Is six months salary enough? (Eugene, Donald: apartment, rental, how much)

[pavs]

I'd like to return to Oregon as this is where I grew up. I love it so much that I spend every vacation here. I'm 43, single, could live anywhere in the state. My background is in mental health, I've been a case manager in community mental health for five years. Is six month salary enough to keep me floating until I find a job? I'm thinking six months should surely be enough, but I suppose the locals know better. I'm 43, female, and have no children. It may or may not make a difference, but I am also a licensed foster care provider in my state, and would like to eventually be a foster parent in Oregon as well.

Any thoughts? I'm serious about going home, but if six months salary isn't enough, I'll wait a bit longer.

Thanks

[oregonwoodsmoke]

I'd say it depends upon how much the salary is that you have saved up.

If you are unemployed and moving from out of state, you might have some difficulties finding a place to rent. Again, some landlords would take you but that would depend upon how much was in the savings account. There is a lot of difference between the six month's salary of a part time store clerk and the six month's savings of a cardiac-surgeon.

[bler144]

Have you already done some evaluation of career opportunities (number/frequency of positions, salary offered vs. local cost of living, etc.)?

I know people employed in your field, but I don't know it well enough to say what sort of churn or demand there would be for your services.

[Billy_J]

I would live "on the cheap" until you find a good job. Maybe find a roommate situation which would be much less than rent - try craigslist.org. If you have a lot of "stuff", maybe place it in a storage locker as well, then you can do the roommate thing (renting just one room), or find a studio apartment, either of which would be much less rent.

Then find a job, any job - McDonalds or whatever - part time and/or weekends. Then you would have a little income for now and could job hunt on weekdays when not working.

[pavs]

Thanks for all of the responses, and for being so friendly with the responses. I do know that turnover in my field is fair, but I'm also willing to take a lesser paying job. My plan is to finish my masters degree, also.

As for the rental, I'm hoping it won't be too hard. I think that possibly buying a small RV and setting it up in a park somwhere until I find a job would be the best idea. This would allow me to apply for jobs anywhere in the state and then just move near the job when I get one.

I would definitely take a throwaway or temporary job until I can get back into my field. Are jobs like that more plentiful?

Again, thanks so much. No one is saying "don't come, there are no jobs" like they were a few years ago, so maybe it's more doable now than it was then.

[Metlakatla]

I rented in Eugene for awhile recently, and so did my adult son. Neither of us had any problem whatsoever finding a decent rental from a dista







I recently rented in Eugene for awhile and had no problem finding a decent rental from a distance. I don't know about jobs in your particular field, but I think you'll be able to find something. You can do better than McD's for temporary employment, I'm sure.

[pavs]

Thank you very much, Metlakatla, I am starting to feel even more positive that I was before

[Metlakatla]

LOL, something obviously happened to my previous post. I think I started it and then started it over but didn't erase what I'd started.

I don't know much about jobs in your field, but I've heard it's fairly easy to get on here:

http://www.lookingglass.us/employment/

[pavs]

That is so odd that you posted this link. I grew up in foster care, Looking Glass Shelter Home on River Road was the last place I lived while living in Oregon. It is the reason that I now work with youths in foster care and am a foster parent now. I've always wondered if they would be keen on hiring an old "alumni".

[Billy_J]

Originally Posted by pavs

That is so odd that you posted this link. I grew up in foster care, Looking Glass Shelter Home on River Road was the last place I lived while living in Oregon. It is the reason that I now work with youths in foster care and am a foster parent now. I've always wondered if they would be keen on hiring an old "alumni".

I should think that would be a plus (so long as you met their basic requirements). And it sure could come in handy if a kid started giving you flack about how "you don't understand what it is like to be a foster kid"!