do you think i could move to the O.C and what are the nice places to live in the O.C (Orange: salons, school)

[xJanx]

Originally Posted by mrlucero2002

xJanx

Come out and visit. It is beautiful out here. You'll love the weather and the food. As far as making a living out here... There are plenty of other pleaces in the USA that are just as lovely, have genuinly nice people, more affordable, and will provide you with a better quality of life. If you want to get a better understanding of what life is like in OC ,see if you can find a TV show called "The Real Housewives of Orange County". Most people here won't admit it, but if they are not currently living the lifestyle of these housewives, they sure are striving to live like them.

With that said, I'm escaping Orange County and Southern California this summer and headed for greener pastures. Good luck to you.

zennjenn: Take that attitude back to New York where it belongs.

hey! thanks 4 reply! i think ive been put off already now though by the nasty replies, i mean it is only a dream (well not any more as i feel as big as a mouse after the comments made and me trying to stick up 4 myself ) hope all the rude ppl are happy now putting others down! and i just look like a really snotty young trouble causing girl lol! which im really not!
thanks 4 your advice, Jan =) x

[sweetclimber]

Originally Posted by xJanx

well to be honest a friend of mine is very close with a family out in the "orange county" and have a brill life for their family!
who wouldnt want to????
and florida because i have family in tampa bay and thats gorgeous so why SHOULDNT i have a dream of that ???????????????????
and i appreciate the advice you have given but you dont need to look down at me matey!!! you didnt have to be so rude by asking have i even been, that i call it "the O.C", thats what we all call it on england!! so what?????????what i would and wouldnt be able to do, you dont know anything about me or the future holds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! im only 19 and it was a little harsh!!!!

I highly doubt if you had family in Ohio instead that you would be so quick to want to move there. Don't believe what tv shows, it simply is not true

[picsesmauve957]

I suggest La Habra and Fountain Valley, while they are pretty expensive, the prices are nothing compared to the rest of the county. Both are close to tons of entertainment and fun.

[xJanx]

Originally Posted by Charles

I try to spend less than $9 for a haircut. The only difference between a $9 and a $29 haircut is $20.

wel obviously yoo dont know what an advanced beauty therapist is do yooo? i dont think thers a single thing i do under $9 and i dont just cut hair! ud know if yoo took care of urself!!!!!!!!!!
thats y im here! i can sort ur hair problem out tho as i am qualified to use needles and work with electrical machines!!!!!!! i also do herbal medicines, and im a reflexologist and can work in hospitals! aswel as the basic and advanced beauty proceedures! such as skin tag removal, nails, eye treatments, all waxing, galvanic treatments, faradic treatments i could go on forever!!!!!!
al i do is cut hair...phfftt wat do yoo no...nothing! so before tryna make me feel lyk all ican do is cut hair! do your research and go to a salon and get someone like me to sort your face out!!!!!!!!!!

[Donna7]

Originally Posted by xJanx

im new to this so i dont know what to put really!
im a 19year old female from england and its always been my dream to live in california or florida!
ive heard the O.C is very expensive to live but i have my heart set on it and want to do it whilest im young!
im an advanced beauty therapist and im currently studying more courses such as holistic courses and business and physcology whilest i gain more salon work experience! ( ive already had 3 years salon experience! )
i was thinking of continuing my studies in england for a few years and then maybe getting a job in the O.C and move with my partner! and then maybe opening a business out there!
one thing i know is, in england beauty therapists arent very highly paid, and im asuming its the same in america and i understand it wont just happen like THAT!
but i just want to know... is it an unrealistic goal or do i have a chance???
thanks 4 all advice given
xxxx

I was 19 years old when I moved to OC California - sight unseen. In fact, I didn't even know that I was heading to CA, just headed towards the West, drove to CA from NE OH, and looked on the map, and thought that OC looked good, and ended up there. Lived in Anaheim for a few years then headed back to NE OH to finish up school, get married, etc. I met a lot of great people there, found a job easily, school was so cheap back then (got free technical college training). 23+ years later, I'm looking to move back out to S. CA as a college-educated professional, wife, mom, business owner. Seriously, what do you have to lose by trying something new? As long as you have money to get out there and enough for at least a few months living expenses (rent, security deposit, vehicle if needed, food, etc.), you'll be fine.

I have no idea as to how beauty operators are paid there compared to the U.K., so maybe someone can answer that question.

As far as "realistic" goals - realism is whatever you make it. In my opinion, there's a certain window of opportunity to try different places out unless you remain single and don't have children. Once you're married and/or have children, you have to take other people's interest into consideration before making a move like moving across country or to another country. My mom made that move moving from Europe to the U.S. - didn't even know the language when she moved us to the U.S. in the late 60's.

I'm a firm believer that you can do anything that you really want to; not saying that it's easy, but it certainly can be done. Best wishes to you.

[Donna7]

Originally Posted by zenjenn

Why do you want to live in California or Florida specifically? There are many beautiful places in the United States that are much more affordable. Since you are calling it "the OC" I'm assuming your dream is based on television, since no one in Orange County actually calls it "the OC". Television is not reality.

If you want a warm climate and to live in America, there are places throughout the southwest and southeast to consider. Most cosmetologists aren't very highly paid (there are exceptions, those who work themselves up to a very upscale clientele), and your money would go a lot further in just about anyplace but California. That said, if you REALLY wanted to set up your home and business in Orange County, you could do so by working hard, living in a tiny apartment, saving enough money and working up a good enough credit to get a small business loan. And even then there is no guarantee of success, and your lifestyle would be far from glamorous. I hope you like ramen noodles!

Instead of investing yourself in a fantasy, I would advise fully exploring the reality of your options. If you do so thoroughly, I think it's unlikely you would decide that Orange County is the wisest choice. Have you even visited?

While I understand that you are trying perhaps to paint a "realistic" picture for the OP, there is no guarantee of anything in life. There is no guarantee that one will not slip in the bathtub or shower and fall, or that one will make it to work in one piece. A few months ago, one of my friend's co-workers (a 40+ year-old, single mom of 2 teen-age children) was killed in a motorcyle accident a few minutes after she left work; just got done talking with my friend before she left the office. She was sitting in traffic, rode her motorcycle to work as the weather was beautiful, waiting for the light to change, when a vehicle behind her struck her with great force, killing her instantly. My friend was devestated, couldn't believe that she was alive a few minutes earlier and now she was dead. I think that sometimes we take things too seriously, want too many guarantees in life. If the OP wants to come out to OC and see how it works out for her, I'm for all that. For those that are burned out with OC, they are free to move too. Thank God that the U.S. offers such a wide variety of diverse places for all of us.

[Donna7]

Originally Posted by xJanx

wel obviously yoo dont know what an advanced beauty therapist is do yooo? i dont think thers a single thing i do under $9 and i dont just cut hair! ud know if yoo took care of urself!!!!!!!!!!
thats y im here! i can sort ur hair problem out tho as i am qualified to use needles and work with electrical machines!!!!!!! i also do herbal medicines, and im a reflexologist and can work in hospitals! aswel as the basic and advanced beauty proceedures! such as skin tag removal, nails, eye treatments, all waxing, galvanic treatments, faradic treatments i could go on forever!!!!!!
al i do is cut hair...phfftt wat do yoo no...nothing! so before tryna make me feel lyk all ican do is cut hair! do your research and go to a salon and get someone like me to sort your face out!!!!!!!!!!

Listen, don't worry about that. There's people that spend a lot of money on skincare regimines, for example, while others use Dove soap and put vasoline on their skin. I know, for a fact, that CA is the #1 state in the nation as far as sales and services for health, wellness, skincare, beauty, etc. I've represented a health & wellness company for over 8 years now, and the sales are extraordinary in S. CA. There's plenty of people that are willing to spend big bucks to look good. Whether that's "good or bad" or irrelevant, the fact is, that there's money to be made in the beauty/wellness field.

P.S. - my former profession is accounting. I am able to make a heck of a lot more money in this field than accounting ever offered. Best wishes to you.

[xJanx]

Originally Posted by Donna7

Listen, don't worry about that. There's people that spend a lot of money on skincare regimines, for example, while others use Dove soap and put vasoline on their skin. I know, for a fact, that CA is the #1 state in the nation as far as sales and services for health, wellness, skincare, beauty, etc. I've represented a health & wellness company for over 8 years now, and the sales are extraordinary in S. CA. There's plenty of people that are willing to spend big bucks to look good. Whether that's "good or bad" or irrelevant, the fact is, that there's money to be made in the beauty/wellness field.

P.S. - my former profession is accounting. I am able to make a heck of a lot more money in this field than accounting ever offered. Best wishes to you.

thankyou so much for your lovely positive atittude! even if i dont make it there its not the end of the world =) i can only try and be positive about it and be confident in my ability and make the most of my skills and try hard =) thanks xxxxx

[kadeadam]

I think Tampa is a more cost effective area to consider. Best bet is Riverview outside of Tampa about 5 minutes. Cost of living is nowhere near California prices. It's double over there what we pay. I'm a fan of Orange County as well as florida but i definitely found it more affordable to move to FLA and I still get a high quality of life. And i'm a 20 yr old college kid myself.

[zenjenn]

While I understand that you are trying perhaps to paint a "realistic" picture for the OP, there is no guarantee of anything in life. There is no guarantee that one will not slip in the bathtub or shower and fall, or that one will make it to work in one piece. A few months ago, one of my friend's co-workers (a 40+ year-old, single mom of 2 teen-age children) was killed in a motorcyle accident a few minutes after she left work; just got done talking with my friend before she left the office. She was sitting in traffic, rode her motorcycle to work as the weather was beautiful, waiting for the light to change, when a vehicle behind her struck her with great force, killing her instantly. My friend was devestated, couldn't believe that she was alive a few minutes earlier and now she was dead. I think that sometimes we take things too seriously, want too many guarantees in life. If the OP wants to come out to OC and see how it works out for her, I'm for all that. For those that are burned out with OC, they are free to move too. Thank God that the U.S. offers such a wide variety of diverse places for all of us.

I agree we all need to take risks in life. Educated risks. Life is too short to jump into something unprepared only to find out it was a huge waste of your time and money.

The OP is only one of many "19 yr old and female" posters that I've seen post on the California board all starry-eyed. I'm not sure what these young women are expecting from California? I am not anti-California and I think OC has a lot to offer, but I think moving ANYWHERE without it offering you something substantial (like a job offer, a school you're attending, a fiance who lives there), is short-sighted. Moving across the world based on a dream and only a dream is not taking an educated risk.

She has yet to outline the real cost-of-living, what it takes for a non-citizen to work here legally (and the consequence of being out of work), cultural differences, the logistics of living in a place with no good public transportation, or what kind of work she might qualify for if Plan A doesn't pan out.

I'm sorry, but the vast majority of 19-year-olds are not equipped for that kind of decision where they move to a different country, in an area with some of the highest cost of living in the world, and start a business with a work permit. With all due respect to the OP, I'm not seeing evidence of the kind of maturity and good sense necessary to be an exception to the rule. Maybe with a few more years of life experience and education under her belt.


How is it rude and unsupportive to suggest that the OP slow down and take things in smaller steps? Those of you who are being "supportive" are doing her the bigger disservice, I think, if she were to listen to you.

We're not talking about the reasonable risk of a freak accident - we're talking about someone walking into something unprepared and in all probability, with highly unrealistic expectations.