Moving with $6,000 and no job (Seattle, Shoreline: sales, lease, credit)

[uclabruins]

Originally Posted by electroprince

A hostel, duh. I was so focused on a hotel. That's a good idea, I'm just worried about people stealing stuff.

can always get storage..usually hostels have a place to store your belongings....yea craigslist works as well. when i made my move, i paid 3 months of rent up front to a subletter on cl...great place/location

[rainierman]

Make a down payment on a crappy $80,000 house in smelly Tacoma, WA. Mortgage would be cheaper than rent. Get a job in anything. Sell the house at a decent profit when the economy comes back. $$$$$$$$

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

Originally Posted by rainierman

Make a down payment on a crappy $80,000 house in smelly Tacoma, WA. Mortgage would be cheaper than rent. Get a job in anything. Sell the house at a decent profit when the economy comes back. $$$$$$$$

Boy you make that sound so appealing.

[pilgrim7578]

Thats IF the economy comes back...

[electroprince]

Originally Posted by evanostrand

I went the hostel route when i came here; i was able to do some work for them in exchange for room and board. Yes, i had to share a room with 2-3 other people but i didn't have many belongings; definitely nothing worth stealing and they have giant storage boxes made of plywood that you can put your stuff in and put a lock on it, if you wish to. i wouldn't actually trade that experience for the world either, i have never had so much fun as when i was there!! hehe.

Yup, that settles it then. I'm a private person, but whatever, lol. That's what I'm gonna do. Hostel it up and then get a place off craigs list. Selling my car, so I'll have even more money. Should have no problems ..

[rainierman]

Good plan, good luck! I suggest looking around colleges and roommate with the students, split a house or apartment down to $200-$300/month.

My idea's not exactly the romantic route:
I arrived to SF from Tacoma with about $10,000. Spent the first 3 months in hotels/hostels with europeans, got old really quick, then I bought a 375sq ft studio for $88,000 in SF's Tenderloin district (drug/hooker central) at age 23 and got a job washing and fixing golf carts at $8/hr. Smoked menthols with off-duty strippers in the afternoon. 2 years later, sold the studio in 10 days. I was 25, unemployed, with $100,000 in profit from the sell, moved back to the Pac NW, called a stockbroker, fortune grew to $400,000 in 10 years, then this recession hit, now $300,000 today, and the beauty is- my first $10,000 is still there. I own 2 homes, the fancy one in downtown Portland where I live, and a piece o' trash in Tacoma I rent out as a cash cow. The trash house is nearly paid off.

[Anders15]

How competitive are retail jobs in Seattle? What do most renters in Seattle check for when it comes to history? I see a lot of people use craigslist in Seattle to find roommates so there are truly no horror stories?

I know the point in this thread is to tell everyone it is DOABLE but I don't want to get too complacent. Besides money, has there been any huge risks or close encounters and bad experiences you've had so I will know what signs of trouble to look out for?

[Waianaegirl]

I moved here from Denver 6 years ago. I came 3 times to visit before I made the move. Always in the Summertime. I moved here in January, and it was a big downer. Seattle is beautiful in the summer, but the other seasons can be depressing. You say you need to leave the Denver heat, well, it is currently 90. At 8pm. We do have days and weeks in the 100's, 90's and 80's. But it takes longer to get that way, and doesn't last as long as Denver.

[prettyred]

Originally Posted by kcool

Next year, ( regardless of the economy) I am selling my house, leaving my job ,selling all of the belongings, and am LEAVING. I hate the east coast and have been putting off a move for 10+ years due to fear of : not finding a job, not finding a place to live , failing, not fitting in,etc, etc. I wasted most of my life doing the "sensible" thing. Although Seattle seems exciting, I am off to Denver. I will either sink or swim. But sitting here and doing nothing is not an option anymore. I only have a 2 year degree, AND I'm 49 years old. I refuse to listen to another "voice of reason" that tells me to stay and learn to like it. The worst thing that could happen is ......... I could fail. But living a "what if " life is just too sad. Make the move.

I agree with you. I have been doing what I thought was the sensible thing. Listening to friends and family and now I feel stuck in Florida. Moved from city to city in search of jobs ...nothing so far; nearly homeless depending on the mood of the person I'm staying with.

I'm 48years old and time waits for no-one. I don't have any money, don't have a job. I came to this sight again to get encouragement. I don't have a degree, but I have skills in clerical and customer service. I'm sure someone will give me a job. Oh I'm also a african american female. Yes, I'm scared but I need to move just to keep my sanity and inspiration alive.

[AlohaHuey]

Originally Posted by prettyred

I agree with you. I have been doing what I thought was the sensible thing. Listening to friends and family and now I feel stuck in Florida. Moved from city to city in search of jobs ...nothing so far; nearly homeless depending on the mood of the person I'm staying with.

I'm 48years old and time waits for no-one. I don't have any money, don't have a job. I came to this sight again to get encouragement. I don't have a degree, but I have skills in clerical and customer service. I'm sure someone will give me a job. Oh I'm also a african american female. Yes, I'm scared but I need to move just to keep my sanity and inspiration alive.

Your job, or lack of one, does not define you as a person. Take care and best of luck. Things will work out.