Arriving in London with a mountain of debt and an unpaid internship, a young journalist turned to an unconventional solution that allowed her to wipe her financial slate clean while living in one of the capital's most exclusive neighbourhoods.
The Unpaid Opportunity and a Financial Mountain
In 2019, Zahra Khozema, then 23 and studying for a Masters in Journalism, faced a daunting financial reality. She owed more than £30,000 when she accepted an unpaid internship at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's international news bureau in London. Determined not to miss the career opportunity, the freelance journalist and podcast producer from Toronto needed a radically affordable way to live in one of the world's most expensive cities.
With typical rents consuming around £500 a month, Zahra's creative solution was to move into a hostel. She secured a shared room at Bowden Court hostel in Notting Hill, paying just £80 per week. This gave her the bottom half of a bunk bed in a room with three other women, two daily meals, laundry service access, and use of a gym.
Life in a Notting Hill Hostel
"It was the cheapest I could find," Zahra, now 30, explains. "The room was tiny; if one person was standing up, it felt crowded." What began as a short-term fix evolved into a year-long stay as she became part of a vibrant, transient community. Residents included a Japanese man who cut hair, a portrait-painting British gentleman, students, EU migrants learning English, and even some British pensioners.
The community spirit was strong, with impromptu parties, language exchanges, and shared meals. Zahra, well-travelled and accustomed to hostels, defends their reputation. "I've often found hostels to be as clean as Airbnbs and I very much prefer them over hotels," she says. Bowden Court was cleaned twice daily, sheets were changed weekly, and it offered 24-hour security. The cost even decreased over time. "By the end I was paying maybe £50 to £60 a week," she notes.
The Challenges of Communal Living
This budget-friendly life came with significant compromises: a severe lack of privacy and minimal personal space. All her possessions fit into a suitcase, a nightstand, and a narrow wardrobe. "There were no chairs in the room and my roommate would sit on my bed. I really don't like outside clothes on my bed," Zahra recalls. The bunk's low height meant there was "nowhere to chill on a laptop or watch a movie."
More awkward moments arose when a roommate started dating. "They would use the top bunk while I was sleeping at the bottom. And there were two other women in the room as well!" she says. The movement from the top bunk would shake the entire structure. Limited cooking facilities and occasionally poor food were other downsides, forcing Zahra to seek solace in local parks and empty cafes to work.
Clearing the Debt and Moving On
Despite the challenges, the strategy worked brilliantly for her finances. While living at the hostel, Zahra began working full-time in communications. Her minimal living costs, combined with reduced spending during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowed her to aggressively tackle her debt. "I was able to save all that money because my living costs were low with the hostel and the pandemic meant I wasn't going out," she explains.
After a year, she moved into a house with four people she met at the hostel, which felt "like a palace" in comparison. After two years in the UK, Zahra returned to Canada completely debt-free. "When I moved to the UK, I only had enough for a one-way ticket, but when I returned home after two years, I was clear of debt. I was really grateful that I was able to do that," she reflects.
Her experience left her with lifelong friends and a powerful lesson in financial resilience, proving that with unconventional choices, even the priciest postcodes can be home to a debt-free future.
