Poll of the Day > How much money would you say you need to pick up and

(+) Yeah! (+)

Move across the country

Just a single guy here, maybe just need a room to myself. I have some cash already, but Ive been thinking of just doing this

honestly, Id want to go to LA

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About tree fiddy

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PK_Spam posted...

Id want to go to LA

youre gonna be spending at least $1200 a month on rent

and gas is like $4.25 a gallon here right now lol

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Thats rents not out of the realm of possibility for me tbh

tired of my current state and just cant jive with it no matter what I do. At least in LA I can say Ive always wanted to go there

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EvilMegas posted...

About tree fiddy

I'll do it for three twenty-five, and I dare you to find a better offer.

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Honestly, LA sucks. Also 10k.

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LA is one of the most expensive places to live, but if you can afford it, it's a really big metropolitan area with a lot to do. California has the best weather year round and you're not too far from a lot of cool nature spots. I've got a lot of friends in LA, none of whom have their own one bedroom apartment. To be fair though, most the people I know in LA are involved in art, movies, and music and not at the level that's bringing in big bucks. I considered moving there for a while when I still wanted to make movies and was crushing on a girl who lived there, but now that my life goals have evolved if I ever move to LA it's not going to be until later in life.

As in getting/moving into another Apt/House? LA? The nice areas? HEh, maybe $5000-$10000 Bucks (minimum)...

If moving in with someone rent free maybe $2500

If you gonna be Homeless/Skid Row, just the Bus/Plane ticket to get there if not driving (maybe about $25 Bucks for Food)

But you're really leaving out alot of details:

• do you have a Job/Work lined up?
• are you bringing alot of belongings with you?
• and where are you coming from?

nvm reread better without skimming

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oh right the other part of my message

Moving cross country and paying for a moving company to move 2 bedroom apt of stuff cost me about $8k (Texas -> California). Could be cheaper (likely is) to just rebuy furniture and move essentials yourself. If you have a job lined up sometimes they pay for moving costs (mine did).

Then for an apartment deposit + 2 months rent it was another $10k. Again, 2 bedroom. This was San Francisco, LA is a bit cheaper. But deposit + 2 months rent is pretty common.

(plus airbnb while we were looking)

Finding roommates is another option that would be cheaper but that's a process. You could maybe do some airbnb hostel while looking.

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Ugh, thats right, Id have to move all my shit too >_>

I could sell my bed frame and dresser no problem, and basically just get ikea shit. Honestly all I need is my computer, tablet, and switch

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There's a really cheap Airbnb in LA that I stayed in for all of February 2020. It's an old radio building (that still does some broadcasts) and they repurposed several closets and tiny radio rooms as airbnb rooms. My room was literally just a blow up mattress and a shelf above it that had a big broadcast radio thing that was no longer used. I think it was smaller than the cupboard Harry Potter has to live in. The microwave smelled burnt and leaked a black tarry fluid. It disappeared my second week and never returned (I think it caught fire because the burn smell increased for a few days after its disappearance). There wasn't a stove or any sort of kitchen. I never bothered with the fridge that was there because everything else was gross and I didn't trust anyone else staying there around my food. So I mostly ate dry foods and ate out. But the "room" was barely $500 for an entire month in LA, so I think I still saved money.

You know what? I'm going to say, tax free, make it two and a half million at bare minimum; more if a good residence costs more. Because sod looking for work again.

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Gonna make this short but I could expand if you want.

First sell EVERYTHING. You can rebuy it once you move, probably for less then you sold it for. TV's furniture etc, all of it is cheap used, and REALLY cheap if you buy from yard sales after you move. No matter how nice your stuff is, it's not worth the cost to move it.

Second even in LA you can rent a room, so if your single, don't have pets, and don't need a ton of space, you can rent a room for about $500/month, I'd spend the extra 50-100$ though to get one with it's own bathroom (which pretty much makes it the same as a studio apartment but with a full kitchen you can share.

If your just traveling with clothes/papers etc, you can easily fly or take a bus, but if you have a car, that works even better, load it up with the stuff you really want and head out.

Cost of gas for the drive is gonna be as much as a plane ticket/bus anyway so no matter what figure your gonna spend a good $500 getting there. You don't always need first/last/security when renting a room, but having it makes it MUCH easier to get one fast.

So to get into somewhere once there I'd say you want $2000 or so, $500 to actually do the trip, and another $500 for AB&B and expenses until you actually find a room.

You should be able to get a job pretty fast since your not stuck in any one location and LA is huge. You can also sign up for contract work with people ready etc and be working right away (heck even on your trip if your driving).

Therefore, to play it super safe I say you need about $3000-$4000 in addition to whatever you get for selling all your stuff (if you plan on buying it all back).

Should get you there safely and into a room with internet, and ready to work asap.

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wolfy42 posted...

Second even in LA you can rent a room, so if your single, don't have pets, and don't need a ton of space, you can rent a room for about $500/month, I'd spend the extra 50-100$ though to get one with it's own bathroom (which pretty much makes it the same as a studio apartment but with a full kitchen you can share.

I guess if you're renting a room on Skid Row or a glorified closet at an old radio studio you can find a room for $500, but that is far from the norm. For any decent room you're probably looking at at least $750-800.

JigsawTDC posted...

I guess if you're renting a room on Skid Row or a glorified closet at an old radio studio you can find a room for $500, but that is far from the norm. For any decent room you're probably looking at at least $750-800.

Even the cheaper parts of LA County aren't that cheap.

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Do not come to the LA area unless you have a well paying job lined up.

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JigsawTDC posted...

I guess if you're renting a room on Skid Row or a glorified closet at an old radio studio you can find a room for $500, but that is far from the norm. For any decent room you're probably looking at at least $750-800.

500 won't even get you a shit room here in Maryland.

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If I was 25 again and willing to move, I'd think somewhere around 10k would be ok - assuming I was able to find work at the new location.

Honestly, I could have fit everything I owned in my 20's inside my truck - so if you are young I think it's easy. It's when you get older / have a family / etc. that it becomes much more difficult.

Entity13 posted...

Even the cheaper parts of LA County aren't that cheap.

Yeah, I was being very generous with my low-ball number. It's going to be north of $1k for most rooms, I'm sure.

EvilMegas posted...

500 won't even get you a shit room here in Maryland.

If it gets you anything in LA it's like scraping crusted shit that's caked in the crevices of an uncleaned toilet. I'm honestly curious as to where wolfy is getting his prices from.

Mead posted...

Do not come to the LA area unless you have a well paying job lined up.

Let me give an example of why.

I've worked the same job for 5 years, I'm top of the pay scale for it now. I earned about 60k last year. I have about 60k in cash and stocks/ETFs that I can easily sell. I have an 800 credit score. They consider me low income and it's next to impossible for me to buy a one bedroom condo here.

Think 60k is good income? In most places, it is. In LA, it won't buy you that much.

I'm living at home at 31 and moving out on my own is a risky move.

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LA is a shitshow but its its less about cash on hand and more about having a job when you get there.

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PK_Spam posted...

Move across the country

Just a single guy here, maybe just need a room to myself. I have some cash already, but Ive been thinking of just doing this

honestly, Id want to go to LA

I think it cost me about $2500 to use a PODS container to move my stuff from San Diego to Nebraska about 15 years ago. A rental truck would have been a lot cheaper, but I had the container for an entire month at each end so I could take my time and didn't have to wear myself out loading everything in a single day.

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If you do a search for rooms for rent on craigslist for 500$ or less, there are 518 of them (not all are real mind you but plenty are).

I rented 4 rooms/basements since selling my house.

First was $500 and shared a bathroom (yuck). Nice place, 2 large living rooms. Pool table in upstairs living room. By Martin and Marvin so tons of shopping/food around.

Second was on corner of Yelm highway and College. Only 400$ a month all of this have included internet and utilities btw. This one was great but still shared a bathroom.

3rd was the whole basement in Tacoma (moved there for a job). $575 a month a bedroom, living room, it's own private bathroom. Private enterance and a storage room. Basically my own apartment.

This one is on steamboat island $600 a month, but it has a huge living room, 2 bedrooms, 1 large (very nice) bathroom. I share the kitchen when someone is here but usually I have the whole place. Only downside is it's 20 mins just to get to town.

My friend just got his own cabin in Medford Oregon for $575 a month. It's basically a studio apartment.

Even in the Bay Area I find places for $700 all the time, and have considered moving there because of it. You can get a place for $500 almost anywhere, and for $600 often find ones with your own bathroom.

As an example 256 of those rooms for rent in LA include a private bathroom for $500 or less. While alot of them are probably not real, or rent by the week (so they fall under the $500 maximum because of that), I'm pretty sure if your not fixed to a location in LA you can get one with it's own bathroom for $500.

Here is a link to one...for instance. Doesn't include utilities which is $50 more......but looks legit, was just the first I cliked on.

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/roo/d/santa-ana-roommate-wanted-for-3bd-ba/7310471216.html

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I should note that I have also helped friends get into places over the last 4 years. None were over $600, many were under $500. Most were in Olympia WA though, but honestly prices here are more than many places in the US at this point (Because so many are moving here from CA).

So I'm basing my #'s on real life experience, and on either renting or helping people rent at least 10 rooms in the recent past (i had 4 roomates at my house before I sold it and helped all 4 of them find places, have helped 2 more friends since then find a place, and 1 of the original roomates find another place when he left).

Just like anything else, you get a better deal the more effort you put into it. It helps a TON to be good at interviewing, have good credit and be able to pass background checks etc. I'm an ideal roomate in most ways, so it makes it easier for me to get into better rooms etc.

IF you have bad credit, you have a criminal history, or you just interview horribly, it'll be far harder for you, but still not impossible. The first room I rented did no background check at all, and I didn't even meet the owner (just the neighbor who managed the place for her). Anyone could have rented there (Which is primarily why I eventually left lol).

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La sucks.

Goto nyc

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JigsawTDC posted...

California has the best weather year round and you're not too far from a lot of cool nature spots.

you forgot to talk about our hundreds of wildfires each year, ok?

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ClarkDuke posted...

you forgot to talk about our hundreds of wildfires each year, ok?

I saw pics of SF the year before last where the sky was orange, but not sure if the Bay Area is hit as hard as LA (My uncle lives in malibu and had to fight fires from burning down his house).

The power outages are also a big concern, but also not sure how much they affect the Bay. I believe it's a big deal in the LA area though.

I will say I have no intention of ever living in or near LA. I don't like the area, HATE driving there, don't like the temps (much warmer then the Bay) etc.

I would love to m ove back to the Bay Area but honestly I need to buy a mobile home on property somewhere so I'm not shelling out money each month for a room etc.

Even $600 is alot compared to say buying a $10k mobile home in Forks WA (Lot rent there is $220 and includes sewage/water). I figure over the rest of my life the lot rent will average $300/month probably......and it lets me live right in town so I can walk to places to eat (or take a bus) etc.

Buying my own property with a mobile home on it already, would be about 20-30k more, so about 10 years worth of lot rent, and it's not likely I'll live that long or much longer.

I was holding off till Covid ended, but now I have a job and may have to hold off again for a bit, at least till I have some decent experience here, and finish all the training etc.

I have a masters already, so I could eventually just do an accelerated nursing program to become a full nurse, which would give me lots of options for places to work (it's a 12 month program though and not sure on cost). That would change my long term plans as well, so waiting for now on getting a mobile home is just worth it I guess.

As long as I have more money coming in, then going out, I'll be happy for now, and that looks like it will be the case really soon.

Anyway, if I can make it work, I would love to live in the Bay Area again, but....the cost of living there is so extreme sigh.

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wolfy42 posted...

I saw pics of SF the year before last where the sky was orange, but not sure if the Bay Area is hit as hard as LA (My uncle lives in malibu and had to fight fires from burning down his house).

the sky was orange and my n95 and eye goggles came in handy walking around since the air was difficult to breathe in and hurt my eyes. Also had a lot of headaches during that time because old Victorian with bad insulation.

But that was such a small percentage of the year...most of the time here is mild weather.

wolfy42 posted...

Anyway, if I can make it work, I would love to live in the Bay Area again, but....the cost of living there is so extreme sigh.

yeah I don't plan on staying and buying here. Just not worth it to me. There are plenty of nice things here but I prefer Austin having been there for so many years and it's far more affordable. I'm glad I had a chance to live here for now though for the experience. Still will be here another few years. But I miss Austin, it's my home.

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wolfy42 posted...

The power outages are also a big concern, but also not sure how much they affect the Bay. I believe it's a big deal in the LA area though.

This didn't affect me. I saw it affecting coworkers in east/north/south bay but in SF itself it didn't affect me.

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grimhilde00 posted...

yeah I don't plan on staying and buying here. Just not worth it to me. There are plenty of nice things here but I prefer Austin having been there for so many years and it's far more affordable. I'm glad I had a chance to live here for now though for the experience. Still will be here another few years. But I miss Austin, it's my home.

Austin is one of the places I wanna visit and am considering moving to (buying a mobile home etc). The cost of living there is very low, tons of work opportunities, lots of food etc.

Won't know till I actually visit though, I'm a bit leery about the temps, since I really don't like post 90 degree weather.

Cold I can handle, I was meant to be an eskimo, but if it's 90+ I won't even go out and do things, and I want to go out and do things lol.

The whole border crisis thing and the power outages/pipes exploding thing this last year has made me push Austin back a bit though, so I'm kinda waiting to see how things pan out before planning a trip there.

Still high on my list though.

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wolfy42 posted...

to play it super safe I say you need about $3000-$4000

... uhhh

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Some of you seem incredulous, so a bit more info.

The second place I lived/rented a room was the college Glen Apartments in Lacey WA. You can look them up, a 3 bedroom 2 bath is still $1125 there a month. We split it 3 ways and with Utilities/internet (also split 3 ways) it was almost exactly $400 a month.

There was an income cap of $60k so if you make more than that, you couldn't live there, but that was the only caviet.

I just rented a room with the two roomates who were already there, so I didn't get the master bedroom with it's own bathroom, I had to share the second bathroom with the other roomate.

I put myself on the waiting list to get my own though (before moving to tacoma) so I could get the master bedroom with it's own bath, and just grab 2 more roomates.

There are places like that all over the US, and you can either have friends as roomates or interview until you find two other people who you wouldn't mind living with and BAM you have $400 or less rent.

Meanwhile I have posted before about Safeway and shopping/saving money. Safeway was bought out by Albertsons a few years ago, and sadly they do not have many of the good deals anymore. You can no longer save 70-80% on average when you shop there (without using physical coupons which I don't do).

You CAN still save about 40-50% which still, in general, puts the cost at safeway significantly lower then winco/costco/walmart etc. You simply have to buy based on what is on sale, stock up on stuff, use the points you get on discounts etc.

Usually you have at least 1 or two meats that are on significant sale every week. I buy based on what is on sale that way, I also use my points to get 7$ off from the meat department for 4 points (and I always click on the special that gives 4-10 points if you spend X amount of dollars.

This means I usually get at least 5 points per trip, and sometimes over 10. Last month I had 28 points total (while still spending less then $200 a month on groceries), which let me both fill up my gas (for $1 off a gallon) and get $28 off my grocers ($7 off per 4 points used).

Meanwhile I mostly got tri-tip steaks last month for $5 a pound (normally $10 now), some chicken (for $2/pound boneless skinless), some ground beef ($3 a pound). I did get some T-bones since they were on sale, but I don't think i'll do that again cause after you factor in the bones etc, it's really not worth it.

I pay $30 for my phone and $30 for my car insurance as well. Medical is almost free right now as it's based on my income (will go back up once I start working).

That is my total expenses per month.

Meanwhile other then CA (especially the bay area), NY (it's even cheaper to live on long island than here), Hawaii maybe and a few other places, this is one of the most expensive places to live in the US. I could move almost ANYWHERE and be able to spend less money than here, and some places you can rent your own place for $500-600.

I want to work, so moving somewhere I can work matters for now, but if you don't need to work, are retired etc, there are many places you can move that are way cheaper. Forks for instance you can get a 10k mobile home and pay $220 a month for lot rent (with water/sewage included). That is a backup plan of mine.

You can also just look around and find rooms for rent like I have done repeatedly, even in CA (and lets be honest most of CA is pretty insane to try and rent/live in) you can get something semi-decent for $700 (yes, even in the bay area. I found a place on Tennison in Hayward CA.....right by my favorite burrito place (all meat burrito.......homer droooooool), for $650 awhile ago. I didn't take it cause of covid and having to move during that etc.

The food in the Bay is SO GOOD though, plus I grew up there (from 11 on, I lived in Hayward/Fremont/Alameda/Dublin etc). I know how to get around everywhere like the back of my hand. I could take bart to travel as well etc.

Anyway I don't recommend LA either, but yeah, I know how to live on a budget, even if I don't need to, I do. I had a rough childhood and I just automatically save and spend as little as possible. I spent plenty on making my wife happy, but that was different. I have a hard time spending money on myself, so I work hard to ensure whatever I do pay is efficient.

I consider renting a room as a waste of money, as a mobile home long term is FAR better (especially if it's a two bedroom and you rent out the other one.

Long term a mobile home that you rent out the other room on, actually MAKES you money per month. If I got one of those up in Forks for instance, It would initially pay any morgage/lot rent I had, and long term probably net me about 300$/month after paying the lot rent.

At 60 (9 years) I'll have about $1200/month coming in, so having a setup where I not only have no rent per month, but get an extra $300 from renting a room.....would be really nice, at least for as long as I'm actually still around lol.

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wolfy42 posted...

Won't know till I actually visit though, I'm a bit leery about the temps, since I really don't like post 90 degree weather.

There's been days here in San Francisco high 80s and 90s that are worse than when I was in Texas because there's no fucking AC here. Going outside is better. Texas hotter with A/C was better. Falling asleep here is a struggle when it's hot.

wolfy42 posted...

The whole border crisis thing and the power outages/pipes exploding thing this last year has made me push Austin back a bit though

Yeah this was fucking crazy, I'm assuming they're going to winterize shit from the complete fuck up this year but I'm glad I missed out on that.

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I don't plan to pick up and move across the country where I don't know anyone or have any fam or friends but good luck to you.

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