Low Cost Living Limited
Analysis
Low Cost Living Limited is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in September 2008, 18 years ago. Its declared purposes cover the prevention or relief of poverty, which this site groups under poverty relief. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 06502018). It says it makes grants to individuals and provides services.
In the financial year ending February 2025, Low Cost Living Limited reported income of £7.8m and spending of £7.7m, spending 98% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from February 2021 to February 2025, income grew from £4.9m to £7.8m (+58%), an average of +12% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to February 2023, when income rose by 42%. Over the whole period it spent 98% of the income it received.
Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, Low Cost Living Limited sits at the 99th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Hope for Justice (£7.8m), One Young World Limited (£7.9m) and Operation Mobilisation (£7.7m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 92% and donations and legacies 8.3%. Charitable activities took 100% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. Grants to other organisations totalled £7,000. Reserves of £590k would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 31 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 8.3%
- Charitable activities 92%
- Investments 0.1%
In the charity's own words
1) THE RELIEF OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AMONG PEOPLE LIVING OR WORKING IN LONDON BY PROVIDING SUCH PERSONS WITH LOW-COST HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND FOOD WHICH THEY COULD NOT OTHERWISE AFFORD THROUGH LACK OF MEANS.2) THE PROMOTION OF ANY OTHER EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE OBJECTS AND PURPOSES SUCH AS THE TRUSTEES SEE FIT, PROVIDED THAT THEY ARE REGARDED AS CHARITABLE BY THE LAW OF ENGLAND AND WALES.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Hope for Justice | London | £7.8m |
| One Young World Limited | London | £7.9m |
| Operation Mobilisation | Oswestry | £7.7m |
| Hope and Homes for Children | Wiltshire | £8.0m |