Budget for living in Northern VA with no full time job

[destinedtodave]

Cheers!

By the way, the info on this thread about Fairfax County libraries was especially helpful. They were a life-saver back when I was applying for jobs. Many times it was just nice to get out of the house and have somewhere free to go. You can only drink so many lattes.

[Mike10]

Originally Posted by decafdave

Now that I have a good job and have been living here since October, I'd like to follow up and share what was accurate and what wasn't.

I actually didn't try hard to follow the budget when I first moved here in October. From about week 2 until week 6 (when I got the job offer I took), I was averaging about 1.5 interviews a week. So being hopeful, I didn't have the motivation to really pinch my pennies. Of course this could have backfired on me if I never got an offer (I'd probably be only a couple grand from being broke by now).

Anyways, here are some observations of how accurate the budget projection was. It might be useful to others thinking about making a move. I'll try and count only the first 6 weeks that I hadn't accepted a job offer.

Accurate(ish)
-start-up costs
-utilities
-car insurance (actually $81 so I lucked out)

Inaccurate
-rent (I managed to find a group house on Craigs next to a metro station for $400)
-cell phone (it turns out my parents switched carriers before I made the move so no add-a-line 9.99)
-food (it was at least $300 a month, but this was an area that I didn't try too hard to control costs)

Wildly inaccurate
-gas (I averaged about $200, and that was BEFORE i started driving to work everyday)
-furniture (the house I moved into was completely furnished-including my room)
-misc (there have been so many random expenses such as car repair. To be fair, many have not been necessities. But budgeting $100/month would have been more accurate).

Where'd u end up working and what are you doing? Congrats!

[Caladium]

Very cool to hear that you scored a sweet rental deal like that. I shared a house with friends when I was in my 20s and loved it, so I'm glad to hear about people trying that route. It's a good way to have some friends when you're new to an area, too. Welcome to VA and gad things are going well for you.

[destinedtodave]

Originally Posted by Mike10

Where'd u end up working and what are you doing? Congrats!

Thanks! I got a job doing research/development and programming work for an insurance company. It turned out to be in Chevy Chase, MD It's a little bit out of the way taking the Metro since you have to transfer at Metro Center so I've just been driving.

Originally Posted by Caladium

Very cool to hear that you scored a sweet rental deal like that. I shared a house with friends when I was in my 20s and loved it, so I'm glad to hear about people trying that route. It's a good way to have some friends when you're new to an area, too. Welcome to VA and gad things are going well for you.

Yeah it's a pretty sweet set-up for now. My roommates and I are all different ages but I don't mind. Some friends of mine from college that live with their parents in MD and I are vaguely talking about getting a group house somewhere. But it's mostly the kinda thing you say after a few drinks..."we should totally all get a place" type of thing lol.

[hubey21]

You better plan to save some more. 1200 is something you'll pay in Manassas (as far west as you can go and as poor as you can get as far as living outside of D.C. (they're not THAT poor but you get my point)). I'd plan for 1500 (w/utilities depending on where you go) minimum if you're living alone. definitely plan to find roommates or live very far away from D.C./work outside of D.C.

[destinedtodave]

Originally Posted by hubey21

You better plan to save some more. 1200 is something you'll pay in Manassas (as far west as you can go and as poor as you can get as far as living outside of D.C. (they're not THAT poor but you get my point)). I'd plan for 1500 (w/utilities depending on where you go) minimum if you're living alone. definitely plan to find roommates or live very far away from D.C./work outside of D.C.

I never considered living alone-I actually found a place on Craigslist for $400/month that's a 10 minute walk from the Metro in Vienna. Roommates included, of course.

People pay that much out in Manassas?!

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by decafdave

People pay that much out in Manassas?!

You might pay $1200 for some of the nicer 1BR units but probably closer to $1000 overall. If you're paying less than four figures anywhere in the Northern Virginia area, the best scenario is that you're in for a long commute to the typical job centers. The worst case scenario is that your property and/or community leaves something to be desired.

[hubey21]

Yes and that's the cheap side. I had a co worker paying something like 3000 for 3 bedrooms and splitting it with his gf. No matter where you go, someone living in a one bedroom gets the shaft as far as price goes. Having a roommate/bf/gf/friend is always better than living alone (money-wise).

[indiko]

Hey Dave,

Thanks for posting and for the update. It was some very interesting reading. I don't think many would follow up like you did...it's no wonder you found a place AND a job!