Affordable London: Shelter, clothing and food

Affordable and London might not be two words you would naturally put together in the same sentence. In fact it is an oxymoron at the best of times. A  fast paced, international and enticing city, London is home (or second-home perhaps) to some of the worlds wealthiest people. The city embraces such residents with an abundance of exclusive shops, restaurants, housing and more.

It is not hard to understand the allure of somewhere like Primrose Hill. A  leafy, sedate, village-like north London hub. The area reflects London in a pristine light: perfectly preserved in time,  reminiscent of Mary Poppins and certainly like a story book. Of course, just like a story this city is not confined to such a depiction.

London is a hard city as much as it is a soft city. It is a disjointed city that accommodates the rich and poor concurrently. Cities seem to create these social disparities and these are often underpinned by the area in which we live. For instance, Pckham in South London has long been avoided by those who have heard the ‘stories’. While Dulwich, a stone’s throw away from Peckham Rye Lane is up and coming and home to Dulwich Village, coffee houses, bars and speciality shops selling organic produce. A row of houses is all there is to separate these two areas. But, each has its very own unique history that is separate, distinct and certainly not shared. To discuss the perplexities of London, its boundaries and seeming injustices is the motivation behind this post.

We would like to talk about affordable London. Most of us feel the pinch. Students, graduates and young people in particular can find the living costs of this city demanding. Shelter, clothing and food are fundamental human rights according to article 25 of the UN resolution. We give our top tips on how to meet these three criteria in modern-day London.

SHELTER

Oh rent! London is world renowned for attracting some of the highest rent on the planet. What do you do when you simply cannot and do not possess the means to meet such extortionate demands? Read on and take inspiration: 

Become a property guardian. Property guardian’s are affordable ways of protecting a building from squatters and theft and are more affordable (and lucrative for the owner) than fitting security equipment and deploying a security guard. London is still home to a number of empty properties that need protecting.

Competition for such schemes is high, however. Everyone prefers an affordable living deal after all. Such schemes are also ‘temporary’ although, this could mean stays as short as a month or stays of over 1 year. Notice is given 1 month before you are required to vacate and more often than your agency will find you a new property to ‘guard’.  Guardians can find themselves in vacant hospitals, schools, warehouses and leisure centres. Rooms and communal areas are often spacious. Excellent for artists.

Contact companies such as Camelot Properties, AdHoc and Ambika Properties if you are interested in becoming a property guardian.

CLOTHING

London on a shoestring might get you, well a shoestring-but we are thinking outside the box. Here is what we suggest:

The answer to your fashion woes are three-fold and if you abide by the following rule: you do not buy brand new. Visit:

• Swap shops- such as Mrs Nears Clothes Swap Shop. Join their mailing list here. Their motto is ‘swap your way to a new wardrobe’. Visit Victoria Park, 10th November, 10-4pm if you want to be thrifty and swap your way to a new you.
• Charity shops -You will already know we heart charity shops. Your local one will be as good as any. There are always great buys inside, even if it needs a little bit of modifying.
• Ebay- we need say no more!

FOOD

We must eat it is necessary to survival. Cook from raw ingredients-don’t buy convenience food. London might surprise you if you are prepared to give this a try: 

Find your local or nearest food co-operative. Food coops are growing in their popularity. They make good sense in the current climate. Costs vary from £5-10 per week, depending on the size of box you require. Communal cooking is a more affordable , not to mention enjoyable, way of cooking and eating so why not try including your house mates. Sharing the cost of food will certainly help alleviate the financial pressure. Find your local food coop here, or simply Google your local area with  food coops in the subject bar.

Happy thrifty days.