Might need to move. Texas? (Dallas, Irving: 2015, job outlook, schools)

[clintonfaber]

I've done a lot of different things. Painting. Server. Event style catering. Resurfacing tennis courts. Light electrical.

[clintonfaber]

Irving is just a jumping off point because we have friends that live there. It's not necessarily where we will stay.

[Beaching]

Do you have any licensing in any special area or even a CDL?
CDL = Commercial Drivers License

CDL drivers are in high demand even in the DFW area and the pay is going to be a bit higher than $2k per month.

Welding? That is a high demand job in the DFW area and the pay is very good! There is a school in Oklahoma that I think is 18 months and you can even work while going thru the program. This might be something that you should probably consider heavily as the cost of living in OK is going to be lower than DFW while you are going to school.

[clintonfaber]

Something to consider tho I'm rather uncomfortable with the idea of driving a large truck.

[JH6]

We moved from Buffalo to Austin with nothing basically but a job.

Both myself and my wife doubled our income within 5 years.

You basically need to double your income to afford a decent house and decent standard of life.

Stuff costs more than Buffalo, but some expenses are cheaper.

Overall we enjoy a better qualify of life, and nicer weather.

If you do work outside, you need to understand the Texas heat will kill you. We are lucky to both work office type jobs, so we are in the AC most of the day.

If I were in your shoes, I would look to be an apprentice Electrican, or Plumber. Those trades are well respected and you can make good money if you put effort into it. Also you won't rack up a ton of money on university loans, like we did.

[thenewtexan]

If you need the cheapest place in Greater Houston, try the Houston sub forum. The cheapest place in Texas would probably be the Harlingen-Brownsville area.

[clintonfaber]

I'd much rather venture into technology for the long run. My dad's an electrician it's not exactly what I want for my life.

I'm curious to how you personally swung college while living in Texas. Did you live in a apartment?

[ChristieP]

Originally Posted by thenewtexan

If you need the cheapest place in Greater Houston, try the Houston sub forum. The cheapest place in Texas would probably be the Harlingen-Brownsville area.

Cheap, yes.
Good jobs for someone who doesn't speak Spanish, no. Anything in the service industry there is going to require someone bilingual.
And the Rio Grande Valley has historically had the highest unemployment rate in Texas, usually near 10%.

[Beaching]

Originally Posted by clintonfaber

I'm curious to how you personally swung college while living in Texas. Did you live in a apartment?

First year, commuted from home
Second year, dorm on campus
Third year and on, apartment

Then again, when I started college it was $3 per semester hour for Texas public colleges AND I had a job making good money for that time that was well above min wage. Those jobs no longer exist, well, they do but they are all now full timers and pay is stagnant with what it was in the late 80's.

Sadly, my kid is out of state for college at a large state flagship. Her OOS tuition is LESS than some friends are paying for in-state for a Texas public. The whole "costs more for OOS" is not always true.

[Beaching]

Originally Posted by clintonfaber

Something to consider tho I'm rather uncomfortable with the idea of driving a large truck.

UPS & FedEx drivers need a CDL but driving a delivery truck.
All kinds of jobs for people with a CDL that do not require one to drive an 18-wheeler.

Look at UPS now for temp holiday help. They have large distribution centers here in the Dallas area. A lot of their temp help can end up working full time.