daddybear Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Perfectly valid question, why do people who earn less than say £30k live in London when they could live for less anywhere else, what is the housing cost versus earning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeymadman Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 *holds hand up* I can answer this one. Because not only is there work in London, but if you're oop norf, London's an easy and cheap place to travel to in order to look for that work. The problems only start when you get it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNACR Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Perfectly valid question, why do people who earn less than say £30k live in London when they could live for less anywhere else, what is the housing cost versus earning I'd say the same for anyone earning more as well. I've got a flat in London as I used to have to be there quite a bit, but find myself there less and less. I just don't like it at all and can't understand the appeal. Feel it's got a lot worse over the last 10-15 years can't really explain why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stars Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 There is more work in London - that's why cities form in the first place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STRLondon Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 having that problem myself, looking for somewhere cheaper but we need to travel to the centre so stuck paying over the odds to compete with the big earners, frustrating Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InternationalRockSuperstar Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 There is more work in London - that's why cities form in the first place some of London's boroughs had some pretty awful unemployment - even before the recession. I think Tower Hamlets was ~13%. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stars Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 (edited) some of London's boroughs had some pretty awful unemployment - even before the recession.I think Tower Hamlets was ~13%. Imagine what the rate would be if all the people in tower hamlets were moved to the country Sorry not very clear, but i hope you get my drift Edit to add..i take your point Edited August 18, 2009 by Stars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bound Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Because once it's under your skin you couldn't live anywhere else. The only city that comes close is New York and that still doesn't match the magic of London. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pyracantha Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Perfectly valid question, why do people who earn less than say £30k live in London when they could live for less anywhere else, what is the housing cost versus earning I remember a comedian on TV who did a sketch about visiting London. He said that you knew you were in London because when you blew your nose it came out black. Personally I have never been able to see the attraction of living in London. I remember a few years ago the New Scientist magazine did a survey in major UK cities. They had people record the number of returned smiles. London was bottom of the list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ayatollah Buggeri Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 I also suspect that a lot of London workers receive significant subsidies, whether in the form of state benefits (very generous if you've got children), free accommodation through living with parents, etc. etc. The only thing that is a lot more expensive in London than anywhere else is housing. Admittedly I haven't lived there full time since 1992, but I do visit relatives frequently and my impression is that the price of basic, non-discretionary items (food, council tax, utility bills etc.) is pretty much the same there as in any provincial city and large town. So if you're not having to pay the full market rate for your rent or mortgage, I wouldn't have thought that your cost of living in the capital would be that much more than anywhere else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scuuzeme Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Work, really. There are plenty of other places I'd like to live, but the jobs aren't there for me. The housing cost is insane, mind you, so I'm not sure it really does add up. Mind you, after 20 odd years you get used to the damn place! Top tip for quality of life in town - avoid public transport, get a pushbike. Best thing I've ever done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Executive Sadman Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 In my experience they *feel* like theyre missing out on something if they dont. Personally ive found you can have as good a time in any medium sized city if you know where to go and have good company. I guess if you want to work in politics and visit art galleries all the time its the only place for you, but they are hardly normal people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercsl Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 If you lose your job in these out of the way places you are stuffed finding another one nearby, usually you have to sell your house or rent it out and rent elsewhere just to earn a crust. What a pain.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNACR Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 There is more work in London - that's why cities form in the first place And collapse. When the dust settles will London look a lot different from any other declining post-industrial city like Birmingham or Manchester. I also suspect that a lot of London workers receive significant subsidies, whether in the form of state benefits (very generous if you've got children), free accommodation through living with parents, etc. etc.The only thing that is a lot more expensive in London than anywhere else is housing. Admittedly I haven't lived there full time since 1992, but I do visit relatives frequently and my impression is that the price of basic, non-discretionary items (food, council tax, utility bills etc.) is pretty much the same there as in any provincial city and large town. So if you're not having to pay the full market rate for your rent or mortgage, I wouldn't have thought that your cost of living in the capital would be that much more than anywhere else. Big Dick Whittington factor I always think. A lot of graduates spend their twenties in London trying to break into the creative industries. As everyone wants those jobs it pushes wages down to an unsustainable level, when they don't breakthrough to the higher salaries I reckon a lot, particularly women, go back to the provinces when they hit their thirties to settle down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubble&Squeak Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 [sNIP]So if you're not having to pay the full market rate for your rent or mortgage, I wouldn't have thought that your cost of living in the capital would be that much more than anywhere else. +1 this is my experience, having lived in a few cities around the UK Although I am certainly planning on moving away from the smoke in the not too distant future the commuting is hell TBH... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@contradevian Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 some of London's boroughs had some pretty awful unemployment - even before the recession.I think Tower Hamlets was ~13%. Can't be right. That includes Canary Wharf, the centre of free wheeling capitalism in the UK! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Hun Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Can't be right. That includes Canary Wharf, the centre of free wheeling capitalism in the UK! And the average there wage is over 100K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InternationalRockSuperstar Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Imagine what the rate would be if all the people in tower hamlets were moved to the country they'd build a new mosque? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stars Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 they'd build a new mosque? Ha..i took your point by the way - It needed a second's thought Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babesagainstmachines Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 If you want to be able to do something interesting any night, then London is the only city in Britain that caters for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d2thdr Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Because once it's under your skin you couldn't live anywhere else. The only city that comes close is New York and that still doesn't match the magic of London. NY is a zillion times better than London. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winkie Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Well if you were born there you had no option but to live there, your family is there your friends are there just like any other place you grew up in, was brought/dragged up in....London is a great place for young people that have the get up and go and want to make more of their lives, London is the place to meet people, make friends and influence people. London is vibrant and fast...London lives. Other places are far nicer for other reasons...it all depends what you want from your life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Sacks Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Cue Injun - What is "normal" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest anorthosite Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Because once it's under your skin you couldn't live anywhere else. The only city that comes close is New York and that still doesn't match the magic of London. Is that the kind of magic that splits your soul into pieces at the cost of another's life and then leaves you a ghostly half shell of a human, barely able to comprehend the warmth and love of another human being? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest anorthosite Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Cue Injun - What is "normal" Whatever it is, by any definition, it doesn't live on HPC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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