cheeky_monkey

I am trying to save up enough money to come back to the UK to get some kind of foothold.

First of im thinking of one years worth in case i cant get a job. London is my preferred destination for work reasons.

How much did people bring with them when they came back assuming have no job lined up? im budgeting for rent, a car and general living expenses...i figure i need between 25k-30k pounds..any thoughts?

nun

I'd probably want a little bit more in London as rent is expensive. 25k pounds would be ok for most places outside London and the SE.

Canuck74

I guess I'm going to starve. I will be going with less than that.

Tel8

I hope you won't starve! I'm coming with quite a bit less than that- around 2k in pounds! Mind you, I am a student and loans are paying for everything else, but hopefully it won't be too hard to feed one person about that amount for a year. Fingers crossed! Will post my findings when I get back!

nun

Wow, I spent 3 times that in a year as a student in London back in the 1980s.

Almo

I can't tell you until we go, but so far we have 14k (pounds). We plan to save more, but as our moving date is a little up in the air, I can't be certain. It probably won't be much more than that, maybe another few thousand? We have our cats' flights to pay for, plus shipping, in the next couple of months so most spare income will go on that.

However, it would be disingenuous for me not to say that we also have a rather substantial sum from the sale of our house. We have agreed that this money is not to be touched unless we are in dire straits - it is not to be dipped into if we're running short so we can have a night out etc. In other words, it's not to be used to maintain a 'normal' standard of living, it's only for use if we can't afford essential bills.

Tel8

3x that really? Wow. Well thankfully I've only got one year to go (and I'll be working while I'm at it) so hopefully I'll manage okay (good thing mum taught me to budget carefully!)

cheeky_monkey

that was what i was thinking...i was allowing 15k for rent (no bills or council tax inc)..i will need to buy a car too and run it (petrol and insurance etc)..plus food and maybe some furniture and tv etc...so 25k was my minimum if i could get to 30-35k i would feel comfortable.

im hoping i can get a job pretty quickly then its all money in the bank..but you never know with the UK economy struggling along like an an asthmatic snail.

Editha

If you are in London, you don't need a car, which would substantially reduce the amount of money you need to save.

cheeky_monkey

i do need a car..my job involves a lot of traveling around the UK and sometimes Europe.. i work in Construction senior management so i would usually look after 4/5 different construction sites dotted around London/UK.

Editha

OK. You need a car.

nun

Could you get the job to provide the car and petrol? That would be a big help.

cheeky_monkey

yeah but i got to get a job first..the old chicken and egg..i need to car so im mobile to get a job in the first place.

ldollard

thats 38 pounds a week, you are for sure going to starve...

Tel8

No worries. I'll be working. (Already found myself a job ) the 2k is just savings.