Moving from Arkansas, considering Austin. (cheap apartments, rental, loans)

[88z]

Hi everyone,

A little about myself..

I currently live in Arkansas, halfway through college, considering moving from this stagnant swamp.

From what I've read, Austin sounds like a pretty rad place even though I've never been. My current yearly income is around 12k and I intend on going back to college. Having never been there, I'm curious as to what I should expect as far as where I can afford living. Anyone have any information about cheap apartments or where to look for a place to live? Please exclude anywhere likely to result in me being robbed, raped, or beaten. :]

Thanks in advance!

[Trainwreck20]

12k won't get you far. I lived as a waiter for several years on 15-18k, but that was a while back. If you are in the sub-20k range when you get here, you will:
- need a roomate (or multiple roomates);
- need loans to continue college;
- better have a paid for car; and
- not mind the 'bohemian' life

Any idea on what college you will be going to? ACC, St. Eds, UT, Concorida, etc?

[88z]

Yeah, I figured that I'd need roommate(s) and I already use loans to pay for college. I will have paid car, though. And as far as not minding the Bohemian life I'm used to living like a pauper so no biggie.

I'm thinking U of T, but I'm still researching.

Another question, how bicycle friendly is Austin?

[Trainwreck20]

If you are going to go to UT, then an apartment or house rental scenario in Hyde park works well. That area is very easy to bike around and get to campus, plus the only mass transit that is somewhat effective is the UT shuttle system. Outside of the campus area and the area directly north (Hyde park, et al), the city proper can be very difficult to cycle around. Definitely mtn biking so you can stay off the narrow roads. The outside the city proper, there are tons of cyclist who do it for health, not transportation....

[Mike78613]

We hire some @ $12.00 hr and theyown an apartment.
As mentioned above, make sure you have no payments (aka* car loans ect)

[88z]

Hire some what?

Employment is another thing I was wondering about. I'm kind of leaving it up to Monster.com and Careerbuilder.com to take care of that.

[Mike78613]

Originally Posted by 88z

Hire some what?

Employment is another thing I was wondering about. I'm kind of leaving it up to Monster.com and Careerbuilder.com to take care of that.

Common sense. "Employees"

Both monster & careerbuilder are head hunters. Some get jobs that way, but the BEST way is to grab the local newspaper and look. Then fax or mail out your resume .

Check out Austin 360: Where Austin, Texas, lives on the Web and look under job section.