Can a single teacher afford to relocate to Tustin area? (Santa Ana: apartments, renting)

[LivingLikeAGradStudent]

If someone is pursuing a passion and making a living at it, then who's to say that person is not "making it" because he or she doesn't own a home, or, gasp, has roommates? That's a superficial and collectively caustic way to look at things.

[oconnors]

Originally Posted by LivingLikeAGradStudent

If someone is pursuing a passion and making a living at it, then who's to say that person is not "making it" because he or she doesn't own a home, or, gasp, has roommates? That's a superficial and collectively caustic way to look at things.

Thanks! I agree. I love teaching and I would enjoy living in California for a year or two. I'm not looking to settle there or buy a house. I am young and single and so for me it is a good time to move...possibly to California.

I do understand the market for teaching positions is tough so that is something I will definitely consider before I make any decisions.

[mija N' me]

Originally Posted by LivingLikeAGradStudent

If someone is pursuing a passion and making a living at it, then who's to say that person is not "making it" because he or she doesn't own a home, or, gasp, has roommates? That's a superficial and collectively caustic way to look at things.

huh? seems to me people were rightfully encouraging yet cautioning this young person about the availability of teaching jobs and confirming that with roommates it is all quite do-able financially . . . am I missing something? who made any negative comments about having roommates or not owning a home??

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by LivingLikeAGradStudent

If someone is pursuing a passion and making a living at it, then who's to say that person is not "making it" because he or she doesn't own a home, or, gasp, has roommates? That's a superficial and collectively caustic way to look at things.

But how many people still want to be living like a grad student with roommates in an apartment when they're 40?

[Broadmoor]

The original question was "can a single teacher afford to relocate to the Tustin area?"
The answer is affirmative. Almost everyone starts out in life renting and having room mates. With time, pay raises and careful money management, we trade up to ownership when the time is right. I have a friend who did exactly what oconnors is proposing, and quite successfully. He came to Tustin many years ago as a young elementary school teacher. He started out renting an apartment with roomies and eventually bought a home by himself in a very modest part of town. By not trading up his lifestyle every time he got a raise, and managing his money very carefully, he's financially independent at a relatively young age, doesn't have to work, lives free of debt and has the means for hobbies and travel. He's one of the happiest people I've ever met, and proof it can be done.

[MisterDuke]

Originally Posted by oconnors

Thanks! I agree. I love teaching and I would enjoy living in California for a year or two. I'm not looking to settle there or buy a house. I am young and single and so for me it is a good time to move...possibly to California.

I do understand the market for teaching positions is tough so that is something I will definitely consider before I make any decisions.

I've been on hiring committees. You won't find a school that hires a teacher who will only be there a year or two.

[MisterDuke]

You might look into substitute teaching. You will still need an emergency CA credential, but it would be easier to find work as a sub. There is always a need for subs. That also makes it easier to get into the districts in Tustin, Irvine, etc.

[EricJess123]

Yess but go for Aliso Viejo!

[cityx]

[quote=killer2021;4576600]I'd hardly call, "renting an apartment with roommates" as making it.

There is nothing wrong with sharing living expenses with a responsible roomate. Guess what, married people do it all the time. As long as the individual is hardworking, is not on welfare or other public assistance, and doesn't depend on mommy and daddy, then to me, they are paying their own way in life.
In my book, that is indeed "making it".
What a sadly ignorant comment to make.

[EscapeCalifornia]

[quote=cityx;4640982]

Originally Posted by killer2021

I'd hardly call, "renting an apartment with roommates" as making it.

There is nothing wrong with sharing living expenses with a responsible roomate. Guess what, married people do it all the time. As long as the individual is hardworking, is not on welfare or other public assistance, and doesn't depend on mommy and daddy, then to me, they are paying their own way in life.
In my book, that is indeed "making it".
What a sadly ignorant comment to make.

You can't really compare being married to living with roommates. Roommates are very transient. You might get a good one, then they get a job offer in another city or they get married and they're off. Now you're left scrambling for another one or trying to pay the whole rent on your own. And you have to hope the next one doesn't rob you blind or decide to cook some meth in the kitchen. Its just sad to have to live like that much past college.