Is Charlotte right for us? (relocating, rent , job)

[Doorway]

Originally Posted by BRKLYN2CLT

Corruption........To move to a new city without ever visiting it and feeling it out is really risky and you are setting yourself up for disaster. Also, you really need to be financially prepared to move; if you do not have enough to visit....I don't understand how you could possibly have enough to move. When you relocate you come up against many expenses and having money saved is key!! Lastly, you should really find a job; most apartment complexes will not even rent to you without a job! I really think you should reconsider packing up and moving to an unfamiliar city (that you never have been to) with no job and not much savings.....you could be setting yourself up for a lot of misery!

I couldn't agree more.

[Aulani]

I've made more than one long distance move (w/ 2 children in tow) on little more than a wing & a prayer & have always landed on my feet. The thing I had going for me, however, was either a contact &/or a union hall to check in with...[i]OR[i]a willingess to take whatever work I was qualified for that would cover expenses. (Yes, most of those moves were made w/o a prior visit to the destination or even access to internet info)
It can be done, Corruption, but it is not an easy way to go about it. You have to be willing to do the hard work & make sacrifices. You absolutely HAVE to have money - DON'T do this without a chunk of change in the bank!
I don't have to know I'll love an area before I move there - you won't really know that until you've spent some time as a resident, my feeling has always been - "if I don't like it here, there's always another place to discover". Some people can't make a decision unless every "t" is crossed & "i" dotted, however - I enjoy challenging my survial skills & don't enjoy nesting forever in my "comfort zone". Be brave, be adventurous, but...BE SMART! Good luck!

[corruption]

Well, I didn't think I would have to tell people the exact amount of money I had in the bank. I do realize that moving takes up a hell of a lot of money. My boyfriend and I have that part covered. We have the expenses to move into an apartment covered. We just don't want to waste extra money by visiting for a weekend or a week. We don't believe that coming in that short amount of time could tell us anything crucial about whether we would like to live there or not. Besides, we work and can not just take the time off to come visit.

[himain]

No one asked you about the exact amount of money in the bank you had. You're stating you don't want to waste extra money by visiting for a weekend or a week but what if you waste all that money moving here and you don't like it at all?

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by corruption

Well, I didn't think I would have to tell people the exact amount of money I had in the bank. I do realize that moving takes up a hell of a lot of money. My boyfriend and I have that part covered. We have the expenses to move into an apartment covered. We just don't want to waste extra money by visiting for a weekend or a week. We don't believe that coming in that short amount of time could tell us anything crucial about whether we would like to live there or not. Besides, we work and can not just take the time off to come visit.

We have had several posts in the last few weeks from people who live in the Detroit area. Having seen things on CNN about Detroit's economy . . . I am assuming you all are feeling the future just isn't there and are ready to make a move while you are still mobile enuff to do that (no home to sell; no kids).

You are young and could always take temporary positions if you had to. I don't know how easy it is to rent w/o a job. Maybe we should post that question . . .

The general consensus on this forum has pretty much evolved to - don't come here w/o a job. I agree w/ that advice. However, at your ages . . . it probably won't be as big a leap as for someone w/ more responsibilities.

With the economy tanking in your present location . . . I can understand why you want to move. Just a heckuva leap to make w/o ever having even visited here.

[himain]

Ani-Just to clarify renting without a job..It won't happen. I just rented an apt and my bf had to bring in a letter from his job stating his employment, income, etc...

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by himain

Ani-Just to clarify renting without a job..It won't happen. I just rented an apt and my bf had to bring in a letter from his job stating his employment, income, etc...

That is what I assumed. I just started a thread asking that question. I know when DH was transferred here, the first question we were asked when we were checking out townhomes to rent was - "now who is your new employer?"

[Slappy san]

Originally Posted by himain

No one asked you about the exact amount of money in the bank you had. You're stating you don't want to waste extra money by visiting for a weekend or a week but what if you waste all that money moving here and you don't like it at all?

A weekend or week is not sufficient time to find that out imo. It's also not time or cost efficient to take off from a full time job to spend $$$ for weeks in multiple cities.

Using these forums and other resources online is the way to go in this situation. I don't take all that is posted on this forums as gospel. Experience on here has truly opened my eyes to the fact that we don't fit the demo ($$) of the majority on the boards.

[BRKLYN2CLT]

Originally Posted by corruption

Well, I didn't think I would have to tell people the exact amount of money I had in the bank. I do realize that moving takes up a hell of a lot of money. My boyfriend and I have that part covered. We have the expenses to move into an apartment covered. We just don't want to waste extra money by visiting for a weekend or a week. We don't believe that coming in that short amount of time could tell us anything crucial about whether we would like to live there or not. Besides, we work and can not just take the time off to come visit.

Still...kind of confused....what do you plan on doing? Driving down here and getting an apartment when you get here? Coming down for a weekend or a week is not that expensive a few hundred dollars if you drive (could possibly save you a ton of money long term)..it would give you a basis as to how your expectations compare to reality. You have no vacation time? The job market is not awesome here either....I know people who have moved here and are working at Starbucks for $8.00 an hour because they can't find jobs.
If you already are employed...what's the rush to move without seeing where your going?

[Aulani]

[quote=corruption;3155948]Well, I didn't think I would have to tell people the exact amount of money I had in the bank./QUOTE]

I'm sorry if you took my comment about having a "chunk of change" in the bank as the same as asking about "the exact amount of money..." - didn't mean to make you defensive.
You have so many resources available to you that I didn't have when I starting seeing the country (I'm 45 now) - I still don't feel it is a "must" to visit a place before you move & I agree about not wanting to spend the money. A visit - even an extended one - will never give you the feel of how life works in a new place. Research & when you are as sure as you can be, then step off the ledge & enjoy the journey.