Mama, que me voy a Londres!

4. Money.

I'll write it in pounds so you get and idea (sorry, they do NOT accept euros in england apart from exchange bureaus and banking societies) . Well if they accept your euros is for a hefty commission, that's guaranteed!!

Well, you are going to live in one of the most expensive cities in Europe and you will need at least 3-5 months to recover the initial investment. INVESTMENT: this is the magic word you need to tell your parents.

What for?:
Travel: 60-80£ (buy a return ticket, just in case)

Accommodation: 80-110£ per week

Moving around: 20£ per week

Food: 60£ per week

Spares: 20-40£ per week

Opening a bank account:

Sorry, but it's not easy. You will need:

• a. As much ID as you can: Passport, foreign ID card, european driving license.


• b. A letter from your bank at home (IN ENGLISH)


• c. Letting agreement.


• d. Bills: Telephone, electricity with an UK address.


• e. A letter from your employer/ job.


• f. A smart dresscode and your best smile.

Problem:

I'm sharing a room and I don't have c. .

Ok! Ask your friends to add you in the next bill (they can do it by phone). It will take a couple of weeks.

Sometimes you can ask the bank to write a letter to your UK address and you will be back with it. I t takes 3-5 days.

Main banks:

Natwest, Lloyds TSB, HSBC, Barclays, Halifax, Abbey

Important: Barclays Spain is different from Barclays UK and you will need a UK bank.

Tip: At the bank they often will ask how long are you going to stay in London.

Answer: "At least two years, may be more."

I know, you are probably lying but ask yourself this: do you want to have a bank account or not??