Want to move to CO. from CA. Need advice (Denver: apartments, for rent)

[jessika777]

Hello everyone. I am 23 and my boyfriend is 25, and we are really interested in moving to Colorado. We live in so. cal right now, and would really like the get out of here!! We both work in a restaurant, serving and bartending. And just plan to transfer out there(hopefully). I know that the wage of a tipped employee is $4.00 an hour, which is half the amount we make now. We just want to make sure, that we would be making enough to survive. We are looking in the areas of Littleton, Aurora, Lakewood, Denver. Does anyone have any advice on what to do, where exacty to settle. Looking to spend $600-$700 for rent at first, and then upgrade later on. I have so so many questions, considering we have both never even been to Colorado. We plan on visiting after the first of the year. We both just love the snow, love the cold weather, and like I said want to leave so. cal. If anyone has any input, I would love to hear anything!!!

Thank you so so much!!!
Jessica

[David Aguilar]

Originally Posted by jessika777

Hello everyone. I am 23 and my boyfriend is 25, and we are really interested in moving to Colorado. We live in so. cal right now, and would really like the get out of here!! We both work in a restaurant, serving and bartending. And just plan to transfer out there(hopefully). I know that the wage of a tipped employee is $4.00 an hour, which is half the amount we make now. We just want to make sure, that we would be making enough to survive. We are looking in the areas of Littleton, Aurora, Lakewood, Denver. Does anyone have any advice on what to do, where exacty to settle. Looking to spend $600-$700 for rent at first, and then upgrade later on. I have so so many questions, considering we have both never even been to Colorado. We plan on visiting after the first of the year. We both just love the snow, love the cold weather, and like I said want to leave so. cal. If anyone has any input, I would love to hear anything!!!

Thank you so so much!!!
Jessica

Hello Jessica. I am 24 and my girlfriend is 26, and we live in Colorado. We used to live in So. Calif, and we really wanted to get out of there. We both worked in a pizza place, managing and driving (I was also a server at Denny's for six years). We didn't transfer out here, but we ended up working for the same national chain out here. My wage as a tipped employee here was $5.15 an hour, which was 2/3 of what I made in California. We barely made enough to survive. We looked in the areas of Littleton, Aurora, Lakewood and Denver. We settled on Aurora. We spent quite more than that on rent, and had two car payments so that's most of the reason why we had trouble making ends meet. You shouldn't have a problem finding a place for that price, it just won't be impressive or in posh area, just try and live near work. Most of your questions will be answered after a trip out here, I recommend not moving here until you've been here, it might not be the picture in your head. I love the snow and cold, and am really glad I left So. Calif. This is my input and I hope you loved hearing it.

Sorry, if that above paragraph had a facetious tone, I couldn't resist , but all of what I said is true.

We had a very tough time surviving on the income from the pizza place. The place I worked at here wasn't close to being the cash cow that the place I worked at in CA was. I expected it to be about the same, it was far from it.

In CA, I made $8/hr, plus $good$ tips and was making out like a bandit.

Here in CO, I made $5.15/hr, plus crappy tips, and was counting every penny.

This little realization forced me into a different, more prosperous line of work. In hindsight, I'm glad it didn't work out at the pizza place.

I say, if you don't have much or any debt you should make it just fine.

I wouldn't count on the restaurant biz, especially here in CO, it really is just a means to an end.

I'd be to help further if needed.

[Jessi222]

Hey Jessica!

Well I just moved out to Colorado myself from SoCal (where I was bartending too!) and I've been out here for about a month. I found that rent is not as cheap as I expected it would be...in a lot of the areas I liked the rent runs right around 1,000 for a one bedroom which is a lot higher then I expected (however should be cheaper for you since you are splitting the rent!) I have been everywhere apartment shopping and as much as I like downtown it's just way too much money for what you get and I ended up liking some apartments in the DenverTechCenter. Lots of brand new apartment building and although a little expensive you get a lot for your money. I work in Lakewood, it's a really pretty area but since I am young and looking to meet people where I live it seemed more family oriented and that doesnt' fit where I am at right now. Anyways all in all Colorado is great, I am glad I moved out here and it was a much needed change from SoCal. Good Luck!

[Mern]

Did you guys move to Colorado? If so where to? My husband and I are thinking about moving to Lakewood, Co.. But I am still unsure. Let me know how it is ... Good Luck

[_Charles_]

FYI - to save you all allot of time. I spent most of my life in CO. I come from a large family with relatives spread around the state. In short - Colorado has suburban Chicago's cost of living and Mississippi's wages.

And it also safe for me to say this - Coloradans are not especially friendly. CO is one of the few places in the country were people will bluntly ask where you are from before saying anything else.

[steveindenver]

Coloradans are not especially friendly.

Well, not towards people from CA or Texas anyway.

[denverian]

Originally Posted by steveindenver

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Well, not towards people from CA or Texas anyway.

That's a lie. We moved here from California and I've never experienced any unfriendliness because of coming from CA.

Originally Posted by _Charles_

FYI - to save you all allot of time. I spent most of my life in CO. I come from a large family with relatives spread around the state. In short - Colorado has suburban Chicago's cost of living and Mississippi's wages.

And it also safe for me to say this - Coloradans are not especially friendly. CO is one of the few places in the country were people will bluntly ask where you are from before saying anything else.

I've never once had anyone ask me where I'm from. I have no clue where you get that from, unless you're maybe from some tiny town on the plains somewhere.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by Mern

Did you guys move to Colorado? If so where to? My husband and I are thinking about moving to Lakewood, Co.. But I am still unsure. Let me know how it is ... Good Luck

We came here from the DC metro area, love it here, ain't going back. Look in the index for Lakewood threads, or use our very good search tool. We've never seen anything but friendly people here.

[steveindenver]

That's a lie. We moved here from California and I've never experienced any unfriendliness because of coming from CA.

Let me correct that mistake. My apologies that other Colorado residents appear to have been slacking. Go back to California!

[cowboyxjon]

Originally Posted by steveindenver

Let me correct that mistake. My apologies that other Colorado residents appear to have been slacking. Go back to California!

This made me smile. I grew up in PA, but moved here from CA, and totally caught myself saying "california, go home!" to an obnoxious driver with CA plates who cut me off in the Albertson's parking lot the other day.