Moving To Seattle, Advice Needed (Starbuck: apartment, loans, how much)

[MBrykein]

I am planning to move to Seattle.

My plan is to drive up there, after first finding a roommate on Craigslist. Then I will find a job.

I was wondering: how easy would it be for a nineteen year old male such as myself to get some sort of entry-level job, like at Starbuck's, a grocery store, or something of that sort?

Also, I'd like some suggestions on how much money I should save up. So far, I figure I need at least $2000, but probably more.

Any suggestions or advice would be welcome. That's the primary reason I'm making this thread.

[Vinylly]

Two thousand dollars will last you for about two weeks. Maybe you can find a job. What kind of education do you have? References? Job training? Skills? If you have none of these, there are hundreds of people lined up around the parking lots of Loew's and Home Depot looking for manual labor jobs. Maybe you can get in line there. If not, there is always the street corners and freeway on ramps. You could end up standing around there with a little cardboard sign.

[rabagley]

Originally Posted by MBrykein

I am planning to move to Seattle.

My plan is to drive up there, after first finding a roommate on Craigslist. Then I will find a job.

I was wondering: how easy would it be for a nineteen year old male such as myself to get some sort of entry-level job, like at Starbuck's, a grocery store, or something of that sort?

Also, I'd like some suggestions on how much money I should save up. So far, I figure I need at least $2000, but probably more.

Any suggestions or advice would be welcome. That's the primary reason I'm making this thread.

Some advice? Stay with the roommate and Starbucks job plan, but get an education before moving to Seattle. Stay in California so you get the financial benefit of in-state tuition. CSU Northridge is pretty close to Glendale and not too picky on high school grades/SAT's.

Oh, and make sure you're getting a degree in something useful. Nursing, Engineering, Computer Science, Statistics/Finance, etc. When your degree is complete, you want to be able to pay your bills.

[AlohaHuey]

That 2K will maybe cover your part of first/last security and one month of groceries/utility deposits.

Craigslist roommates are risky. Interview potential roommates first, or if possible, find a referral from someone you trust.

If you have no skills or good job references, it will be tougher to find a job. Where have you worked and can you provide employment references?

[motor80]

These people saying two grand isn't enough to move up when you're 19 don't know how it's done.

I moved here with NEGATIVE funds in my bank account (had to ask the parental units for an $800 loan) and a 20 thousand dollar school loan debt. I rented a basement apartment for $400/mo, no bed (slept on blankets on the floor) or furniture (just my computer), and found a job as a parking valet within a couple weeks. Did I live well? No. But did I starve or end up on the streets? No. Now here it is 8 years later and I'm a lead developer for my company and doing quite well for myself.

Here's the thing - you're young enough where you can do this kind of thing - no school loans, no home loans, no major debt at all. Just don't expect to be living high on the hog or to have a swank bachelor pad. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. You can easily find a job in the service sector (Starbucks, a cafe, a restaurant, parking valet, etc.). Just be prepared to be living in a house with multiple roommates and content with slinging coffee and drinking cheap beer. I look back fondly on those days and can't believe how I lived on so little. Makes me feel proud about how far I've come.

Best of luck of to you whatever you decide!

[AlohaHuey]

Originally Posted by motor80

These people saying two grand isn't enough to move up when you're 19 don't know how it's done.

I moved here with NEGATIVE funds in my bank account (had to ask the parental units for an $800 loan) and a 20 thousand dollar school loan debt. I rented a basement apartment for $400/mo, no bed (slept on blankets on the floor) or furniture (just my computer), and found a job as a parking valet within a couple weeks. Did I live well? No. But did I starve or end up on the streets? No. Now here it is 8 years later and I'm a lead developer for my company and doing quite well for myself.

Here's the thing - you're young enough where you can do this kind of thing - no school loans, no home loans, no major debt at all. Just don't expect to be living high on the hog or to have a swank bachelor pad. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. You can easily find a job in the service sector (Starbucks, a cafe, a restaurant, parking valet, etc.). Just be prepared to be living in a house with multiple roommates and content with slinging coffee and drinking cheap beer. I look back fondly on those days and can't believe how I lived on so little. Makes me feel proud about how far I've come.

Best of luck of to you whatever you decide!

I didn't see the OP referencing parents as a resource, and rents have increased considerably in eight years.

We "don't know how it's done"...well, asking parents for money is how it's done?

Even Starbuck's is gonna ask for references.

[motor80]

Originally Posted by AlohaHuey

I didn't see the OP referencing parents as a resource, and rents have increased considerably in eight years.

$2000 = 2.5 x $800

Next to mount baker lightrail station (http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/roo/2373138075.html - broken link)

[Vinylly]

There is lots of 'free' shelter available. It's just beneath I-5 between James and Madison. He should be able to stretch out his $2,000 for at least a year if he really tried. It gets kind of cold and wet in the winter though.

[SitoUK]

Originally Posted by Vinylly

There is lots of 'free' shelter available. It's just beneath I-5 between James and Madison. He should be able to stretch out his $2,000 for at least a year if he really tried. It gets kind of cold and wet in the winter though.

Not sure if I would classify this as useful advice, what I would say though, that finding room-shares remotely is never a good idea. I've lived in a fair number of shared houses in various countries and I've always made an effort to go there, have a look at the place, and most of all speak to everyone living there. It's impossible to find out in a 15min visit if it all fits but it definitely increases the chances considerably. I'd recommend you bite the bullet and stay in a cheap hostel for a few days and try and find a room while you're here. It might be a little more expensive but it might save you a lot of potential trouble in the long run.

[MBrykein]

Originally Posted by Vinylly

Two thousand dollars will last you for about two weeks. Maybe you can find a job. What kind of education do you have? References? Job training? Skills? If you have none of these, there are hundreds of people lined up around the parking lots of Loew's and Home Depot looking for manual labor jobs. Maybe you can get in line there. If not, there is always the street corners and freeway on ramps. You could end up standing around there with a little cardboard sign.

Originally Posted by Vinylly

There is lots of 'free' shelter available. It's just beneath I-5 between James and Madison. He should be able to stretch out his $2,000 for at least a year if he really tried. It gets kind of cold and wet in the winter though.

Your snarkiness is greatly appreciated.

Originally Posted by SitoUK

Not sure if I would classify this as useful advice, what I would say though, that finding room-shares remotely is never a good idea. I've lived in a fair number of shared houses in various countries and I've always made an effort to go there, have a look at the place, and most of all speak to everyone living there. It's impossible to find out in a 15min visit if it all fits but it definitely increases the chances considerably. I'd recommend you bite the bullet and stay in a cheap hostel for a few days and try and find a room while you're here. It might be a little more expensive but it might save you a lot of potential trouble in the long run.

I figured remotely finding room shares wouldn't work out. I suppose I could readjust my finances to account for staying at a hostel for a week or so -- or, hopefully, staying with someone up there that I'm at least vaguely familiar with.

The dubious part in that is being able to find a roommate in that time, especially with a job pending.

I have no job experience except running ads on Craigslist for my father's home-based appliance-selling business. Though, I do plan on getting a job here this summer. I have one not-work-related reference, but I hope to obtain more.

Thanks for the help, all.