Let's say I was living in London for 2-3 months, starting in a couple weeks

[Zealot]

Originally posted by ColdPhoenix


Tell me about it... I'm still paying my loan off, the additional hardship loans seemed like such a good idea at uni even if I did just spend them on beer. I should be making my last payment in January so expect a good 7 years paying it back.

Try and get a job in an independant school if you can. I've got a couple of friends who work in one in the City and they earn decent enough money. The kids tend to treat the teachers with more respect too.

What do you mean "7 years"? With the interest rate of a student loan way below the inflation rate, you're better off by paying the least ammount possible, for the longest time possible.

[Asher]

So for an update...

The latest news is this project may get delayed due to another project deemed higher importance by upper management is coming up.... it'll be based in Toronto.

So now the odds are I'll still be in Toronto for now, as the London project is likely being delayed til the new year. The drama. I should find out tomorrow for sure.

[Lorizael]

Tease.

[Asher]

The project management office is staffed by women. You know how they are.

[Wiglaf]

Go swallow something big and huge that isn't a **** for a change.

[Lorizael]

Originally posted by Asher
The project management office is staffed by women. You know how they are.

Sweet, I guessed right.

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by Lorizael
Tease.

We're all dreadfully disappointed. :bettercryingsmiley:

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by Wiglaf
Go swallow something big and huge that isn't a **** for a change.

You're obviously well acquainted with the plumbing of Asher's SO.

[ColdPhoenix]

Originally posted by Zealot


What do you mean "7 years"? With the interest rate of a student loan way below the inflation rate, you're better off by paying the least ammount possible, for the longest time possible.

I meant student loans are big and expect to spend a long time having a reduced income as it took me 7 years to pay off at what I believe are the minimum payments (it's taken directly out of my salary). Also the interest rate isn't way below inflation, they use the RPI which is a measure of inflation.

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by Asher
So for an update...

The latest news is this project may get delayed due to another project deemed higher importance by upper management is coming up.... it'll be based in Toronto.

So now the odds are I'll still be in Toronto for now, as the London project is likely being delayed til the new year. The drama. I should find out tomorrow for sure.

The evil part of me thinks this whole thread was a joke.

[Zealot]

Originally posted by Asher
So for an update...

The latest news is this project may get delayed due to another project deemed higher importance by upper management is coming up.... it'll be based in Toronto.

So now the odds are I'll still be in Toronto for now, as the London project is likely being delayed til the new year. The drama. I should find out tomorrow for sure.

London in January? That's a shame...London is acceptably mild outside winter.

[Asher]

Coming from Canada I'm not sure I'd be too upset with London's winter.

[Provost Harrison]

Yeah, I think that although we moan about our winters, they are generally mild and rarely stays below zero through the day.

[Chris43]

So apparently C++ gurus are in short supply these days. I've been working for the same US investment bank (under contract) for a couple years, but I'm moving on to new things.

I've been called by my company's London office since they found out I'm free after next Wednesday and I've got both extensive C++ experience and grid computing experience and financial markets experience. They've got a high profile grid computing application for a major UK investment bank that they need help on, for 2-3 months.

I'm being asked to go to London (the UK one, not the Ontario one) for 2-3 months, as soon as possible.

My main concern at this point is cost of living. They say they'll increase the pay for the duration to compensate, but I need to know I'm not going to get screwed.

They'll provide a furnished corporate apartment for me (not sure where yet) that I do not need to pay for (so I keep paying rent on my Toronto apartment for the duration), as well as an undisclosed food stipend. Additionally, they will fly me back to Toronto once a month or my SO out to London once a month for the duration.

For those familiar with the cost differences (Starchild?), how much of a % of pay increase should I expect if I have to live in London vs Toronto?

Hi,

Not sure what your current salary is and in relation to this how costly the life is there in Canda, but I can tell you now as a Brit that London is expensive but not impossible. I think the opportunity to go to London for 2-3 months as part of your job is an amazing one not to be missed, though I do understand your concerns with the expenses. To live comfortably in London you need to consider a couple of key points, rental prices and travel costs. Where will your placement be? If it's fairly central I'd definitely recommend finding accomodation in zones 1/2 no further out as travel cards can get quite expensive. In zone 1 a monthly travel card costs around £38 a week... that's the cheapest one available just to give you an idea. If you could cycle or walk to work that's the best thing, whilst if not a travel card at £38 a week is feasible.

Rent in zone 1 varies, depending on whether you want to live alone or you're happy to live in shared accomodation. In a flatshare expect to pay £900-£1000 per month in zone 1, and £700+ in zone 2.

You may also want to use the tax calculator I've attached to this post to work out how much you actually have to live on after deductions...

Hope this information is useful for you, wishing you the best of luck mate

[giblets]

Asher lived in London nine years ago?