Small amount of money to start, working for studying and living

[bluebird3939]

Originally Posted by Transorb129

I had a Hungarian penfriend who got a part-time job working for the Home Office while she studied here. She prepared diplomats, embassy staff and their families who were being posted in Hungary for the first time. She helped out with their language skills, social ettiquette, local customs and stuff like that. You might give that a try

Good idea, I'll email them tomorrow, but am I a proper person to help with local customs, when it'd be my first time in London?

[Transorb129]

Originally Posted by bluebird3939

Good idea, I'll email them tomorrow, but am I a proper person to help with local customs, when it'd be my first time in London?

I meant local customs in Poland

[bluebird3939]

I wonder what do you consider expensive in London.

Poland:
Minimum salary (month): 1111 PLN
White bread: 2,20 PLN
Yoghurt 135g: 1 PLN
Strawberry Jam: 3,50 PLN
30 km bus ticket: 10 PLN
Renting a flat in a small city: 400 - 600 PLN, Bills not included
Petrol: 5,56 PLN

UK:
Minimum salary (month): £973
White bread: £1
Yoghurt 1l : £1
Strawberry Jam: £0,35 - £1,30
Coach ticket from London Stansted to High Wycombe (55 km): £17
Lodgings in High Wycombe: approx. £80
Petrol: £1,43

What is expensive?

[ben86]

I spent a year in Poland in 2007 and didn't find it to be too expensive, but I was earning twice your minimum wage - I honestly couldn't understand how some people were earning PLN 1000 a month yet everybody seemed to have the latest technology, cars, fashions etc. From what I remember the cost of living there was roughly half in this country but the wages were a quarter as much, so if you were on a low income you'd be better off here but life still wouldn't be particularly easy. Things like electronic goods were the same price there as here (or in some cases even more expensive!) but things like public transport and cigarettes (I don't smoke, but if you do prepare to spend £6-£7 for a packet of 20 cigarettes over here) were about five times cheaper. I haven't been back since so don't know how it has changed.

Bear in mind that as a student you probably won't be working full time so our higher wages won't be a factor. Also consider the much higher cost of tuition fees between here and there, the cost of occasional trips back home and the cost of things like a TV licence which I don't remember existing in Poland (correct?). Personally in your situation I would do your degree at home and if you really want to study here come over with the Erasmus exchange, where as far as I am aware you wouldn't have to pay any tuition fees.