Be Excellent To Each Other

Well, not really. Just looking for ideas.

I earn about £8k a year, and have absolutely nothing tying me down anywhere. All I need for my work is an internet connection and a computer.

Been staying with my parents for a while whilst I built up SavyGamer, but I'm earning enough now that I want to move out.

So, any suggestions of where the hell I should go? I've lived in Manchester most of my life, and could maybe do with a change of scenery. Any places that you lot think I might like, ideally cheap to live in.

I'd consider moving out of the UK too. I've got a totally blank slate, and am looking for ideas.

Rental prices in Dublin are falling.

8k is going to struggle to get yourself your own place. Sharing is probably going to be your best bet.
Do you have any savings? As you'll need to put a deposit down wherever you move to.

Take up mining of some sort?

Bear in mind that you'll have to buy food, wash clothes (and yourself), keep a car on the road (if you have one), and cover things like your phone, broadband and Live subs. Thinking about some part-time work should probably be priority one.

I'm saving up now (after having just recently paid off my overdraught), and not in a hurry to move out tomorrow or anything, just making plans now. The "could possibly disappear tomorrow" (even though it obviously wont) nature of my work means I'll want to have a grand or so saved up in addition to deposit moneys.

SHC's guide to finding a job.

Some information is actually quite useful.

To clarify. I'm not asking for suggestions of how to get a job, I don't really want to work for anyone else, I want to keep running my business that is getting bigger each day, so I'm looking suggestions of places that have low cost of living.

I am fairly sure I'd be eligible for housing benefit and maybe some other benefits (I'm not sure).

move to sweden.It's cheap as chips here.

Kudos as making your own thing work man. Stick at it. Ignore anyone who tells you to get a proper job, your still young enough to do this. I got through 4 years of a PhD on £12k in london, so £8k outside of it should be feasible.

I would like to point out at this juncture that it was I, way back when over at Penny-arcade that suggested you made savygamer. Hence when you are a millionaire I want a yacht ,

I was on about 8k six years ago, and it was not easy. I went to work with holes in the soles of my only shoes (extra fun when it snowed), 'accidentally' made too many sandwiches to sell, snuck into a local college to use the internet, relied almost entirely on other people's games and dvds for fun, and spent two years catching up on back rent. My one luxury was a fortnightly two pints with the girls from work. Oh, and getting the second-cheapest orange juice sometimes.

If your income's going to shoot up, great, but if not, I would say be very careful. Or go abroad. In fact, if you can go abroad, bloody go for it now and don't look back. Even if you fuck up, it's better to have lived in another country for a bit.

I am massively grateful for that piece of encouragement. I might not give you a boat, but I'll name my first one after you.

Can he have the horse that you are atop on your hypothetical yacht?

I'd be doing that myself, if it wasn't so risky to my health. Just chose somewhere where they care about community and family rather than worshipping greed (i.e. Europe rather than the US of A).

Sweeping generalization ahoy!

Yeah, pick a country in Europe where you find the local women attractive, and start sexing your way around it.

(Warning: Ireland is in Europe, and they're all mentals who don't put out, according to overwhelming evidence)

Renting a room whilst claiming housing benefit could be tricky. Lots of adverts state "No DSS" and it might be a deal breaker.

Expect to pay about £200pcm for a room, £60 a month for bills, £150pcm for food, £150 for entertainments and £50 travelling. So that's £610 a month, £7,300 a year. Living very cheaply.

Your parents.

Stay at home for now and make your job more profitable.

I see the "your mum" joke has evolved.

Living with parents is shit, but it's the cheapest accommodation you'll get. Stay there if it isn't too bad, earn more money, then get the fuck out.

Your Mum hasn't.

If you can spare the time, a weekend job might be worth it. A day a week = low-pressure working environment and enough money to pay for a week's food and maybe a cheap night out/in. It's also a quite good way to meet people, although if it's a weekend one they'll mostly be 17 and therefore very annoying. Especially if you're moving far.

There will be a fair bit of cheap accommodation in town with a large number of students but that does have a number of drawbacks:

- It can be quite grotty, and in the more shady parts of town.
- It's cheap, but not always that cheap.
- The landlord will probably be a bit of an arse and do the bare minmum that they can get away with.
- You'll be near students, and many will conform to the 'boozy, money wasting' stereotype.



Pretty much sums it up. After studying, i moved back in with my parents until my gf (now wife) and I could afford somewhere to live.

Just thought. I've heard about people who house sit, something my friend did for a while. Basically vacant pubs, houses and offices get used for people to stay rent free (to prevent squatters, to keep an I on the place, and in the case of pubs to prevent the license expiring), but may get chucked out with very little notice.

One friend lived in a beautiful pub, the other a house in a very posh place in London. That could be perfect for you couldn't it?

I used to do that. I got paid, too. I'm sure it was a tax scam for the woman who owned the house.

Were there any additional 'benefits?'

I had crack at that. Living in London on a journalist's pittance and tried these guys

http://uk.cameloteurope.com/191/3/current-availability-uk/current-availability-apply-now.html

Didn't have any success, mind. The only place I saw was an ex old-people's home in Kennington. Had the most enormous kitchen you've ever seen (what with it being designed to churn out slop for an army of the elderly) and about 60 bedrooms. They only wanted four people staying there, and I was to be one of them, for 150 quid a month. I found the whole thing far too ghoulish (and somewhat acrid-smelling) so bottled it.

Still regret it, would have had some immense parties. And could have slept in a different bed every night. In fact, when one pillow got too hot, you just move to a different room. No more flipping.

Well, i wish i only needed a computer to work and could live where i wanted. If i was in your position i would live somewhere where life is cheap, it's not too cold and in front of a beach with nice waves to surf.

yeah, that's pretty much my country.

May have just got an incredibly exciting job offer. Wish me luck.

You luck!

Sounds interesting Lewie, good luck!

Pimp?

Good luck!

Swedish Santa?

House of Commons Ego Deflation Technician?

Shetland Pony?

Good luck!

Spill the beans.

Not unless you tell me what it is.

It's your job, for £2,000 less per year. I bet 50p.

Isn't 8k/yr below the povety line?

40 hour week on the minimum wage is circa £12.5k gross.

Around 11.95 min wage is I think. Well that's what I was on at the hostel.

Get to the belm thread.

The UK poverty line is defined as 60% of the median income after income tax, housing costs, and council tax are deducted. Last figures available were for 08/09, when it was £119 a week. £8000/52=£154, which means unless he can find a room in a shared house for about £150 a month he'll be under the poverty line if he moves out of his parent's house.

Lewie, are you paying income tax? What's your legal employment status?

He's swedish now. He meant 11.95kr

I meant per year wullie. Not per hour. It was 5.70 or so I was on I think.

How can we know that you mean a yearly figure when you say "11.95"?

You can't.

But because MaliA said £12.5k I assumed we were talking yearly.

It doesnt matter.

What is Lewies Job?

You can't assume a yearly figure though, as you don't know the number of hours per week. You can only assume it won't exceed 48 hours average per week.