Moving out of your well-known town into a city can be a daunting prospect. Not only do you have new faces, new places and new adventures to take in but the move might just have quite a big effect on your bank balance.
In theory, there are higher paid opportunities in the city, but there are also plenty more people applying to those jobs so competition is high.
You’ll also want to keep up with your new and current friends, going out and about to new restaurants and bars and you might find a gin and tonic doesn’t give you much change from a £10 note in the city. Despite the expenses, it’s sure to be a great experience for you making the move; there are just a few things you need to consider to make the most of it financially.
Space is expensive
No matter where you go, cities are far more expensive that villages when it comes to price per square metre. This means that you’re going to have to accept that you might have to pay more to rent a flat that is only half the size of where you’re currently living.
To make the most of your smaller space you will have to cut down on your possessions and only take the things you really need. If you think you’ll still want the larger items in years to come then it’s worth putting them into storage for when you move back into a bigger home.
If you’re making the move alone, it’s best to move into a house share. This way you’re more likely to meet new people and make some friends. There are lots of websites out there advertising spare rooms. Popular sites include Spareroom.com and Easyroommate.com where you can add a profile and find like-minded people to live with.
Travel can be cheaper
It’s unlikely that you’ll need a car in a city so you can save money by selling your vehicle and cancelling your insurance. You’ll then have to get a bus pass or annual train ticket for transport and perhaps even a bike if none of the stops are close enough to your new office.
Try not to fall into the habit of ordering a taxi or an Uber ride at the end of nights out as it will have a huge impact on your monthly spending. Just use the public transport with a friend and think of the money you’re saving.
Get ready to pay more
A night out in your hometown? Probably around £40. A night out in a city? You’re looking at £60 at least if you go as hard as you do at home, but it’s worth it. The vast spectrum of bars, nightclubs, theatres and nightlife entertainment is enormous in cities so you’re getting more for your money. Drinks, food, entrance prices and the clothes you’re wearing will all be more expensive so you’ll have to really start enjoying your pre-drinking and limit yourself to just a couple of big nights out each month, rather than every weekend.
Likewise, lunch deals at £3.50 might be a thing of the past. As long as you’re prepared to pay a little bit extra, and you’ve got the right mind set you’ll be just fine. You might just have to make those morning coffees a mid-week treat rather than an every day luxury.
Photo by Florian ↟ on Unsplash
