Living/Working on the North Side (Chicago: sublet, lease, co-op)

[housecarpenter88]

Hi everybody,

After scouring the search feature I decided its time to just post a thread with my question and hope for the best!

My main question: how difficult would it be for a 20 year old working full time to make enough to survive on while living in the Edgewater area?

A little more about me and my situation: I've been traveling/living/working/partying my way around Europe since I graduated high school. I've grown a bit weary of living out of a suitcase/backpack for almost 2 years and with funds running low I decided to return home(Wisconsin). I'm bored out of my mind and am planning a move to Chicago ASAP. After researching neighborhoods I've basically decided the Edgewater area seems to suit my needs(and budget) best. So this is where things get slightly complicated. The only jobs I've done on this side of the pond are busing tables and bartending(can bartend at 18 in WI) so naturally serving or bartending would be ideal for the time being. But it seems I cannot do this in Chicago until I turn 21 in 4 months(please correct me if I'm wrong on this). I am looking at studios in the 550-650 range and an overall budget minimum of around 1600/month. I have no car, kids, or pets. I am not currently a student. I already have a decent wardrobe and always cook at home. I do enjoy partying my ass off though. Does this seem feasible to live on this budget with my lifestyle? And how difficult would it be to find a job(s) that I could live off? I've looked at a few job boards with all sorts of postings, but I have no idea if each posting has 1 applicant or 1000 that I would be competing against. I am willing to commute and do almost anything that will pay the bills. I had little trouble in finding work abroad, so I'm quite optimistic about my chances in a place I can speak the language. I have enough $ still to cover rent, deposit, and living expenses for a month or two. I'm very intelligent, personable, open minded, and outgoing individual. So I ask the wisdom of everybody reading this, would I probably be ok signing a lease, moving, and then finding a job once Im settled in? Or would you strongly advise I find some type of employment first, then make the move? I'd like to make the 2 1/2 hour commute from WI into the city as few times as possible, so Im trying to make this move as efficient as possible. Any help or suggestions are appreciated beyond words!! Thanks for your time : )

Have a good day everybody


P.S. - Any young 20somethings reading this should drop me a line, I don't know a soul in Chicago yet!

[sharkylittleton]

I have a close friend who lives in Wicker Park, pays $500/month for rent and has 2 other roomates, works 2 serving jobs and quite frankly works a ton of hours (60+ hours) but makes it just fine. He tells me that it's very competitive market for male bartendending opportunities in Chicago.

The smartest approach is to find work before you move. It makes things much less complicated. But if you are going to move without a job I would look for a temporary room sublet in a co-op situation (to keep the price down) just in case things dont go as planned.

[aragx6]

I think you'll be fine, but my suggestion would be to try and have 3 months of expenses saved up before moving. It'll insulate you a little better.

But as long as you pound the pavement and are willing to take anything for the time being, I think you'll find a job alright.