London was always the city of my dream. I always wanted to shift there when I grew up. Luckily, I got the job in London right after finishing college, so I packed my suitcase got on the train to London.

Little did I realise how expensive it would be for me to survive here. In the beginning, I shifted with my cousin temporarily and started looking for my accommodation. Phew! The rents are breaking skies here.

I understood if I had to survive here, I had to be smart. I figured out ways to live in London at a reasonable price. If you want to live inexpensively in London, this article is just the right place for you. 

London is a fantastic city with so much to offer, but sadly, a thrifty lifestyle is not one of the things. Let’s face it, London is expensive. I small night out where you just have dinner with a drink or two may cost you £ 80-90. In addition, if you want to enjoy some light theatrical entertainment, well put another £100 aside.

The majority of people will get benefit if they choose to become more fiscally prudent. However, it’s much more difficult than it sounds. Unemployed like students or people between jobs suffer the most with financial issues and uncertainty.

In case of a financial emergency, take out a loan. There are plenty of private loan sharks UK. You can always are of them but finalise the lender smartly. When you are living in a city like London, be financially smart.

London is a global city, what were you expecting! It is expensive. Now it’s time to make some changes, both small and big, and let’s make our way into the heart of the city.  

So before discussing our survival, let’s understand the mood of this city, try to know it.

Let’s Understand the Mood of The City

With its lively culture and global accommodations, London has something for everyone. It has a magical attraction. No wonder it is one of the most visited cities on the planet. It has everything, heritage, culture, history, art, and my favourite is the food, which in my opinion is maybe the most spectacular aspect of the city. The roots of the present city can be traced back to the fortified Roman colony of Londinium. It was built on the northern bank of the River Thames, approximately two thousand years ago. Back then, it occupied one square mile, which is why people still call it “one square mile” despite having a vast area.

Top Five Affordable Area of London

There is no reason why you cannot live in London if you find the proper area to live and adjust your spending habits. The living cost of any region is largely affected by the rent, food prices, transportation expenses, and council tax rates. The following are the top five most inexpensive areas in London:

1.     Bexley

Top of my list is the opposite side of the Thames, Bexley! its average rental price is unmatched, so if you’re seeking to rent in London, check it out. The area also has a low crime rate and many parks and open areas for you to take walks.

2.     Havering

Some call Havering the cheapest area in London, and they are not wrong.  This area has a lower population density than other boroughs, which is why you will find a lot of open green space. Havering has very good connectivity to Greater London, which makes it easy for you to commute if your office is in greater parts of London.  

3.     Sutton

Sutton is a favourite for any student. Wonder why? Well, the rent is very cheap here. It might interest you to know that it is also environmentally conscious. They have declared a climate emergency in July 2019 and are committed to being more eco-friendly. There are many nice places around this area to explore.

4.     Enfield

Now that, we have seen the south and east part let’s go North. Enfield is London’s northernmost area with transportation and connectivity to the heart of the city. A beautiful area like the Forty Hall estate and Hilly Fields Park adds charm to this area.

Enfield has a rich Turkish and Greek community’s population, which brings variety to restaurants at cheap prices.

5.     Croydon

Croydon is not as cheap as the above options for renting. However, this region is still affordable on average. Maybe not as cheap, but it has much better connectivity. You can reach any major part of London within 15-20 minutes by train. I would suggest you find accommodation in this area if your place of work is in the main city.

Ways to Survive in London Skilfully

Once rent is settled, now it’s time to discuss other issues. By now, it must be clear that you’ll have to adjust your lifestyle and spending habits.

Rent

You can’t cut the cost of rent from your budget. Look around a lot, go online, and find the best one for you. You can always have roommates; it helps you adjust finances and save some money so you can use it for other stuff. You need a roof over your head. So, always pay rent on time.

If you are running a start-up or a new business owner, rent becomes much more important for you. You must use start up loans for bad credit. They are available even for very bad credit and can be used for rental purposes. Try to maintain your credit score so you can get an emergency rent loan.

Food

After rent, another major part of your money goes into the food. Eating out sounds interesting, but it is expensive. I suggest moving to grocery shopping and trying cooking at home. If you have never cooked before, there is a first time for everything, right?

Still not convinced. Wait till you hear this. Cooking and eating at home can save your fooding expanse up to 60-70%. So, it’s better to cook at home.

The home-cooked meal might have less flavour, but it will be healthier and easier on the pocket. For a change of taste, fix one day every week and eat out. You can also use some food delivery services that deliver extra left-over food from good restaurants at much lower prices.

Budget Shopping

I am not talking about those dress, shoe or gadget shopping as those are obvious. My suggestion for those would be to keep it to a minimum. Don’t run for brand and show off. I prefer to buy at a vintage shop.

When I say shopping, I am talking necessities like milk, fruit, juice, packed food. You see, we are talking about grocery shopping. Make a list of everything you need and buy it at a supermarket on the weekend, they always have some kind of deals. Buying in bulk will save you from making runs to the corner shop and save you money as well. It will keep your house stashed with food so you are never hungry.

Travel Smartly

Last but not least. Let’s talk about travel. When living in a cost-effective area, you need to commute every day. Instead of getting a tube every day, opt for a bus or train.

Also, there are many fair discounts are available for students, learn about those and get the benefits. Take a tube only if it is an emergency.

Conclusion

The bottom line is, if you want to live in London, you must survive at the terms of the city. Find a cheaper locality. The list is given above. Have a roommate to share the rent.

Instead of buying, prepare food at home. Buy groceries in the supermarket and bulk, and travel using public transportation. Save the money wherever you can.