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Old 04-05-2012, 08:20 PM
 
12 posts, read 74,102 times
Reputation: 14

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I currently live in the Southeast and work for the Navy. It's alright but it's time for a change. I just sent out some applications and got a job offer with the Air Force in Las Vegas.

I have been to Las Vegas several times so I'm somewhat familiar with the area. Never have lived in a desert before year-round. The Strip's fun to visit on occasion, but I since I'd be working and living in the northern part of the city I'd miss most of the tourists the rest of the time. Which is what I would prefer.

I'm two years out of college so I'm not making tons of money just yet. This job is $14.00 per hour for the starting wage. I have a degree directly related to the job so I'll be able to move up and make more money. Even though I'd be taking a pay cut to move to Vegas. But I'm young and don't know when else I'd ever have the chance to live in Vegas! The job I have now isn't really in my field of interest but it's a job. The Vegas job is the career field that I want to get in to.

I realize that insurance and utilities are high in Nevada. Do you think it would be a good move for me and that I'd be able to afford it? I was a college athlete with full scholarship so I don't have any student loans. And I'll pay off my 2010 car next month. Right now I only have my living expenses and my car should be reliable for some time now. So no major expenses coming up anytime soon. I'd rather live by myself in a one bedroom apartment but would consider roommates if need be.

Thanks for your advice!
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Old 04-05-2012, 10:26 PM
 
Location: Here and there, you decide.
12,908 posts, read 27,998,514 times
Reputation: 5057
Moving by yourself.. no not at that wage unless you want to live in the rougher areas
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Old 04-05-2012, 10:56 PM
 
Location: Green Valley
383 posts, read 901,282 times
Reputation: 301
I'd say go for it but look into sharing rent so you can live a little better and have a little money left for fun. You have a job lined up which is half the battle out here and its in a field you interested in which is a bonus. 14$ an hour is livable if you are not a partier and have no debt. You could also spend in one night what you make in a week if your not careful. Only you know what you can handle. I do know that I lived in a lot of different places in my twenties after college, (Boulder, Colorado, Hermosa Beach, California, and Costa Rica) and blew a lot of money and time doing it but it was all worth it. I tell all my nephews and nieces travel and live in as many places as you can while your young. It beats any education you will ever receive in school.
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Old 04-06-2012, 10:53 AM
 
1,009 posts, read 4,039,173 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MinnesotaJen View Post
sent out some applications
Include Chugach in your research.
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Old 04-06-2012, 11:45 AM
 
Location: North Las Vegas NV
499 posts, read 1,059,753 times
Reputation: 327
Quote:
Originally Posted by MinnesotaJen View Post
I currently live in the Southeast and work for the Navy. It's alright but it's time for a change. I just sent out some applications and got a job offer with the Air Force in Las Vegas.

I have been to Las Vegas several times so I'm somewhat familiar with the area. Never have lived in a desert before year-round. The Strip's fun to visit on occasion, but I since I'd be working and living in the northern part of the city I'd miss most of the tourists the rest of the time. Which is what I would prefer.

I'm two years out of college so I'm not making tons of money just yet. This job is $14.00 per hour for the starting wage. I have a degree directly related to the job so I'll be able to move up and make more money. Even though I'd be taking a pay cut to move to Vegas. But I'm young and don't know when else I'd ever have the chance to live in Vegas! The job I have now isn't really in my field of interest but it's a job. The Vegas job is the career field that I want to get in to.

I realize that insurance and utilities are high in Nevada. Do you think it would be a good move for me and that I'd be able to afford it? I was a college athlete with full scholarship so I don't have any student loans. And I'll pay off my 2010 car next month. Right now I only have my living expenses and my car should be reliable for some time now. So no major expenses coming up anytime soon. I'd rather live by myself in a one bedroom apartment but would consider roommates if need be.

Thanks for your advice!
Since you are single, I would consider a house with a roommate. Rents are high here unless you want to live close to Nellis. I have seen one bedroom around Nellis for around $550.00 but not good area. The electric rates average $.12per kwh and gas is $.68 per therm. You should not have any problem affording to live here if you maintain a reasonable budget for extracurricular activities.
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Old 04-07-2012, 12:00 AM
 
2,700 posts, read 4,939,252 times
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If he is a Federal Govt employee he will have good benefits..And could probably make it by himself and not need a roommate....

If he is full time, which I am assuming if he is willing to move all that way, and some OT he won't be doing badly....Just have to watch how much he blows on entertainment.....
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Old 04-07-2012, 07:13 AM
 
12 posts, read 74,102 times
Reputation: 14
Quote:
Originally Posted by costaricageorge View Post
I'd say go for it but look into sharing rent so you can live a little better and have a little money left for fun. You have a job lined up which is half the battle out here and its in a field you interested in which is a bonus. 14$ an hour is livable if you are not a partier and have no debt. You could also spend in one night what you make in a week if your not careful. Only you know what you can handle. I do know that I lived in a lot of different places in my twenties after college, (Boulder, Colorado, Hermosa Beach, California, and Costa Rica) and blew a lot of money and time doing it but it was all worth it. I tell all my nephews and nieces travel and live in as many places as you can while your young. It beats any education you will ever receive in school.
Thanks for your advice! Yes, I do have a federal job lined up. Vegas is a fun city, but I would never consider moving there if a job wasn't waiting for me. And it's in the career field that I wanted all along. Which is worth it to take a paycut initially if it's a job I actually look forward to everyday. The job I have now I got right out of college. I was a bit too quick to accept the position and basically accepted it because I thought it would have been my only job offer. Which turns out I had several other offers after I already accepted and signed on for this job. Hindsight's 20/20 I guess.... I don't have debt and while I like to cut loose at times, I'm not a heavy partier. That's good advice for your nieces and nephews. If you get the opportunity take it!

Quote:
Originally Posted by ft_chief View Post
Since you are single, I would consider a house with a roommate. Rents are high here unless you want to live close to Nellis. I have seen one bedroom around Nellis for around $550.00 but not good area. The electric rates average $.12per kwh and gas is $.68 per therm. You should not have any problem affording to live here if you maintain a reasonable budget for extracurricular activities.

Thanks for your help! But I probably would prefer to live close to Nellis and not actually around the Strip/Downtown. In my line of work I tend to work a lot of irregular hours and would prefer to be close to base. No 9:00-5:00 schedule for me. I'm a civilian so I can't live in base housing either. The Strip's always there so I can head over there when I want to. But I'll be sure to save up some money for the extracurricular activities!

Quote:
Originally Posted by SoCalCpl2 View Post
If he is a Federal Govt employee he will have good benefits..And could probably make it by himself and not need a roommate....

If he is full time, which I am assuming if he is willing to move all that way, and some OT he won't be doing badly....Just have to watch how much he blows on entertainment.....
Yes, I am a federal employee and will keep working for the military. I'm also a woman so I'd be a single female moving to Vegas by myself. The pay in my line of work isn't all that great. But since I have a full-time permanent position I have good health, dental and a retirement plan. Although I'm young, healthy and single so I haven't had to use my insurance much. Which I have no complaints there. I'll see if I can swing it without a roommate. Right now where I live I'm paying about $600.00 per month for rent and utilities combine. But I also live by myself in an unnecessarily large apartment Thanks for your help!

Last edited by MinnesotaJen; 04-07-2012 at 07:25 AM..
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Old 04-07-2012, 12:37 PM
 
15,856 posts, read 14,479,382 times
Reputation: 11948
Would they be paying for you to move? The pay seems marginal but survivable. An issue would be that you probably could get an apt for the rent your paying now, but that's toward the lower end. Also from what I've heard, that part of town (near Nellis) isn't the best neighborhood.

Will you have a car?
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Old 04-07-2012, 01:01 PM
 
Location: Sunrise
10,864 posts, read 16,994,497 times
Reputation: 9084
Quote:
Originally Posted by BBMW View Post
Would they be paying for you to move? The pay seems marginal but survivable. An issue would be that you probably could get an apt for the rent your paying now, but that's toward the lower end. Also from what I've heard, that part of town (near Nellis) isn't the best neighborhood.

Will you have a car?

I wouldn't live within 1/2 a mile in any direction of Nellis Blvd. And I'd prefer to be at least two miles east of it. With an income of $2000/mo, there are plenty of nice $800/mo houses for rent east of Sloan that are less than 10 minutes from the base. And it's hard to complain about the neighborhoods east of Sloan. Probably the best bang for the buck in the Valley.
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Old 04-07-2012, 01:51 PM
 
Location: Jersey City, NJ
638 posts, read 2,244,111 times
Reputation: 431
I'd say go for it. You only live once and it sounds like once you are in your new position the sky is the limit. When I first moved to Vegas several years ago I was making $12.50 an hour and I was able to live on my own. Not the best apartment, but I was safe and happy. However... on a tight budget. I think you can do it! Listen to the advice people give you about living close to Nellis. Its sort of a depressing area.
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