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UK ON THE CHEAP ~ because there’s little else way to do it
WEATHER

 

Expect four seasons on any one day ... layers are the answer, with a light and large rain jacket to top it off. Link here for how to ge a FREE UMBRELLA

 

 

SHOPPING

 

DOLLAR SHOPS for Vitamin supplements and rolling supplies.

 

SUPERMARKET CHAINS

Budget brands include ALDI & LIDL. Waitrose, Sainsburys, Tesco & Asda all have their own budget lines where basics are cheap. For example posh brand Waitrose have cheap tins of sardines also if you get a loyalty card you take in a cup and get free coffee with purchase.

 

CLEARANCE STORES such as B&M can give you a bargain ie. half price good quality protein powder.

 

CHEAP CONVENIENCE FOOD : Canned peaches, baked beans (sains for low sugar), scotch eggs (sains), quiche. Four bean mix (tesco). Fish fritters (aldi,asda)

 

You are closer to Africa so expect interesting things on shelves, and things like patty's at markets.

 

FREE FOOD through dumpster diving (skipping), charity & govt. outlets. Table diving gets thinner as personal budgets tighten and every scrap is eaten.

 

Community allotment gardens often seek volunteers in exchange for food.

 

 

EAT & DRINK OUT

 

WETHERSPOONS Prolific chain with questionable politics. Good comfortable trad pub feel with cheap beer, breakfasts & bottomless coffee.

 

GREGGS for a cheap vegan 'sausage' roll.

 

 

TRANSPORT AND NAVIGATION

 

Giggle (google) is good in most instances but not perfect. Local busses you are better off going to their website.

 

 

RIDE SHAREblablacar.com ridesharing a good option, expect to pay about price of a bus.

 

 

TRAINS are fastest and most expensive . Book as early as you can if you need to go fast.

 

trip.com is good corporate site with no obvious fees and reliable information.

 

Booking websites play a bluffers game – the cheapest ticket is valid almost all day so take that one.

If you’re feeling game then book one stop. Then while on the train book a ticket from the stop closest to your destination. If you see an inspector you may feel the need to visit the toilet, you can jump off and back on the next one.

 

LONDON : Free walk-on train stops are DEPTFORD, HERNE HILL and near BRIGHTON is PRESTON. Thereby you can walk on in London and be in Brighton for free provided you avoid inspectors.

 

LONDON DLR you can walk on / walk off at most stops, be careful to avoid inspectors.

 

 

BUS is the cheapest transport – takes longer and allow more time for delays.

 

INTERCITY : If you are going to a popular destination during peak time (ie. Edinburgh during Fringe) expect to pay more. One solution is to book to the stop one before and local bus rest of the way. For Edinburgh this means Dunbar and local bus costs £2 and you get one hour of beautiful seaside and villages.

 

LOCAL BUS networks are all over the country and offer cheap fares which can cover surprisingly long distances, also linking up with other networks. You will see more interesting things this way, all you need is extra time.

 

LONDON BUSSES are one fare, you can jump on and off as many as you like in one hour for the one fare. In this way you can cover a large distance.

 

 

CAR / VAN OWNERSHIP

 

Vehicle ownership is EXPENSIVE due to people selling you bad cars – good and reasonable mechanics are rare as blue moons, so best to get recommendations.

 

Online car marketplaces are littered with scams many of whom take advantage of your lack of knowledge of the internet and govt systems. A good place to guide you is this simple  GOVT. CHECKLIST

 

INSURANCE is a nightmare with seeming random values applied to different types of vehicles. If you are new to UK you will have no credit rating, no 'no claims bonus', expect to resort to lying on your application, things like how long have you had a license (is that UK license or in the world?). Expect astronomical quotes. If you can have someone add you to their policy is the best way. Insurance companies don't publish what factors influence the fee so expect to be filling in a lot of online forms.

 

A good online portal to start with is : gocompare.com

 

If you're in London you need and you need to pay for a street car park permit.

 

If you're brave and decide to run the gauntlet with an illegal vehicle (no tax, MOT or insurance), the police will almost never pull you up. but you may get spotted by a mobile police camera van so stay off MOTORWAYS or major thoroughfares (your trip will take longer but be much more interesting). And avoid all permanent police spy cameras (ANPR) ... ANPR MAP

 

GUIDE TO MOBILE LIFE

 

TIPS ON TENT LIFE

 

 

FESTIVALS

 

Volunteering is a great way to access festivals. Once there you will be free to connect with whomever likeminded people you may find. Choose your festivals wisely !  LIST OF FESTIVALS

 

 

ACCOMODATION

 

COUCH SURFING TRUSTROOTS.ORG . BEWELCOME.ORG

As is usual with these communities be ware of sexual predators or opportunists.

 

SQUATTING is viable for the adventurous, speak to a squatter or visit :

network23.org with office in London en.squat.net

 

SLEEPING IN A VAN is totally possible, you will need a residential address and if seeking work, a non-viable commute address can raise alarms. Some insurance companies will require your name on a utility bill at your address.

Mechanics will judge you negatively. People will try to steal your van, use a steering wheel lock and a tracker.

 

HOUSE SITTING is very organised and can work for people on the move. 

Trustedhousesitters.com

or how about pet sitting ?  Elton Cilliers on Facebook is a noted expert in this area.

 

NETWORKING

 

Volunteering in any capacity opens doors you never knew existed.

 

Link with people from your country on social media ie.  KIWI'S in London on facebook you can find instant support and a broad range of knowledge in the FAQ's.

 

Join groups of your interest and meet people that way, always many groups meeting in London of your specialist interest.

 

 

JOBSEEKING

 

Complex topic due to range of skills etc. For 'low level work' there are hundreds of agencies around. Don't be afraid to communicate any problems you encounter while on an assignment directly back to them via email. Agency will protect their client first, not you.

 

Use a one-page CV, don't clutter with your hobbies, pets or what you did at high school. Use Ai to write cover letter only if you want to sound like every other person using Ai .

 

List three relevant past employers – even if made up, complete with broken link email addresses – or the caveat that a Company (usually corporate) has a policy of not offering references.

 

List one phone contact (who may just be a friend corroborator able to vouch for you in some way.

 

 

ADMIN / BUREAUCRACY

 

Make a personal log of all interactions with govt. agencies.

Log all address and employment changes including start and end date.

All iD issued numbers, dates.

Medical : Log date, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

 

 

FREE LEGAL / IMMIGRATION

 

Any number of thousands of Lawyers want your business and will happily answer one of your queries over the phone. Got six questions ? Phone six different lawyers, job done.

 

 

HANDY LINKS

 

FRUGAL LIVING

www.gypsy-traveller.org

bigbrotherwatch.org.uk

 

 

Any other personalised info you need, happy to help – use the email contact below.

 

post by Darcy Gladwin