Lol, As a local I should really know this. But anyway...

I've just hit 16, so goodbye to all my child perks! TFL say I need to wait until September to get a 16-18 oyster card... So thats left me with 2 months of adult fares.

I decided using oyster I could cut those fares down - but I'm a bit skeptical about it. Lets look at 2 journeys I intend to be doing...

Outside Zone 6 Station -> Hornchurch
NON London Rail Station -> Victoria
Victoria -> Hornchurch (District Line)

Now for this I'd have to pay for the rail ticket to a Zone 6 station, Then using oyster I could get from there too Hornchurch. Now as I will be traveling in all the zones - I have heard it will charge me about 50p LESS then an all zones travelcard, Is this right?

Outside Zone 6 Station -> Croydon East
NON London Rail Station -> Beckenham Junction
Beckenham Junction -> Croydon East (Tram)

Similarly, for this I would have to pay a rail ticket to a Zone 6 station, then using oyster I could get from there to Beckenham Junction, THEN use it on the tramline to Croydon East.. right?

I'm just utterly confused about this - and hate the idea of not having money on me, and relying on a peice of plastic for security and safety. It seems like a disaster waiting to happen.

Oyster is always cheapest, no matter what you do. So don't worry, just use the thing with a few quid on and you'll be fine.

OR you could buy a 10 quid "novelty I.D" and continue buying child tickets for another 6 months to a year?

Yea, what mad eyes said.

Also most off licenses sell child travel cards, they dont give a fuck about your age, i did that while i waited for my student oyster to come through.

In other news, i live pretty close to Hornchurch, and go to college just round the corner from it.