Ella Dennison, 24
After I graduated, I was desperate to move to London from Manchester because of the job opportunities. But starter jobs in TV don’t pay much and most of my salary would have been swallowed up in rent. The work is also freelance, so it was scary to think of committing to rent when I wasn’t sure of my next job.
Living with Lauren, my mum’s baby sister, and her boys is the most comfortable I could be living in someone else’s house. She makes delicious dinners every night and leaves some out for me, and she’s also a great sounding board as she works in a similar industry.
The downsides are hearing my two young cousins messing around very early on Saturdays when I wouldn’t mind a lie-in. But living here has been a safe haven for me; a soft entry into the big city and the responsible world of work.
Lauren Libbert, 48
Before Ella, I had a string of demi-pairs who stayed rent-free for a few months and helped around the house while they worked part-time. As a single working mother, it helped to have another pair of hands around.
As the boys (now 10 and 12) grew older it became harder to adjust to new people, so when Ella talked about working in London, I offered her our spare room.
My boys love it when she babysits. I think it’s because she lets them play on their devices until bedtime.
She’s lovely company and I try to help with career advice, if I can. She’s on her third job now and doing brilliantly, so I know it won’t be long before she spreads her wings and moves in with friends. We’ll miss her.
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