不靠父母资助，伦敦买房是梦吗？
You might remember a few weeks ago the advice given by estate agent Strutt and Parker: If we give up on ‘luxuries’ like sandwiches and going out with friends, we could get on the property ladder in a mere five years.
你也许还记得，房地产经纪人斯图拉特及帕克在几周前给出的建议：如果我们放弃如三明治及“与朋友出去浪”这样的奢侈品，仅仅需要五年时间，我们就能爬上房产阶梯。
While eating gruel for lunch and forgoing a social life for half a decade doesn’t seem ideal, maybe it’s not so bad if you get a house at the end of it.
午餐只吃燕麦粥，也无社交可言的五年时间听起来也许索然无味，但是熬过这样的五年换来一个房子，这样一想也许就不那么糟了。
What Strutt and Parker failed to mention, however, is that even if you do live the life of an ascetic, you’ll still need your parents to chip in about £30,000.
然而，斯图拉特和帕克没有提到的是，即便你确实过上了禁欲生活，你也还是需要父母3,0000英镑的资助。
But there’s quite a few of us out here whose parents can’t afford to add a cool 30k to our kitty. But, does that mean there’s no hope for those us not blessed with wealthy family?
但是我们中不少人，并不拥有这样的父母—可以轻松地往我们的存钱罐里塞进3,0000块的父母。但这是否意味着没有富裕家庭庇佑的人就毫无希望了呢？
My mum and dad bought a house in Greater London when they were in their twenties, living on the salaries of a decorator and an administrator. They had to save, of course, but were able to do so while still affording rent, not to mention the costs of raising two kids.
我的父母在他们二十几岁时，在大伦敦买了房子。他们一个是室内装饰师，一个是管理员。当然，他们不得不节省。在承担房租及抚养两个孩子的同时，他们确实做到了。
That seems like an impossible dream nowadays, but surely – SURELY – there must be a way to get on the property ladder. So what you’d actually need to do to get those coveted first-home keys?
现如今，这听起来像天方夜谭，但是肯定—绝对—一定有办法爬上房产阶梯。所以要怎么做才能拿到梦寐以求的首套房钥匙呢？
First thing’s first, you need to be earning a salary that’ll allow you to save in the first place. Recent results from job websites put the average in the capital at around £35,000.
头等大事—首先你需要一份能够存得下钱的薪水。求职网的最近结果显示，首都的平均年薪在3,5000英镑左右。
Of course, averages can’t show everybody’s situation, but let’s assume that’s your wage. That puts your take-home pay at £2,256 a month, but bear in mind that this doesn’t include pension contributions or student loan repayments.
当然，平均数不能体现每个人的实际情况。但是我们假设这就是你的收入。算下来，你每月到手2256英镑，但记住其中不包括养老金交款和学生贷款偿还额。
If you can’t stay with family, you likely have to pay for rent, which varies from £530 to £1,346 a month for a room. Let’s say you’re paying £600 – which leaves you with £1,656 to play with.
如果你不和家人一起住，你就还得付房租，一间房月租在530到1346英镑不等。假设你的房租是600英镑，于是一个月剩余金额是1656英镑。
Next, remove £155 for utilities, £22 for internet, and £139 for transport (these are all figures taken from Expatistan). According to Money Advice Service, Londoners spend £230 on food.
接下来，除去155英镑公共设施费用、22英镑网络费及139英镑交通费（数据出自《Expatistan》网站）。货币咨询服务数据显示，伦敦人每月在食物上花费230英镑。
So, the current total is £1,110. But, that’s without ever leaving the house except for work, or paying for everything else that adds up, like insurance/debt repayments/Christmas presents/a mobile phone contract/home improvements.
算到这儿你还剩1110英镑。但是你得做到：除工作外从不出门，也不支付其他任何费用（如保险、债务偿还、圣诞节礼物、手机协议费、住宅修缮）。
So, putting aside around £500 for all of those things you have £610 left to save a month (or £7,320 annually).
所以，我们用500英镑来支付以上费用，你每月可以存下610英镑（一年7320英镑）。
The average price for a flat/maisonette in London currently sits at £413,275, according to government statistics. However, heading out to boroughs like Barking and Bexley can take that average cost way down, with prices closer to £300,000.
政府数据显示，伦敦目前公寓/小套房的平均价格在413,275英镑。然而往巴金及贝克斯利等方向去的房子要便宜得多，接近300,000英镑。
The minimum deposit you can pay is about 5%, which in those areas is about £15,000. Most mortgage calculators don’t even show figures for lending at 5% for first-time buyers, so 10% is better.
最低可预付押金为5%，以上地区的房子则需支付15,000英镑押金。对首次购房的人来说，大部分贷款计算器在预付押金设置为5%时，甚至都不会显示可贷金额，所以10%的预付押金要稳当一点。
But, when you put these figures – including income and deposit – into the Halifax mortgage calculator, they only lend you around £135,000, so if you’re single it’s a pretty hopeless situation.
但当你把收入及积蓄输入哈利法克斯贷款计算器时，他们只会借你135,000英镑。所以对单身的人来说，希望很渺茫。
If you’re part of a couple, things get a bit easier. You can save your 10% in three years with the shared income. Time to get finding love, then!
如果你有伴了，事情会变得简单一些。在你们的共同积蓄基础上，三年时间就能存够10%的预付押金。那么，先找个对象才是当务之急！
Based on these figures, Halifax would lend you about £299,000, which by the time you’ve actually finished saving would be just enough to get somewhere. Hopefully.
基于你们的收入和储蓄，哈利法克斯大概会借出299,000英镑给你们。加上你们到时候攒够的钱，应该是刚好可以实现目标的。希望很大！
But, don’t get too hyped yet, as the monthly repayments would still be sitting at up to £1,300 a month. That’s £650 each for the next 25 years of your life. Initial costs like stamp duty, furniture, conveyancing, surveying, and mortgage arrangement fees will need to be taken into account. You’ll also be responsible for all ongoing costs associated with the property.
但是，不要高兴得太早。因为每月偿还额会在1,300英镑居高不下。往后的25年，你每月需花费650英镑。印花税、家具、财产或其他权益让与费用、调查费及按揭安排费用等最初费用均需纳入考量。与房产有关的所有持续成本也都将由你负责。
You’ve reached your goal, but it’s pretty bittersweet. You’ve lived for years without holidays or big nights out, or any sort of splashing out, only to realise that it’s a huge commitment.
你实现了目标，然而冷暖自知。这么多年了，你没有假期、没有聚会，任何形式的肆意欢纵与你无关。到头来，你意识到这是一项多么沉重的义务啊。
The figures I gave at the start count on you earning a good wage and finding a very good bargain. I’m looking at the best case scenario here, which as we know is about as rare as a four-leaf clover.
开篇提到的数字，基于这样的假设条件：你有一份不错的收入，并且你是一名砍价小能手。我在这里设定的是最完美方案，但我们知道这份完美跟四叶草一样罕见。
It’s pretty much an impossible dream to own in London if you’re single and not filthy rich. Your best hope is to somehow earn a London wage while living outside where homes are cheaper.
如果你单身，如果你没有散发着铜臭的家庭，在伦敦买房几乎是个遥不可及的梦。你最好的出路是，挣着伦敦的薪水，住在伦敦城外，那里的房子要便宜一些。
Couples are in a much more favourable position, but it’s still going to be a very, very long road even after you’ve got the stage of owning the property.
情侣处在更有利的位置，但就算在你们拥有了属于自己的房子后，也仍然有很长很长的路要走。
It’s a sorry state of affairs, and for those of us who can’t relocate, we’ll be stuck as part of Generation Rent forever. Paying a landlord who makes a healthy profit while you live in their often substandard properties is grim.
这个情形让人唏嘘，我们中无法突破的那部分人将会是租奴群体中的一员。住在条件堪忧的房子里，同时用高昂租金喂饱房东—如此这般阴冷的生活。
翻译：everaining
