah, I notice now how fast-paced and full London is when I return having spent the last few years in Berlin (which German people from other cities find very fast-paced but I find quite slow). London's full of people, walking faster and talking faster than almost anywhere else in Europe. Apparently I was quite hectic in the first year or two after leaving London...they say you can take the boy out of London...

Busdrivers I think are ok-paid. Around 20k, maybe.

if you actually find something that you like doing, such as as sport or an artistic interest you spend less time and money on just socializing.

This. Once I got socialising out of my system (say early-20's) I got into activities instead. Played 5-a-side twice a week (granted, with beers afters!) and did quite a bit of music stuff and helping organise squat-parties. Turns out you spend less money doing activities than you would 'socialising' in bars/clubs.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

You mean you thought of me because I'm already like this or that I need to be like this? I'm as far away from that ideal as anyone else, I reckon lol

Nah, I just thought you might find it interesting given the nature of the thread (re transport, I don't tend to venture underground much so travel with the proles in the sunshine )

 

[dholliday]

Nah, I just thought you might find it interesting given the nature of the thread (re transport, I don't tend to venture underground much so travel with the proles in the sunshine lol)

aaah, the proles...the answer must lie with the proles!


I thought going through that list was mildly cathartic...try it yourself

 

[evilwebby]

Busdrivers I think are ok-paid. Around 20k, maybe.

Would be surprised it was that low.
this chap seems to suggest that he can get 30k just working his standard rota, and anything up to £45k doing silly hours.
https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100731081719AAisULh

It's the same for a lot of the public services too. eg, I had a friend who was a paramedic.. not sure what her base earnings were, but she could cushtily top it up doing extra hours. Bit different to us private practitioners who usually do a reasonable amount of overtime as par for the course.

 

[dholliday]

Would be surprised it was that low.
this chap seems to suggest that he can get 30k just working his standard rota, and anything up to £45k doing silly hours.
https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100731081719AAisULh

Just found this which suggests 28k:

http://union-news.co.uk/2012/06/bre...rike-next-fridaysaturday-over-olympics-bonus/