Have plans to move to Austin within the next 2 Weeks from FL (Riverside: rent)

[sean2046]

22M, have a bachelor's in psych and limited work experience, mostly 4 summers of working at the Hilton Hotel. I have 12,000 saved up and need to get out of my parent's house and out of Ft. Walton Beach, FL because I feel my current environment is toxic for me and I'm stagnating here. I've looked up Austin quite a bit and am quite convinced it would be a fantastic fit for me. I love music, film, weird, entrepreneurship, I have aspirations to start my own business... I also want to live around more like-minded people so I don't have to drive 20 min - an hr to see quality friends. I'm looking to find a temporary living situation for cheap, hopefully around 400 a month, just until I get into the city and am able to find something more fitting if my living situation doesn't work out.

How does my plan sound? Would making the move with my budget and limited skill set be a big mistake? I'm afraid finding a job (I'm not picky) won't be a breeze and I might end up blowing all my savings only to have to move back in with the parents. :/ Any suggestions, encouragement, warnings, etc. from Austinites would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[Trainwreck20]

400 a month

Highly likely you will have to split rent with a roommate, you just aren't going to get anywhere even halfway decent for $400/month. That said, I suspect you can find a place to split one or two other ways for that money, just be aware that roommates can be 'toxic' too .

As for jobs - if you aren't picky and don't mind doing the waiter or hotel job for a while, then it shouldn't be THAT difficult to start getting some cash flowing, even if it isn't a professional career track type job.

[sean2046]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Highly likely you will have to split rent with a roommate, you just aren't going to get anywhere even halfway decent for $400/month. That said, I suspect you can find a place to split one or two other ways for that money, just be aware that roommates can be 'toxic' too .

As for jobs - if you aren't picky and don't mind doing the waiter or hotel job for a while, then it shouldn't be THAT difficult to start getting some cash flowing, even if it isn't a professional career track type job.

Yeah whoops forgot to include I plan to room with 1 or more people. I know I definitely can't afford to live by myself. And yeah, as long as I can find a job to get the cash coming in to be able to sustain myself while I figure out how to be self-employed or until I just find a better job then I am fine.

[EzPeterson]

+1 to Trainwreck. Finding a decent-paying service/hospitality industry job won't be too difficult. Find a $400/mo place to live might be a stretch!

Apart from maybe needing to go to $550/mo, you'll be fine.

[texxas]

Longhorn Landing is catered towards students but anyone can live there. It's on East Riverside (what Austin calls "ghetto"....uh, it kinda is though). It's $300 a month but you live with 3 random people. 4/4 though

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by sean2046

Yeah whoops forgot to include I plan to room with 1 or more people. I know I definitely can't afford to live by myself. And yeah, as long as I can find a job to get the cash coming in to be able to sustain myself while I figure out how to be self-employed or until I just find a better job then I am fine.

check craigslist for people looking for roommates. Live close to downtown, interview the roommates to make sure they know austin and seem like the type to be outgoing and find new friends.

we have a hilton here so maybe getting a job wont be too hard.

[sean2046]

Originally Posted by texxas

Longhorn Landing is catered towards students but anyone can live there. It's on East Riverside (what Austin calls "ghetto"....uh, it kinda is though). It's $300 a month but you live with 3 random people. 4/4 though

Looked into Longhorn and it sounds badddd :/ I think i'll pass lol. I can afford to pay 400/mo.

[Cbyrd]

Originally Posted by sean2046

22M, have a bachelor's in psych and limited work experience, mostly 4 summers of working at the Hilton Hotel. I have 12,000 saved up and need to get out of my parent's house and out of Ft. Walton Beach, FL because I feel my current environment is toxic for me and I'm stagnating here. I've looked up Austin quite a bit and am quite convinced it would be a fantastic fit for me. I love music, film, weird, entrepreneurship, I have aspirations to start my own business... I also want to live around more like-minded people so I don't have to drive 20 min - an hr to see quality friends. I'm looking to find a temporary living situation for cheap, hopefully around 400 a month, just until I get into the city and am able to find something more fitting if my living situation doesn't work out.

How does my plan sound? Would making the move with my budget and limited skill set be a big mistake? I'm afraid finding a job (I'm not picky) won't be a breeze and I might end up blowing all my savings only to have to move back in with the parents. :/ Any suggestions, encouragement, warnings, etc. from Austinites would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

I lived in Austin for two years at 23. Remember people generally will discourage anything in life you want to do. Never forget that.

Now after living in Austin, you'll learn two things it's small regardless of what people say. It's not really that asthetically pleasing really it's not that beautiful at all. People love Austin because it's great for Texas, but for the US it is indeed only ok. Also anywhere you go you can be happy. And finding an affordable place is most times a matter of luck you can move any where and find a hidden gem. Summers are HOT. People are transient meaning a lot of people are impermanent. You will love the winters and the constant sun, it just isn't the opportune haven people paint it as, but then again not many places are. All in all it's ok, night life is only ok. people are only kind of interesting and it feels small. I've lived in Chicago, Seattle, Phoenix and Austin.