moving to colorado: low income family of four

[jazzlover]

The unemployment statistics hide some pretty unpleasant facts about the Colorado economy. First, because of Colorado's popularity with transplants--especially those with formidable job skills who can saturate the skilled job market--many Coloradans, new or old residents, are often underemployed--forced into accepting jobs below their qualifications. That means that they often have a hard time making it financially, though they are not on the unemployment rolls. It also means that those underemployed Coloradans often occupy low level jobs that would normally be available to unskilled or semi-skilled workers. The result is that Colorado--because of that, and because of Colorado's relatively high living costs--is often a pretty hostile place for entry level or unskilled workers. Even those types of workers who were born and grew up in Colorado often are forced to leave the state to find employment. In short, Colorado can be a pretty crappy place for those lacking higher level job skills or those who are low-income.

The best advice that I can give to anyone planning on relocating to Colorado is to bring one of the following (or both):

1) Money, a lot of it, and/or a substantial income from somewhere else.

2) Very formidable and marketable job skills--and a willingness to very likely be compensated less for them than one would be in many other places.

[McGowdog]

Originally Posted by jennmagi

We are a low income family... kids are 13 and 9 ...schools ...wondering if there is one place better then the other


Safe ...

employment ...places to get jobs...


Safe places to live?

This has been my observation about Colorado and perhaps elsewhere.

[lurtsman]

What does accessibility mean in the chart above?

[Snikt]

Probably being near job, the city, parks, etc.. I would think. Cheaper is living out in the boonies

[lurtsman]

That would make sense. I would've thought of that as proximity, but I suppose accessibility works also. Really it comes down to what you want proximity to. I found 2 and a half because several of the things I wanted proximity to are near the neighborhood. In my estimate, 2 and a half was great because we really shouldn't expect all 3. Unfortunately, in some parts of the country you can only pick one.

[McGowdog]

I agree that accessibility could have been linked with ammenities rather than safety.

[jennmagi]

Thank you all for the discouraging support. With the first post yes both of us were unemployed but I have since accepted a position in Keystone and will be moving there in a few days. Starting out in Employee housing and saving up to get the rest of the family there. Yes I have been following the unemployment rate and reading about the homeless rate that's going on in Colorado. There has been 4 to 5 hours a day spent on researching areas of Colorado and the things going on there, including the fraking.

We are trying to be smart about our move. As far as the housing thing goes, we are technically not getting forclosure but making the contract for deed contract null and void due to the owner's neglect to follow through on one minor thing. Okay actually two things, never gave us an inspection report on the property like it states in the contract and we found out the house has asbestos. So every winter in this house we are being poisioned by the air.

I have gotten a job and two places have already called my husband for interviews but he cant get there yet. So it wont take my husband long to find a job, his expertise is cooking and management of restaurants. As far as the children are the youngest is getting a lot better and I am not as worried as first stated. Once we get there I know the school will retest and observe him, we want a second opinion anyway. His med dr doesn't even read the reports from his therapists to see how he has improved with his behavior. The doctor just wants to keep him on meds. In a town that has limited doctors, these children need better then this.

Yes we would like to live out of the city more country living. I have been watching a few ads on places for rent that are more in the country and about in our price range. I want my own greenhouse eventually. We grow what ever vegetables we can and I bake bread daily. We try to be very environmentally friendly as much as we can and teach the children to recycle and to take care of the earth. We dream of being somewhere in Colorado that when we sit on the porch we could be looking at the mountains. These children also do not truly know what a forest looks like, and they need to experience life that is much bigger then them self.

[Colorado Rambler]

Originally Posted by suzco

From the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Unemployment Rates for States - Monthly Rankings - Seasonally Adjusted
June 2014

COLORADO is #19 with 5.5% unemployment

Keep in mind however that Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed are as varied as our amazing state. For example, Pueblo has an unemployment rate of 6.3% and the region I live in has close to 7%. Naturally, the places with the lowest unemployment also tend to be more expensive to live in. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Colorado Springs might be a possibility, but they have higher unemployment as well.

[bluebiker78]

Hi there! I agree with most of the posters who say that you should probably consider a move to another state, as CO is pretty high. If you're dead set on CO, though, I think Pueblo or S. Co Springs would probably be okay for you.

[lurtsman]

Originally Posted by Colorado Rambler

Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

I wish the owners of this site knew how to disruptive it was to the communication when links were being constantly removed. Unfortunate, because I was interested in what Colorado Rambler had to say.