Help! Your Thoughts about Working in London

[ian_kuLots]

Hi everyone. This is my first time to post here. Ü

I was given an offer to work in London as a Computer Operator for only 5000 pounds (annual salary! almost Php 38K/month only) but with free accomodation and plane ticket once my entry visa has been approved.

The question is, am i going to survive there with that kind of salary? I'm not that familiar with their taxes and deductions and the cost of living. I would love to go (Since IT is LONDON) but I'm not sure if such amount of money can support my stay. Help, anyone? :(

[Mikoid]

Dude, sounds a bit low.

Having spent about a month there in the last 12 (once for honeymoon, once for work), I've found that the spending benchmark is 4x or 5x of PH prices.

A Coke at a 7-11 is about 60p, a cheap sit-down meal is about 5-6 pounds. So I guess the question is whether you can survive on 14.00 pounds a day? Possible, but super razor-thin. However, it's far cheaper outside of London, esp farther north like Nottingham or Liverpool.

[team slick]

yup agree with mikoid, if you're going to base your living expenses by philippine standard, ure gotting to get massacred by the rates over there.

Imagine a fast food meal costing around 6-7 pounds, what more if you go for restaurants once in awhile? It helps that your accomodation is free but still 5000 sterling is quite low for a computer operator (considering it is a skill based job)

[Ice Burn]

I think the agency that is handling you is ripping you off big time. They're probably pocketing the at least minimum annual salary of 30K pounds for a computer operator and giving you just 5K pounds. London on 5K pounds annually? :lol: Unless you live in a homeless shelter I seriously doubt you can afford to survive there on such a paltry salary.

[kaningbrown]

Unless you live in a homeless shelter I seriously doubt you can afford to survive there on such a paltry salary.

True. You'd have to shoulder costs of clothing and other living necessities as well. You'll end up using all of your salary just to survive instead of being able to save/remit like any OFW

[ian_kuLots]

Thanks for all your comments. :) Naliwanagan na ako. hehe..

[dwarf]

The UK really really sucks. Not just because of the cost of living, but the place is boring as hell. I lived there for a year, couldn't wait to get out...

And yes, 5000 pounds a year? Would be well under their minimum wage I suspect, and hence illegal.

[Bats]

wow, 5,000 a year?? that's too low.
That's the monthly salary of an investment bank employee.

Well, mabubuhay ka naman kung free accomodations.
Pero gipit talaga yan.

Pero kung 10,000K a year pwede na.

I trained there in an investment bank for a couple of months and 1K a month yung allowance ko. Libre yung accomodations.
Ok na din. Wala nga lang savings gawa ng shopping , travel and gimmick.

[pauster007]

dude talo yan...wag mo patusin, total rip off yan kahit sabihing London pa. Baka after 2 or 3 months ng pag stay mo dun after mo makita lahat ng sites dun marerealize mo kulang na kulang yan. Everything in London is expensive, actually London is in the top 5 most expensive city in the world. Big Mac meal dun with large softdrinks around 3.50 pounds (1pound = 90 ++ pesos ) around 315 pesos...Dagdag mo pa transpo + clothing + daily necessities mo...

[LodRose]

anong pangalan nung agency so as we can give heads up for those who might want to go the same path?

[DavidAames]

illegal dude... mababa.... super... and living the the UK is not that classy as it seems... my mom doesn't want me to go and work there, she is currently working as a nurse in london and she just wants me to visit her... the cost of living sucks, sky rocketting and rentals and etc are so expensive... and the tax is high... think about it...

[lowelluk]

ian_kulots, i agree with everybody here. i'm working here in london at sa £5000 a year, kulang na kulang iyan. tapos eh ita-tax ka pa nila, walang matitira sa iyo baka abonado ka pa. The food is expensive and all the prices are really high. mind you, don't accept the offer dahil talo kang talaga. if you'll be getting £25,000 to £30,000 a year, pwede pa.