by Nicole Bailey

Created on: April 24, 2009

As anyone who has been there knows, London is an insanely expensive city. As anyone who has fallen head over heels for this bustling, beautiful, and wholly unique city also knows, it's worth being flat broke just to get to share in the intense experience of calling yourself a London resident.

The biggest mistake foreigners make when moving to London is thinking they will be able to maintain their current lifestyle while living in the city. They envision having their own flat by the river, having a stroll through the park and returning to a 700 800 square foot home; unless you're really wealthy, or have worked in the city for a long time and built up a lot of pounds, this will not happen. There are affordable living situations available in London, but only if you're willing to compromise.

The first thing you must consider is location. When searching for a 'cheap' place, stay away from Westminster, and the more expensive outskirts like Hampstead. In fact, look to the other bank. Areas like South Clapham are being revitalized and offering unique flats for half the price of the wealthy tourist areas. A good friend pays 800 pounds a month for a 650 square foot flat in a historic building near Clapham Junction, which is very reasonable for the area. She also partakes of my second suggestion: share!

For most people, it is unreasonable to live alone in London. First of all, with all there is to do around, you won't be home a whole lot, but when you are you'll need someone there to help lighten the cost of living. It is very easy to find a roommate. Search Craigslist. Search university boards if you're younger. Have a look in the papers and local magazines. Chances are, you can find someone near your age with the same interests.

If you're a student, consider living in halls. Not only are university halls available, there are also housing options like Hyelm, a housing unit in Hampstead. This is a home for young people (under 25) who are students or key workers. They offer very cheap (though small and often shared) room, and 3 meals a day, plus a cheap bar, television space, and computer lab. The biggest perk? It's in the beautiful and safe Hampstead, right at the end of the Northern tube line. Put your application in before you arrive, though. They tend to be full up at most times except summer.

Finally, for the extremely hard up for cash, there are hostels, some of which offer long-term stays. I don't recommend this for most: one must always be wary of their belongings being snatched up. Invest in a good lock. If you're getting up for school or work each morning, you may find you don't sleep much on account of noisy groups coming in and out. There is also little to no privacy.

If you insist on living alone in a tourist or wealthy area, there are tiny, tiny efficiency studios, but be willing to pay the price. One flat I looked at in Westminster ran 250 pounds a WEEK, and contained a mini-fridge, single burner stove, and a fold-out bed. You could cook on the burner from the bed when it was down. We're talking less than 100 square feet total.

Overall, I would advise really getting to know the city and saving a lot of money before making the move. Get to know people, and seriously consider a share.

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