Affording a life in london....

[TimmyF]

I've got a similar dilema, and being a Graduate is slightly worse with debt already looming over my head. But what I've learnt is to basically not worry about it. Cook in bulk and freeze it, I only spend about 8quid a week on food (breakfast, lunch and dinners) compared to my second year when it was like 20. For lunches buy a loaf of bread and a multipack of crisps and buy a water bottle.
As for accomodation, their is no way of avoiding the cost in London. But weigh up paying a little extra to be within walking distance compared to being a bus ride away. Also, you dont need to go out at 7, get some cheap booze in and have predrinks before hitting a club when your battered is the best tactic.
Working during Holidays is a great idea too. I work in my local trust as a HCA on the staff bank and can pop in whenever I want really. I know of a guy I worked with in the summer who has gone to St.Georges to do his medical degree and is working for them as a HCA and manages to do enough hours as a HCA there to qualify for staff housing, so is offsetting his costs that way.
Like I said, dont worry about it. All your money is going to disappear before you know it anyway!

[Nellas Celebrindal]

Some good advice TimmyF, however I do not think I could follow the food advice...I think trying to be healthy still at uni is worth the little extra cost. Oh well, I suppose everyone has different priorities....

[Luci]

I agree, for me it's more important making my 5 a day; I notice that if I do, I have more energy and just feel better.
I also like variation (and it's healthy).

Talking about food anyway... When I was in the UK, I was unable to find good quality bread... I saw those brands like kingsmill, but that is just not bread (in my eyes!). That is something made of dough in a factory and shipped off and hardly contains any nutritional value, nor does it taste any good (I tried many variants of bread in the UK, ugh). Do you have bakeries that make bread themselves??? You know, with a nice crust on it, that if you buy it in the morning, it's still warm? And that if you eat 2 slices you're full up (instead of having to eat 4)?
Sorry that I'm being so mean to UK bread , it's just that if I'm going to live there for 4/5 years, I would actually like to eat proper bread, lol!
Otherwise I can always buy a breadmaking machine, which, btw, in the end actually also turns out cheaper! (thus, also an advice on saving money ánd having quality bread!)

[Nellas Celebrindal]

Well, you could go to the quaint little bakeries that you are bound to find everywhere apart from London, but if you are looking for a supermarket brand that does the crusty bread, the co-op do make warm bread early in the morning....

[f_debelder]

There is... in Bow. Though I think its only really possible to apply for it in your second year upwards and its somewhat competetitive (needing prior experience and a reference). Purple_Monkey would be the one to ask for more information.

Nein, this is known as Griffin House and is in Poplar. Guy from our year (Little John?) is there now and he got a place applying in first year.

[bennett]

Sorry, I meant apply to get into it in your second year