advice for moving on a budget?? (San Francisco, Berkeley: apartment, co-op, houses)

[codyrs1]

My name is Cody and I am planning on moving to the San Francisco area from North Carolina soon after i graduate in the spring of '08. I plan to take a year off to save money before beginning my college career.
I have reviewed some areas around the city and researched apartment prices in these areas.
My question is, what are some suggestions for how to financially "make it" in the area at first with not a lot of money and trying to find a good starter job? Are there and Co-op houses, etc..?
I realize this is a tough goal to accomplish but i would really like to achieve it if at all possible.
Suggestions, please.
thank you!

[TwinMom06]

Try to secure a job before you move out here. It might be very difficult to find a job, if you don't have previous experience. There are plenty of people with Ph.D.'s who wait tables.

Find a housing situation where you share expenses with a roommate or multiple roommates. Find out where the college students at SF State and USF live. College students seem to be able to find the best housing situations.

If you live further from downtown SF and are able to take public transportation, that will be cheaper rent.

Don't know of any co-op houses in SF, but UC Berkeley has a co-op house but you need to be affiliated with the University somehow.

Good luck.