Rent in London (student) or commute daily from Reading?

[Lord Percy]

The time has come for me to consider how to sort my living arrangements out when I get back from China and restart my second year at university.

Last year I was on campus flats. The year before that, while self-studying A-levels to get into uni, I lived at my gran's. I'm wondering if it might be worth using my student accommodation/maintenance loan/grant to buy a bike and go back to my gran's (giving her a fair rent, but it would certainly be far cheaper than a private London landlord), and commute to uni each day.

I figured I'd then have the bonus of a motorbike, and would essentially still be able to feel like I'm free and living in the city as I'd be there daily anyway, and have friends there who I could stay with if I want to get drunk or whatever.

I just don't know if the commute every day, from a village near junction 12 of the M4 (pretty much Reading), to Mile End, might start to grind me down, or even might be more expensive than I'm expecting, compared with just living nearby and walking/cycling to uni each day.

My conclusion so far:

Pros:

- Living far cheaper. When I stayed at my gran's before, she asked for almost nothing, but I don't think I'd allow it this time around. Either way, yes it would be a huge chunk of a saving compared to living elsewhere.
- Food often made for me.
- Gran not lonely.
- Will own a motorbike, therefore far more freedom outside of the daily student stuff.
- Also I think I might get far more studying done as I'll often be on campus and won't quite so readily think, "Oh I'll just quickly go home now and do nothing..."
- Will own a motorbike
- Will own a motorbike
- Will own a motorbike

Cons:

- 1 hour-ish journey into and out of uni every day.
- I have literally one mate in Reading, so any social life will mostly be far away in London where uni and other mates are.
- 27 year old guy living at his gran's house...

I have a lot more 'pro' points at the moment as the idea has just come into my head so it seems like a good thing at the moment.

Any other thoughts/experience/advice? Cheers

[bamt]

The big thing you'll miss out on is social life and independence - but at 27 and someone who has spent time living out of the UK the latter is probably something you're used to anyway. There definitely won't be the same level of interaction with other students though (just because you'll miss out things like the mid-evening call to go out because people are bored), which may or may not be something you care about.

It could be good for your gran, and frankly that might swing it for me, depending upon your relationship with her and how close other family are.

An hour each way to Mile End is possibly a little bit light on time for rush hour. You'll also be adding 4-500 miles a week to the bike, which adds lots of cost in routine maintenance - have you factored in tyres, oil, brakes, decent all weather clothing on top of £150+ a month in fuel (depending upon the bike)? You'll be adding maybe 15,000 miles a year to the bike - that means lots of maintenance, and vastly reduced resale value if you don't just kill it. You'll also want to factor in a bike that is comfortable and usable for those distances; a big shaft driven tourer will eat the miles but not be as easy to nip around the traffic once in town. A smaller bike won't cope with the miles as easily.

For what it's worth, I'm doing a commute from near Basingstoke to Greenford - with social riding I adding 25K miles last year to my bike. The commute can be a drag sometimes (especially with the roadworks going on at the moment), but at least in your case there is a definite end in sight of a couple of years to the end of the course.

[daemonoid]

Reading to mile end in 1hr? I think you're being very optimistic. Just a quick look and the reading to paddington tickets are nearly £13, add the in London travel and I'd be very surprised if you couldn't find a room somewhere near uni for the same or similar price.

The other thing is... Uni is a place to have fun... The idea of going 'home' every day would spoil that - it's the only chance you'll have to live alone without responsibility for pretty much the rest of your life.

Be a proper student - get a room, buy beer with your loan and stop trying to be sensible. You'll appreciate it in the long run.

Or, if cost really is an issue - go to a european uni (they teach in English). No fees and you should still get access to study loans for accommodation. Cheaper, an even bigger experience, chance to get that bike... Nothing to lose.
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[Lord Percy]

[Rogerborg]

Can't really see why you'd choose to pay £9K a year in fees to study in an expensive city when you're already out of the country and have other options available. Seems a bit parochial.
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[Lord Percy]

[daemonoid]

[Nash GT]

Live with gran, get a bike, socialise with Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey's BCFers
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[Lord Percy]

[barrkel]

[Eddie Hitler]

[Robster]

I'd vote granny

I wish I spent more time with my grandparents before my granddad had a stroke and me granny lost her marbles big time. I'm sure she'll appreciate the company assuming you are on good terms with her.

Buy yourself a shaft divvy with full faring, and pocket the rest to go towards a house deposit/rental digs when you finish.

And if you want a night out i'm sure on've your mates can put you up on a couch for a night.
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Up the bum no babies.

[1198]

On a boring practical note will you need to be able to Work with classmates for projects, revision etc if you're in Reading?

[Lord Percy]

[el_oso]

live closer to London. That's a stupid commute.
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Car: Jeep Wrangler 4.0L

[Lord Percy]

[bikertomm]

Hmmm tricky one.

I'd probably try out living with the gran.

Could you do a test ride in one morning to get an idea of costs/time?

It will be a mega PITA when raining, cold etc. But you know all this anyway.

I'd probably go with living in Reading, but then again I'm not teh best socially. At my uni there's probably about 6 people I get on with really well, there's a lot of dickheads that aren't interested in work just getting pissed.

I worked in London for 2 years recently and had a 60 mile journey each way, did it in the car, M25. It was a slog. I hated sitting there when all you want to do is get home, but at the end of the day it's do-able and there are ways to get around it, leaving late etc.

If your saving a substantial amount of money, give it a go I reckon.
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[1198]

I suppose living in Reading there would be less distractions of the 'lets just go for a swift half' type in the evening - assuming that Gran doesn't go clubbing too often!

[G]

Have you looked to see if you could transfer to Reading University?

My dad moved to Reading to commute to Uni in London for his Master's - but he didn't have to be in every day.

[SofaBear]

i live in oxford, commute to uni in Ealing twice a week. tbh, its not that bad. you get used it, it does take a toll on the bike though. Although public transport for me is reasonable, its so much easier and quicker for me to bike it in. i stayed in paragon flats in brentford which was ideal but tbh, at 28 I'm fed up with all that already. i just wanted my own space with the misses.

If its cheaper, id say stay with your nan, commute in, get more commuting experience and maybe buy a toy bike instead at some point. thats what I'm planning.
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[J.M.]

I hated riding my bike through London. So much traffic. So many red lights, all so close together.

I commuted a short distance for my first year of uni. I found it awkward. I had to either compromise on gear, or lug it around all day. Going out was awkward because I had to either taxi there (expensive on my student budget) or leave the bike there overnight. Would you really feel safe leaving your bike at Queens overnight?

I had mine parked at my flat in Mile End. Off the main road, and hidden from the road. Fairly quiet area. People kept repeatedly messing with it. I even once confronted the group who last took the cover off (who left it once realising it was in pieces). Once they threatened to come back with a grinder I decided it best to take the bike away from the city. It's not like I ever enjoyed riding it in the city.

Plus it's nice living closer, just being able to hop in to the city in a few minutes, rather than the long commute.

Being young and renting, I'd choose the quicker & more social option over the longer commute any day. Once you start settling down it's a different question entirely.
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[Lord Percy]

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

Ho many days a week are you in lectures/going to need to be in for access to equipment/the library?

If it's 3-4 then stay in London. If its less then move out. That would be my choice.
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[Lord Percy]

[Rogerborg]