19 yr old male moving to Los Angeles, $2500 saved any suggestions? (place to live, place)

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by barbieart

What type of artist are you? If you're truly talented and strong willed you can make it on any amount of money here. The negative responses you're getting are from the one's that moved without a plan and are now suffering the consequences.

And he doesn't have a plan. What makes you think he does. He has the possibliity of a job, maybe not even full time at a company (upscale retail) and no other plans, no car, no nothing. He knows absolutely nada about so Calif and is 19. You call that a plan???

Nita

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by mp3108r

You do have to be talented in CA. I don't know about the degree. I never had one and got along pretty well in SOCA for 40 years. The problem right now is the economy. However, that may make it easier to find someplace to live. You may not find someplace to work.

If I were young, had a clean record, I would apply for city or county job. Fire Dept. Police Dept. Most of those jobs only require a GED. Keep in mind a police officer in LA right now makes about $75,000 a year before overtime. Work 30 years and retire at almost full pay. Tell me what college job gives you that benefit.

Retire and leave the city

you hit the nail on the head, 40 years ago;; today is totally different and as for applying with the city, do you have any idea how long it takes to get those jobs if you can even get one. Do you have any idea how many applicants they get and do you realize many that apply already have degrees and I don't mean GEDs or high school deplomas? I will add something else, police do not start at anywhere near $75,000 per year..

Again, you are painting the picture of what things were like in the last certury, not today..

Nita

[sunkizz4u]

Stay home until you earn $5500 to move

[chaotix]

Originally Posted by Hutch323

The move is coming close. Any last minute, useful advice? Thanks.

The overwhelming majority of the people on this thread has advised against this move, it seems you are bent on going, so there is really nothing else to add as you will learn the hard way. It is possible that you will make it but the probability is very small. Stay focused.

Lots of luck!

[mlb]

19 years old? I might've done the same. I left Wisconsin at age 22 for the Bay area - but I had family (a sister) nearby for emergencies and laundry - and just for connection - very key in my opinion. I only had 300 dollars in my pocket.

But that was over 34 years ago. Things are waaay different now in California.

Matter of fact - I left California almost 20 years ago with the spouse I found in LA. He was a native - and he couldn't wait to leave.

But that was different - we were adults and needed stability - a stability LA could not offer us.

But you're 19? Maybe a couple more bucks (like over $5000) in your pocket just to get the taste of "freedom".

I wish you safety and luck.

[uptown_urbanist]

He doesn't have a plan, or at least not much of one. The negative response isn't just people trying to squash someone's dreams; it's just people trying to at least give him a reality check so he knows what he's getting into.

My biggest advice: put enough aside so that if it doesn't work out you can afford to move on elsewhere (home?). Stick it in a savings account or somewhere and don't touch it, except to add to it if things do work out well.

[mp3108r]

[quote=nmnita;12318268]And he doesn't have a plan. What makes you think he does. He has the possibliity of a job, maybe not even full time at a company (upscale retail) and no other plans, no car, no nothing. He knows absolutely nada about so Calif and is 19. You call that a plan???

Nita[/quote

So, who has a plan at 19? The only problem I see is there are some really bad places in SOCA. Just have to be careful where you travel in the area.

[ZenMaster2008]

Originally Posted by mp3108r

So, who has a plan at 19? The only problem I see is there are some really bad places in SOCA. Just have to be careful where you travel in the area.

Agreed that most 19 yr olds don't have a plan. However, if one plans on moving across the country with $2,500 they definitely need one. I've met plent of extremely smart teens with ambitions to do things and they usually ended up not doing them at 19 but later because they had a plan that involved many years of preparation.

[nmnita]

[quote=mp3108r;12334847]

Originally Posted by nmnita

And he doesn't have a plan. What makes you think he does. He has the possibliity of a job, maybe not even full time at a company (upscale retail) and no other plans, no car, no nothing. He knows absolutely nada about so Calif and is 19. You call that a plan???

Nita[/quote

So, who has a plan at 19? The only problem I see is there are some really bad places in SOCA. Just have to be careful where you travel in the area.

I was referring to the poster that claimed the guy did have a plan. Plus you referred to things like apply with the LAPD or the Fire Dept and made comments about $75,000 a year. All this does is give false hope to someone who needs to be a little more realistic. You mentioned getting jobs with the police dept with only a GED. This just simply does not happen. I know several who are either Police officers or fire fighters in and around the So Ca area. Not one of them has only a GED. Most have college educations or AAs at least.

You made a move, many years ago, this kid is talking about now, with nothing going for him. No money, bad economy, knows nothing about Los Angeles, etc. Whether you are 19 or 39 you don't make a move like this without a plan. I might add, many 19 year olds do have a plan. It's called stay at home til you are financually stable, continue your education or develop skills that will assure you a future..

Nita

[Hutch323]

Been in Los Angeles for about a month now and love it! Thanks for the advice everyone.