Also, I'm considering starting to cycle into work when it gets warmer, which will save me ~£150 p/m on tube fares.
They're either not careful with their money, or they're paying an exorbitant amount of rent or buy silk toilet paper, and use caviar instead of butter.
Even a motorbike would be significantly cheaper and so much quicker.
I don't live in London personally, but I've a lot of friends that do. One earns 35k and his parents have to help out as it isn't enough, he has a flat share with a friend. Another earns 50k and that just covers the rent on a one bed flat for him and the missus. They rarely ever go out, finances too thin, they have no debt at all. It really depends on what you class as "comfortable living".
If I was single I wouldn't even entertain working in London for less than £50k. But I have a family to support, so would turn my nose up at anything paying less than £75k now. And yes, I work for a Bank lol.
I've been living on the outskirts of Poplar for the past year. If I don't spend any money on gadgets I can save 500-600 per month. This is earning just over 26k and sharing with 3 others. The house is decent enough as it was just refurbished when we moved in and each room has an ensuite. Rent works out 660 pcm for me, travel is ~120 and food maybe 200 per month. Bills aren't too bad as we don't hammer the heating as we all work so the house is empty most of the time. Then i've just got various subscriptions to pay such as gym,cinema and netflix but that only comes to £50 per month.
It helps that i'm incredibly boring and I really only watch films, go to the gym or game, I'm very low maintennance
I will start earning more soon so I just end up saving the extra I do earn. My priority is to get myself a house within a few years but I need to get 'settled' somewhere first, preferably somewhere that isn't London.
Are you telling us you don't know what inflation is?
25k per year is a £1680 per month take home. The outgoings you have listed come to £1030 a month and then you still have bills on top so to save £500 to £600 a month means you spend zero, not even on clothes!!!!!!!
You are certainly not typical and wouldnt be how I would want to live but horses for courses.
You buy clothes every month?
Because people would rather spend more money on rent than throw it at a ****poor train company that barely provides a credible service. (Whichever way you commute!)Meanwhile about 50-100 miles North of London (skipping Luton ofc) you can live quite comfortably on less than 30k in a suburb/semi-rural area, have your own place AND greener surroundings. Why anyone would want to be in London is beyond me. It's for rich Arabs and Oligarchs now.
I have to say that although I'm a southern sufferer, when I do get home, it is so nice to be out in the countryside away from London. I totally get your point, but whilst the convenience of being in London for work is good, I wouldn't trade living in a large house in peace and quiet!