The funny side of renting in London (because if you didn't laugh you'd cry...)

Sunday, April 21, 2013

How to save up for a deposit whilst renting in London

The Evening Standard provides some advice on how to save up for a deposit whilst paying a big proportion of your salary in rent every month.

This article was in the paper in September 2012 and it made me smile at the time so I thought I would share it here.

In September 2012 an average deposit for first time buyers was £57,175.  The Evening Standard came up with several solutions how someone might save this money.

1) Live Frugally
The Evening Standard stated that living frugally could save you £4000 a year. 
So it would take 14 years to save for a deposit this way.

This is the method that I have been using to save money.  I like to think that I live fairly frugally but I only manage to save about £1,500 a year this way. And despite putting this much in my savings account each year, some of it has been spent already on things that I`ve not been able to afford with my salary (rental deposit, new laptop, brother's wedding, general day to day living when I first arrived in London and wasn't managing my spending very well).

At my current 'living frugally' rate I will have save for a deposit in 38 years time.  However, I could definitely live a bit more frugally, as I do spend quite a bit on theatre tickets.

2) Take a Second Job
The Evening Standard suggested that if you could earn an additional £99.20 per week, you could save for your deposit in 11 years.

I have earned a little bit of extra money via this method.  My job pays us a 1.5 hourly salary for our overtime.  In addition, I've done a few hours of freelance work for a company where my friend works.  To be honest, I haven't really had many freelance hours and the money I've earned this way has almost all gone on day-to-day living.

I currenty work 40 hours a week. I think if I got some additional hours I could speed up the 38 years it will currently take just with frugal living to save up for a deposit.

3) Live Ultra Frugally (this one was called postpone having children)
Save £14 000 each year for 4 years.

This is actually impossible.  By the time I get my salary and pay rent, bills and train tickets I don't have £14 000 a year:

My salary net is about £18 000 a year.
My rent and bills on average are about £6, 840 a year.
My train ticket is about £3 500 a year.
That leaves £7 660 a year for everything else.  So I'll leave that suggestion with the Evening Standard.

4) Live with your parents
Save £15 000 of your salary each year for 4 years.
My parents don't live within travelling distance of my job.  I was living with my parents for 6 months when I was unemployed.  I applied for jobs anywhere I could find them and the one I got was in the other end of the country.

4) Preherit
Aka ask your family for the full £57,175.
blog on generationrentv
blog on generationrent

Here is the article in full:

http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/raising-the-roof-how-generation-rent-can-get-on-the-property-ladder-8315847.html

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