Suggestions for moving to Seattle? (Vancouver, Olympia: apartment, rental, credit card)

[FindingMyRoost]

Hi there, I live in Minnesota and am turning 21 soon. I have yet to move out of the tiny town I have lived in most of my life and have been staying with family for the last 3 years. However, I HATE it here. My friends are long gone and I want to get out. I'm going to be getting my driver's licence over the summer and really want to move to the Seattle area by the end of the year. I have only had one job in the past - I've been working at this gas station for three years, but I did wash dishes back when I was in middle school for the school.

I want to know what some suggestions are for somebody like me who has never lived by them-self before. I have a little over 10k saved up. I do know somebody out in that area, but I am unwilling to move in with their parents (they are 22 and haven't moved out). I've been looking at various apartment websites, but I am really nervous about finding a decent place to live as well as not really being able to check the place out in person. Do I have enough saved up if I want to move later in the year? Am I pressing my luck with only having one job reference?

The last three years I have been dreaming of moving out there, I've just been terrified to leave what I have always known. To be honest, I can picture myself just picking up and getting out by the end of the week - only problem at the moment would be transportation.

[homesinseattle]

I remember when I was 21 and came to Seattle. I had $200 and a dream. With $10K, you are in pretty good shape. If you don't have much debt and are flexible about work, this age is the time to dream. 25 years later, I'm still here.

[FindingMyRoost]

Originally Posted by homesinseattle

I remember when I was 21 and came to Seattle. I had $200 and a dream. With $10K, you are in pretty good shape. If you don't have much debt and are flexible about work, this age is the time to dream. 25 years later, I'm still here.

I don't really have any debt. Admittedly, I just finished high school. I had some very bad teenage years and my mother wasn't very helpful in the process. I've never had a credit card of any sort, but I have been paying my grandparents (the family who let me live with them) rent for a good portion of the time I have been living here. As for work, I am a fairly fast, hands on learner. My coworkers seem to really like me and since I lack a social life I am always open to filling in when others can't.

[homesinseattle]

Rooms in shared houses are always a great way to get started. Here are today's ads on Craigslist: seattle housing: rooms & shares - craigslist

[DevanXL]

What plans do you have coming into the area? Furthering your education? This is an expensive area to live if you do not have a formal trade. Also I would look outside the city of Seattle at first to live.

[slan490]

I think you're on the right track!

What are your interests. If you still like the small town or country feel of MN but just want out of the "same town" feel, then Olympia, North Bend, Snohomish, and Vancouver could work well price wise.

If you have your heart set on Seattle looks towards the south end and for room shares. Make sure that your deposit is refundable and that you keep your place clean and do necessary fixes upon move out and you'll likely get it all back, which can allow you to try a place out for 6 months and then move on if need be.

Good luck!

[FindingMyRoost]

Originally Posted by homesinseattle

Rooms in shared houses are always a great way to get started. Here are today's ads on Craigslist: seattle housing: rooms & shares - craigslist

Thank you for the link!

Originally Posted by DevanXL

What plans do you have coming into the area? Furthering your education? This is an expensive area to live if you do not have a formal trade. Also I would look outside the city of Seattle at first to live.

I want to eventually get into law enforcement. Where I live there isn't a lot of opportunities to do so.
To be honest, I really don't want to be in the heart of Seattle - I think it would be too much of a culture shock for me. I just wasn't really sure how to phrase it in the first post.

Originally Posted by slan490

I think you're on the right track!

What are your interests. If you still like the small town or country feel of MN but just want out of the "same town" feel, then Olympia, North Bend, Snohomish, and Vancouver could work well price wise.

If you have your heart set on Seattle looks towards the south end and for room shares. Make sure that your deposit is refundable and that you keep your place clean and do necessary fixes upon move out and you'll likely get it all back, which can allow you to try a place out for 6 months and then move on if need be.

Good luck!

I just have a craving for something more than a tiny town with less than 500 people where every last person knows your business. There is nothing in this town. People even make bets on how long until the post office decides to leave. If you want anything you have own a vehicle and drive out of town - which hasn't been an option for me.

Otherwise, I have interest of mainly walking and using the bus to get where I have to go.


Thank you all for the advice!!

[mike62pp3]

I moved to Seattle when I was 20 and had $100, a moped, and my bed. I moved to go to school here and was able to work remotely from my previous job doing web design/dev. Since school covered rent I eventually found a freelance gig to pay for groceries and other bills. It wasn't easy, but I got by.

My two cents: I would highly, highly recommend making a plan for moving here. Without one, you open yourself up to a lot risks: not finding a job, running out of money, using all of your savings, etc. I've had a lot of friends who moved here from small towns, desperately, and eventually moved back home because they ran out of money. Whether that be applying for jobs, finding roommates, enrolling into CC, create an estimated budget, make a plan. Seattle has a high cost of living, even in the Greater Seattle area, so just finding any job may not be enough. Roommates will be your best option as most places require rental history and possible income requirements. Roommates are also a great entry into the Seattle culture.

You are young. Be smart. Work hard. Have fun. You'll do fine here

[FindingMyRoost]

Originally Posted by mike62pp3

I moved to Seattle when I was 20 and had $100, a moped, and my bed. I moved to go to school here and was able to work remotely from my previous job doing web design/dev. Since school covered rent I eventually found a freelance gig to pay for groceries and other bills. It wasn't easy, but I got by.

My two cents: I would highly, highly recommend making a plan for moving here. Without one, you open yourself up to a lot risks: not finding a job, running out of money, using all of your savings, etc. I've had a lot of friends who moved here from small towns, desperately, and eventually moved back home because they ran out of money. Whether that be applying for jobs, finding roommates, enrolling into CC, create an estimated budget, make a plan. Seattle has a high cost of living, even in the Greater Seattle area, so just finding any job may not be enough. Roommates will be your best option as most places require rental history and possible income requirements. Roommates are also a great entry into the Seattle culture.

You are young. Be smart. Work hard. Have fun. You'll do fine here

Thank you for the advice! I'm starting to look into a larger area than just Seattle now after seeing the costs. My big plans I guess have been pretty simple: find a place to live, move, find a job or two, live well within my means so I can save up and ensure I'm well on my feet before trying to become a police officer.

[CrazyDonkey]

You're just turning 21 and just graduated high school (GED?). Seattle is the most educated city in the country. Be smart - get yourself into community/junior college next fall and get a skill and AA degree. Learn how to drive, establish credit, and get landlord references.

Without a job, $10,000 will last you less than six months.