Planning to move to Chicago, not much money, and need tips on moving (jobs, Budget)

[DontCallMeLizzy]

First off, my name is Alix. I am 17, no boyfriend[no need for one more or less], and wants to start my own life. By starting a life I don't mean having children, teen pregnancies are irresponsible. I just want to get involved in music I like, and Chicago is the place to do it. Thats my reasons for wanting to move there.


I've been talking for the past year now about moving to Chicago. I wanted to be 18 when I moved, and my birthday isn't until March. I'm thinking of moving in the summer, or early fall. But the thing is, when I turn 18 I will only have a little over $5000. I won't have to worry too much about getting someone to help me move because my dad said that he will help with that. I've never lived on my own and I lived with my dad my whole life. I also know no one in Chicago or the surrounding areas so I will literally be on my own with no help. Right now, theres not a place that will hire me so I can't exactly save money to help me move. A few things I want to know, will I have enough money to do whats needed when I can officially make the move? Where is the decent area to move thats is in Chicago? And some helpful tips that will help me to try and span out my money. I don't spend my money aimlessly so I know I won't spend it on things I don't need.

[AJohnston_STL]

I know you aren't looking for these suggestions, and you've probably heard it all; but my suggestion is to stay home. There is plenty of time to move to Chicago, but I think that 17 you are too young to be making a decision to leave home permanently (meaning, not to a college dorm, but to your own place). Heck, most people I know who moved out at 18 were back in with mom and dad within 6 months because they got overwhelmed with bills and working until their hands were calloused to pay those bills, and were underwhelmed with living away from home. Let's face it; Chicago is an expensive city. Let's say you get a job straight out of high school at a grocery store who is being generous in giving you 35 hours a week, and they are paying you above minimum wage at $9/hr.

Now you've found a really cheap apartment in a so-so neighborhood, a studio apartment, for $500 a month. You are making $9/hr so making $1260 per month. Minus taxes (which I'll take out 25% for, which is probably a low estimate) that's $945. Let's break it down;


$500 - rent, water & trash included (assuming that's how its usually done in Chicago)
$80 - electric/gas, if you learn to wear sweaters in the winter and run fans in the summer.
$200 - food & household items for a month - that's $50 per week, unless you plan to survive off of tap water, Ramen noodles, beans, and rice. That's probably on a no-eating-out plan too. If you eat out every meal, you should probably double that.
$60 - cell phone, assuming you either have one, or will have one

We're at $840. That's assuming you aren't bringing a car with a payment + insurance.

I hate to be "that guy" that brings you down or says you can't do it, because you can. I'm just telling you to think big about this. It's like you'll find in the "US Territories" forum; the Virgin Islands are nice, but if you live there, you work 80 hours a week to pay your bills, says the locals.

I know I'm just a guy on the internet, but I moved to suburban St. Louis, rented for $650 a month for me, my wife, and my son, with a college degree and a job paying $18.75 per hour and were struggling.

My suggestion for you would be the following;
1. Have an emergency fund - keep or save at least $1,000 for emergencies, including should you have to miss a few days of work because of a death in the family, or the place you work shutting down.
2. Make a budget - and don't break it. If you are going to have $200 for food, set aside $100 for groceries and $100 for eating out, or $150/50, or $125/75; whatever you think works for you. But remember, you'll want to actually SEE your new city, not just go to work and go home every night. Oh, and you should set aside some money for "leisure."
3. Plan to work 50 hours a week or so; on top of working at that grocery store for 35 hours a week, spend another 15 hours per week flipping burgers at McDonald's, so you have the extra money for leisure and savings.


Again, not trying to be a downer; I think you can do it, but I think you are looking at it through the eyes of an 18 year old who wants to see the city lights and "live on their own." You need to look at it through the eyes of a 34 year old who has been beat up by life a few times and knows what they're doing.

I hope my post has been helpful and not just a rant that everyone thinks is stupid. You having $5,000 is a good start.

[allforcats]

I publicly applaud AJohnston's post! Such wisdom and rational thinking.

There's something else to consider: the U.S. is in the early stages of a depression. Last month ( Dec. 2008) another 534,000 people lost their jobs. 2.6 million people lost their jobs during 2008, and this month we have the highest unemployment rate since 1945. Many of those people have lots of experience and education, and they will be competing for the same jobs that you will apply for. The country's economic implosion will last for most if not all of 2009 and will probably go into 2010.

That means that IF somone hires you in Chicago, there will be dozens or hundreds of other people wanting your job, and you boss is free to fire you and hire one of them. How will you pay for your rent, food, electricity, carfare, etc. if you lose your job?

I strongly, strongly recommend that 2009 is NOT the year to go trying a new life with no education, no experience and no contacts. I would strongly recommend that you stay where you have emotional and perhaps financial support, get a job there, save your money, pay attention to the news about how the country's economy is doing, and if possible enroll in community college to get added education. Then, when 2010 comes look at the country's situation, and Chicago's employment and jobless situation, and evaluate THEN the wisdom of moving or not.

I wish you well! And I wish you wise choices.

[AJohnston_STL]

^ Good post as well!

Having a backup plan is a necessity. Just leaving for Chicago with no plan is not a good idea...that would include NOT moving there until you have a job. By backup plan, I mean...education. Learn a trade...do something. Remember, if you are trying to get in to music, there are cities like NYC, Chicago, and LA full of hundreds of thousands of people who think they have the ability to be the next big thing. I specifically remember one woman on American Idol who sold her wedding ring to pay for the plane tickets to get to American Idol auditions, because "if she can't do music, she'll probably die." Well, she didn't make it past the second round. My guess is she's still alive, but feels a whole lot dumber. Great that you are chasing your dream, but you also need to know the competition you have out there. So you need to think small before you think big. Work on your music while you are in college.

[burgler09]

You seem like you are a smart girl, and here's some words of wisdom from a 21 year old guy who moved 2000 miles from his home.

Moving away was the best decision I have ever made. I moved when I was 20 and honestly, it was a real shock when I got out there, I'm not saying I couldn't make it.. but even if you think you aren't such a crazy spender, you begin to realize how much you never really paid for until you are actually out there.

I don't know what Redlake is, but I can guarantee you it is nothing along the lines of a major US city. You are such a young girl and god, you really need street smarts, you can't trust people, there is so much that a 17-18 year old girl doesn't understand it is scary. I'm not saying you are dumb , I'm saying you are unexposed. There is a lot you should take into consideration before you move, and like was stated above, you should look for job opportunities before you go, you should know all the different areas of the city, what is safe, what is not not safe. It is serious business in large cities!

I really recommend you go to College, this world is turning into a rough place, even if you go to a community college part time, do some sort of education!

I'm convinced you can make it, and for me - it was the best decision of my life, but realize the magnitude of your decision, you can't half-ass this or you'll end up right back in the house of your parents. Trust me, it is nothing easy.

[GloryB]

I think you've gotten a lot of great advice on this thread and you should weigh it all out carefully. At the same time, I have a 17 year old son who sincerely wanted to move back to the city we originally came from and was determined to start a life of his own and follow his own plan. I still help him financially and see him often, but he has done very well. The difference is, he's a big guy and can take care of himself. The world is a lot more unsafe for a young woman.

So, save up as much money as you can and don't get in a big rush. It will also help if your family is backing you up and will come to your rescue should you need it.

You also may want to post around on the Chicago forums, if you haven't already done so, to get other help, advice and tips.

[DontCallMeLizzy]

Thank you everybody, you had helped me with a few answers that I had been wondering about.
And despite the fact that I am completely modest because I would never admit that I am smart, but I do think I am smart enough, and I know what is right and wrong. I know how to fend for myself, and I trust no one.
My dad, grandma, and aunt are there to help me if I do need help. And I'm the kind of person that would hate to ask them for help with money, should I need it, but I know that if I was in dire need of anything I could ask them to help.
And by music, I don't mean singing, or playing my own music. I mean being a stagehand, merch girl, guitar technician, or anything behind the scenes. Hell, it's still music, without them there is no band or band promotion.
I'm trying this now, because almost every person that lives in Redlake, they never leave. And I do not, I despise the thought, want to be like them. I know the World is a scary place and I'm willing to find that out. I thought about many things that could possibly happen, and if my dad didn't believe that I could do it, he would not at all let me go.
With recent news, I have a cousin that is thinking of moving to Chicago also. So I would know someone there if I do happen to move.
Again, thank you everyone.

[burgler09]

Originally Posted by DontCallMeLizzy

Thank you everybody, you had helped me with a few answers that I had been wondering about.
And despite the fact that I am completely modest because I would never admit that I am smart, but I do think I am smart enough, and I know what is right and wrong. I know how to fend for myself, and I trust no one.
My dad, grandma, and aunt are there to help me if I do need help. And I'm the kind of person that would hate to ask them for help with money, should I need it, but I know that if I was in dire need of anything I could ask them to help.
And by music, I don't mean singing, or playing my own music. I mean being a stagehand, merch girl, guitar technician, or anything behind the scenes. Hell, it's still music, without them there is no band or band promotion.
I'm trying this now, because almost every person that lives in Redlake, they never leave. And I do not, I despise the thought, want to be like them. I know the World is a scary place and I'm willing to find that out. I thought about many things that could possibly happen, and if my dad didn't believe that I could do it, he would not at all let me go.
With recent news, I have a cousin that is thinking of moving to Chicago also. So I would know someone there if I do happen to move.
Again, thank you everyone.

Go for it Just wait for the biggest culture shock of your life, but you'll love every minute of it, but one more word of advice. As soon as you move there, get a job!! Whether it be fast food or something else, just make sure you are working and do you damn best to not dip into that 5000. You'd be so surprised how easy it is to say "well i have this many days before I really need a job" but trust me, **** happens when you are on your own, and you are going to want to have that money set aside.

Bills add up big time, cost of living is more expensive. Remember, there are a lot of things you take for granted right now that you aren't going to have when you are living on your own I'm not trying to discourage you, because I think it will be a great experience, but you should know what you are getting yourself into.

[DontCallMeLizzy]

Originally Posted by burgler09

Go for it Just wait for the biggest culture shock of your life, but you'll love every minute of it, but one more word of advice. As soon as you move there, get a job!! Whether it be fast food or something else, just make sure you are working and do you damn best to not dip into that 5000. You'd be so surprised how easy it is to say "well i have this many days before I really need a job" but trust me, **** happens when you are on your own, and you are going to want to have that money set aside.

Bills add up big time, cost of living is more expensive. Remember, there are a lot of things you take for granted right now that you aren't going to have when you are living on your own I'm not trying to discourage you, because I think it will be a great experience, but you should know what you are getting yourself into.

This is late and I'm sorry. But I know that I'm going to have a hard time, a very hard time. But I'm willing to do it. And I promise that when I do actually make the move, I will be job hunting like you wouldn't believe. I will have two jobs if I have to and will be willing to make it an option. I've once been told I was a workaholic because of my determination on everything. Even if I don't like what I'm doing, I have to do it. I at least know I won't be as bad as my uncle had once been, he'd move to a place then suddenly, ask my grandma for $1000 at random because he doesn't have money and he never worked a day in his life.
I'm still working hard to gather up one person to move with me to make it a little easier. I'm talking as if I'm moving by myself in case I don't happen to get anyone. But it is smart to know not to get my hopes up of having help because then I'd be expecting too much. Still nothing is getting me down on the idea. I'm keeping my hope alive.

[AJohnston_STL]

You should also get a place that you could afford alone for a couple of months should anything happen to your roommate (they get scared and take off, whatever).