How do you survive on £35k living in Greater London?

Posted by PinkTequilaaa@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 290 comments

I'm 25F and I'm looking to move out of the family home. My salary is around £35k and I currently have a car on finance paying around £260 a month which I would want to keep because I need it for work. I'm currently looking at single bedroom flats/studios but they all range between £1.2k-1.8k excluding bills. How much do you guys spend on your essential bills (gas and electricity, water), council tax, wifi, car (if you have one) etc. How do you survive? How can you afford to pay bills, socialise, pay a gym membership, have a car, travel, any of it? And if you have kid (s), how do survive with them too?! I know this may be a silly question but I just need a realistic understanding.