...does anyone know of a way that I could afford to live in london for a month or two without taking out a loan, or selling my body?

I am looking to do work experience there over the summer, but the jobs I am going for only pay travel/food expenses of approx £50 a week (dire). I have a bit of cash (ie overdraft left) but nowhere near enough to stay in a b&b or whatever.

Anyone know of any londoners looking for a lodger? Or good schemes that could help me out? I'm pretty desperate because I really need this oppurtunity.

What about living out of the centre of London and commuting in?

Do the universities rent any of their rooms out over the summer?


Joe

£50 a week will hardly cover tube travel and a sandwich for the week.

I think the only way to do it is to work two jobs (your work experience and another in the evening). If it is that important the sacrifice of one summer will be worth it.

I was considering working in sheffield at the weekend and london in the week, but I think I would end up really burnt out! Plus trains and petrol being so expensive, probably would be counterproductive.

Joe that is an excellent idea (about the unis) do you think the way to go about it would be contacting their various housing services?

Originally posted by JoePritchard

Do the universities rent any of their rooms out over the summer?
Joe

Often a good idea over the Summer - altho' £50 won't get that far. It'll last ~2 nights in London according to these two sites.

http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/accommodation/summer-accommodation/summer-accommodation.cfm

http://www.lon.ac.uk/Services/Students/halls1/halls2/Vacrates.asp

There's a good YMCA in Surbiton - which is a quick train ride into London. But the daily return fare (at peak time) is probably around £10.

Another option is the Backpackers Hotel which has just opened up in London - with beds from £10 per night. http://www.piccadillyhotel.net/london-hostels-english/rates.html

Cheers, Carrie

LSE's prices are here http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/vacations/ratesavail.htm cheapest at £26 per night.

Oh my god. Everything in london is REALLY expensive.

Thanks for your suggestions guys. It is starting to look like commuting really is my only option. Am making a list of all the unis in london now, anyway, to phone round and see.

Had you thought about housesitting, pet sitting, or free accommodation in return for evening child minding, sort of mother's help/au pair situation?

Have no idea how to register for these types of things tbh but maybe a google might throw some agencies up that arrange these sorts of jobs?

I know friends of mine regularly have someone to stay at their house to care for the pets whilst they're away on holiday. But they usually arrange it by word of mouth as they both work for huge companies and there's always someone needing somewhere to stay in London.

A major drawback would be that house or pet sitting is hardly likely to be for more than a few weeks at the most.

Rubydazzler, thats exactly the kind of thing I wanted to do. I thought the old trusty forum might have a contact or something. I'm a clean, tidy, hard working non smoker, and I'd make an excellent lodger or home help or whatever.

Damn and blast. *scratches head* I'm sure something will turn up.

I am I right in assuming that you feel it inappropriate to ask the 'employer' for help with this?

There are a few places for back packers to stay in London and they are a lot cheaper than any B and B would be. I've stayed in one or two over the years and found them by contacting the london Tourist Board and asking them for the cheapest beds in the city.
Hope you do find something otherwise i suppose I could give you my biggest cardboard box!!

Yup, I'm struggling to help here. I only managed to find one in Camden for £51 on here (http://www.freeflats.com/)

The Unis will not take you. they are businesses and take in tourists over the summer.
The cheapest way will be a dorm in a hostel for about £14 a night. Actually someone was telling me for one that was £10 a night.

The most sensible way would be to go down there and work two jobs for two months. Plenty of barwork/waitressing and save like mad, in which case you just need to save up the money to pay for your other two months. You could also get an evening job whilst you are doing work experience. There are floors you can sleep on, but they wont put you up for two months.

Get used to the fact that London is expensive.

Maybe you could kill two birds with one stone and try for an evening job in a hostel? You might be able to exchange a few hours on reception for a bed. Just a thought, i remember people working in hostels when i was travelling doing something similar.

-PK-