500 pounds, 20, homeless, what do i do?

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smellyfeet25@reddit

wishing you all the best. i so hope it works out alright for you in England

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Joober81@reddit

Homeless in the UK in March?? Hopefully you’ll get some help, it’s going to be bloody cold! Can’t you hedge your bets in Thailand until it gets a bit warmer?

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allbirdsflocknorth@reddit (OP)

Yeah well the ticket was bought for me and I’ll too be homeless here. The only difference is it’s harder for me to get a job here than there even though the UK job market is horrid

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Joober81@reddit

You don’t have to get on the plane

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Easy. Start by finding a city that is low cost of living. Next message every restaurant in that city on Facebook explaining your situation, specifically that you have the right to work and have experience and that you need a position with staff housing. If you’re not finding anything, let me know, I may be able to help you find a place.

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ProfessorYaffle1@reddit

If you have lived in the UK before you may do best to return to the same area so it's somewhere more familiar - do you have any firends or family in this country at all?

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ProfessorYaffle1@reddit

I'd suggest you look at Birmingham , Manchester rather than London. Google hostels , and look at sites such as [spareroom.com](http://spareroom.com) to see if you can find a room in a shared house, or a lodger . if you are a british citizen , [https://www.entitledto.co.uk/](https://www.entitledto.co.uk/) may be useful to check whetheryou will be eligable to claim any benefits until you can get a job If you possibly can, try to get a job sorted out befor you arrive - cna you contact any of the restaurants you have worked at before? it will be easier to plan of yuu know you have a job lined up and therfore how long you will need your initial cash to last before you get your firrst pay slip

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sweetpicklemilk@reddit

Where does your flight take you?

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Ok_Aioli3897@reddit

This isn't going to happen

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ukbot-nicolabot@reddit

A top level comment (one that is not a reply) should be a good faith and genuine attempt to answer the question

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buy_me_lozenges@reddit

British person can't move back to Britain, why?

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Ok_Aioli3897@reddit

Not with only five hundred pounds especially with the way the job market is. Why haven't they had a job in Thailand?

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buy_me_lozenges@reddit

Why can't a British person move to Britain? OP stated the family membed they were living with in Thailand has passed away and they have been bought a plane ticket to return home to the UK. They say they have nowhere to live in Thailand either and would be homeless there which they believe is worse than being homeless in the UK. Do yoy have experience of the job market in Thailand? They already have work experience in the UK. What do you want them to do or not do to when they're a British citizen?

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Ok_Aioli3897@reddit

Where does it say that they have work experience in the UK? Where does it say that they are a British citizen?

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ExaminationFancy5641@reddit

Read the post again...

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Ok_Aioli3897@reddit

You mean in the edit so the original post didn't say that when I made my comment.

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arseholescone@reddit

I genuinely clicked into this thinking you were a big fat homeless guy who was for some reason emigrating

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ukbot-nicolabot@reddit

A top level comment (one that is not a reply) should be a good faith and genuine attempt to answer the question

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allbirdsflocknorth@reddit (OP)

LOL

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Klumm@reddit

Just fyi if you approach the local authority they might find that you’re not habitually resident in the UK and have no duty towards you.

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Pogeos@reddit

Basically you need to find not even a flat share but more like one of those places that provide you a bed for a night. £500 should give you a month in one of those, and then you need to find a job really really quickly, maybe couple jobs.

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allbirdsflocknorth@reddit (OP)

Where in the country? I have options of Cardiff, Leeds, Birmingham, Norwich and more since I worked with this branch of Thai restaurant that in the past consistently given me jobs.

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FatBloke4@reddit

> I worked with this branch of Thai restaurant that in the past consistently given me jobs Have you contacted them about work? The UK job market is really tough, especially for lower paid jobs. Another problem you will have is that renting somewhere to live now typically requires references from former landlords and/or a guarantor (who owns a home in the UK). You could try contacting some charities for homeless people e.g. Shelter.

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ReturnToTheHellfire@reddit

There’s no point asking us where you should go, contact the restaurant branch and ask them where there are vacancies, have the job lined up and that will tell you where to go. Given the limited funds I’d try to go somewhere you can easily get to from wherever your flight lands, look at megabus or stagecoach for cheap travel Once you have the job lined up and know where you’re going look for house shares to try and get accommodation sorted, this might take a bit of time so see if there are any cheap hostels (can sometimes get a bed for as little as 25-30 a night)

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allbirdsflocknorth@reddit (OP)

It seems like I’ll get an offer for multiple positions. I have worked with Giggling Squid for 2 years and I am Thai.

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Pogeos@reddit

Giggling squid is everywhere indeed. If I were you I would perhaps try to look fpr a successful city but with lots of cheap options around ... Sounds like Leeds.

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ReturnToTheHellfire@reddit

Have you spoken to them and got that list of offers? “I’ve worked there before and I am Thai” does not entitle you to a job straight away Get the offers, then you can pick where you go, otherwise you may as well be throwing a dart at a map of the uk and hoping for the best

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volster@reddit

Everywhere has it's pros and cons Overall the only recommendation id have is "get the hell out of London ASAP just because it's so expensive IMO Birmingham had a lot to recommend as a first place to go It's got decent transport links to the rest of the country and is only a couple of hours away so the bus fare shouldn't be too bad in either price or duration after a long flight It's the UK's 2nd biggest city and while it obviously has expensive areas there's a pretty large hinterland of surrounding towns that will be more affordable historic deprivation also means you're probably more likely to find hostels and support systems than somewhere like Cardiff. Overall it'd seem like not a bad bet while you try and find your feet, even if you decide you don't want to stay there long term

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Fraggle_ninja@reddit

Can you contact the Thai restaurant chain if they offer you a job and ask them to put a notice up asking for temp accommodation as existing staff might have a sofa, spare room etc if you have secured the job, you’ll be able to pay basic rent until you get on your feet.

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L-TJ98@reddit

I’d ask around the different areas and try line up a job before you arrive

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allen_jb@reddit

You may want to check out homeless / housing charities such as [Shelter](https://www.shelter.org.uk/), as well as [Citizens Advice](https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/). Check the council website for wherever you intend to live - it may have useful information. In some cases, particularly if you have an existing connection to the area, you may be able to take advantage of schemes such as Manchester's A Bed Every Night. (With no idea what your previous experience, if any, of living in the UK is) For general advice and information on living in the UK your local council website and https://www.gov.uk/ will have a lot of useful information. I would also consider contacting your local British Embassy to see if they can offer any help or advice. For finding accommodation you may also want to look at lodger / house share sites such as SpareRoom.

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porksandrecreation@reddit

Could you try looking at cruise ships? I had an interview for Disney Cruise Line a while back, I didn’t end up taking it as I got offered a position elsewhere in the UK but I have friends who worked with Disney cruises and they made quite a lot of money doing it because you get all your meals and accommodation included and you’re not really spending much on contracts.

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allbirdsflocknorth@reddit (OP)

Thank you! I’ll look into it or something similar

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jiajune3@reddit

Crucial question: Do you actually have the legal right to work in the UK (citizenship or visa)? If you show up on a tourist visa and try to get a job, no reputable restaurant will hire you, and you risk being deported and banned.

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buy_me_lozenges@reddit

OP added they are a British citizen with all of the above.

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No_Jellyfish_7695@reddit

I’d recommend you don’t come to the UK until you acquire sufficient skills to google this answer yourself and start applying for jobs before you land.

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allbirdsflocknorth@reddit (OP)

I’d be homeless in Thailand, which is worse

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No_Jellyfish_7695@reddit

you can’t get a job there? why would the UK be better? why do you have to leave, visa issues?

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allbirdsflocknorth@reddit (OP)

My grandma passed away and I don’t have parents and her house is being seized. I could work here but finding a job is a lot harder since I can’t read or write the language. The ticket was purchased for me

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No_Jellyfish_7695@reddit

ok, can whoever purchased the ticket for you help? if you can’t speak Thai it’s going to be hard to throw yourself on to the UK local Thai community uk job market is horrific housing wise, google yourself where the cheapest shared dorm hostels are

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moondust1959@reddit

OP didn't say they couldn't speak Thai - just that they couldn't read or write it.

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Altruistic_Cress_700@reddit

Wow. That's shite. Try and raise as much money out there while you can. Selling all your grandma's stuff, every extra pound will help. You are a also going to have phone trouble. You'll need a SIM. So line up a pay as you go SIM. I'd split your days in Thailand three ways. 1. Working. Anything, just odd jobs for local shops. Do any of your neighbours need a cleaner? 2. I'd look for work in Care, not restaurants. The demand is massive and you can get a job anywhere. Not having any Visa issues is a big plus. Look for on the job training posts. There are probably minimum wage ones available. Once you've done a few months then you will have many more options if you spend nothing. 3. Accommodation. This is your biggest problems. Do you know anyone in the UK? If you do, ask them. Offer them to work for reduced rent. Be the best lodger you can be. Hide in your room. Do cleaning when everyone else is out. Cook the least intrusive stuff (beans on toast etc). People you know will probably be fundamentally kind. If you can promise (and deliver) on being zero bother, then they won't mind helping you out.

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Cultural_Tank_6947@reddit

OP has a British passport.

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Silvagadron@reddit

Despite the doom and gloom narrative of no job availability, there are some jobs which are still in large supply. Namely hospitality. Private/VIP events in London are staffed by agency workers which might be easier to secure than one specific place like a restaurant. The agencies have a high turnover of staff (typically students doing their first job on the side while they study). Look into those; they'll usually be evening jobs and will pay minimum wage and are typically 0-hour contracts, but you can sign up to as many events as you feel the need to and can sign on with multiple agencies.

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Mischief_Makers@reddit

If you've worked hospitality before, it *may* be worth trying pubs with an attached accommodation, or any hotels that can provide temporary staff board. Both will likely involve a deduction from wages. With pubs, most that have something will either have a resident landlord in there, or one of the managers, but I've known someone who worked in a few pubs a pub as bar staff and had the on-site space. One in Chessington and one in Clapham that had 3 rooms upstairs, 2 of which were used by him and another bar staff. The pub industry is on its arse right now though so it'll likely be a numbers game to find something anywhere, let alone somewhere with accommodation. I have no idea if there even are hotels that let staff use a room for more than a night but could be worth asking.

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goingtogeorgia23@reddit

If it was closer to summer this would be perfect, there are live in jobs across the UK. YHA are hiring seasonal workers now. Accommodation included.

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cuccir@reddit

As others have said, start sending emails now looking for work. To give you a sense of what you'll need, the big challenge with housing is that there will be an initial deposit that you need to pay, along with a the first month's rent. You mention in a reply that Cardiff is somewhere you might get work - South Wales is one of the cheaper areas to live, so that might be a good starting point. But looking at places online, most want about £500 deposit eg[ here's a cheap flat share at £450 a month](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/167311628#/?channel=RES_LET), but the deposit is £550. Add that you will want to eat, I presume, in that first month and maybe get a very basic sim card for a phone, it would be good if you could get closer to £1500 before you go - is there anything you can sell or other work you can do to build that up? People are usually paid monthly here, but if you can ask an employer about getting paid weekly in then you would have a better chance: probably using your savings to pay for a hostel room, then working to earn £1500 your first month and putting that all into a deposit and first month rent, is perhaps just about achievable

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Relative-Tea3944@reddit

I'd make a list of all the pubs with Thai restaurants attached in cities that aren't London, and start calling them. Having a pub attached might mean they'd be happy to give you a room for a little while while you save up a deposit for a rental room. I say thai restaurants because I'm assuming you have experience in Thai food and/or look a bit Thai, and Thai restaurants tend to like that in waiters.

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luala@reddit

I wonder if it’s worth trying to get live-in work in something like hospitality? Might solve both your problems. I think there’s a dedicated job board for live-in work. Good luck my friend.

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wendling2000@reddit

Stay in a cheap b&b or a guesthouse, or a youth hostel. These will be in the cities you name, and if you can get work right away as you say, you’ll be ok. A lot of people on here are calling the job market “horrific” and it’s not good but it’s also not like nobody is hiring people with the right skills. Good luck.

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tune-happy@reddit

I could suggest a specific Thai restaurant you could contact because I know they hire and my daughter has worked there in the past, DM me if you're interested to know where it is.

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RonsonGlitter@reddit

You'd be living rough. I would buy a bike & a tent, find somewhere quiet you can sleep in an unpopulated area & commute from there. Ideally with somewhere nearby where you can wash yourself & your clothes. I do hope you're male. If not, stay where you are: final answer. Otherwise, young & with no dependents, it could theoretically work. Edinburgh I would say rather than London as it's far less populous & has better options for setting up camp in an area not too far from the centre where you won't be disturbed. Once you get yourself on your feet you can start looking for something better.

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k_malfoy@reddit

Look for a job in hotels. They always need people there + you may negotiate living there temporarily until you get your first salary, then you can browse for a flat/house share.

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allbirdsflocknorth@reddit (OP)

Thank you, anywhere in the country specifically?

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Brummie_pom@reddit

Get on the phone to the British embassy in Thailand. Or when you land go to a police station straight away for find an immigration officer. The best thing to do is ASK. The authorities are there to protect, youre obviously a UK citizen.

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VSuzanne@reddit

Do a little research and target an area that is cheap, but has a decent amount of Thai restaurants/takeaways. Doesn't have to be a city. There are plenty of grim towns where all there is to do is get a takeaway. You only have to stick it out while you save.

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Tough-Oven4317@reddit

You can find hostels for £10 a night maybe less in a lot of cities. I'd look in the midlands or the north.

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Christine4321@reddit

You cant afgord to rent so youre going to have to go into a house share or lodge with someone. Sites like Spareroom exist so maybe weigh up costs through that.

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LifeTracker2630@reddit

£500 won’t even cover a deposit on a place, never mind rent, especially in a city. Unless you have a job lined up and accommodation, you’ve no chance. The UK job market is terrible at the moment, even in hospitality. Do you have a visa? You’d probably need £5000 at least to get started, is that £500 also covering the cost of your flight?

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allbirdsflocknorth@reddit (OP)

I’m British, I can work anywhere nationwide if I just shoot a Thai restaurant an email. I just need advice on what to do while I save enough up

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Cultural_Tank_6947@reddit

Honestly, go to Slough or something near Heathrow. Make the phone calls now before you come. Plenty of students can manage, you can too.

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LifeTracker2630@reddit

Was probably worth putting that in your OP. Bit silly that you didn’t. Get a house share maybe? Depending on the location you MIGHT find one for £500 pcm. Have a look on Zoopla.

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WillYeByFuck@reddit

Do you have the right to work in the UK? Are you a UK citizen?

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allbirdsflocknorth@reddit (OP)

Yes, NIN, a bank, and a job. Just… homeless

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Emotional-Web9064@reddit

Your post says you are confident you’ll get a job - not that you have one. You need to get that sorted out ASAP as otherwise you won’t know where you need to live - and no landlord will accept someone who has no job and no savings.

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WillYeByFuck@reddit

Surely you need to live near that job, no? Or is it remote working?

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FlatCapNorthumbrian@reddit

Without a guaranteed job so far and zero savings, would you even be granted a visa?

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Easy-Application-262@reddit

Half Thai, “come back”, seems like OP is British

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Emotional-Web9064@reddit

Do you have a working visa? You have 1.5 months, start applying for jobs NOW.

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Brilliant-Second5749@reddit

Half Thai. I'm guessing the other half is British if they're saying they half to come back.

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jejdhdijen@reddit

500 pounds, Jesus, lose weight fast pal.

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Top_Necessary@reddit

Job market is bombing I want to see this guy beat the odds

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