Single mom looking for info for possible move to Pricetown/oley area. (Reading: rent)

[SugarbabyLVB]

I am a 27 yr old single mom of a 2 yr old boy and dependant on whether my ex fights me or not i may be moving to PA. I have lived in Pa once before but i am sure it has changed alot. Is there a bus that runs from The oley area to larger areas daily if so how much does it cost? I am currently unemployed so how is the job market in these areas? A family member will be watching my 2 yr old but how are daycare centers in these areas? I have been told crime is almost non-existent in these areas is this true? How much does a usual Gallon of milk run? If i move to PA and cannot find a job how are the assistance programs to help me find one? These are only some of the questions i have and i have alot of em but i a just trying to find out if it is worth the move. Right now i live in a very small town whose job opportunities have run dry pretty much and whose rent is so much that it outweighs what the actual income is, so Is it really better back in PA?

[Movin2Maine]

Originally Posted by SugarbabyLVB

I am a 27 yr old single mom of a 2 yr old boy and dependant on whether my ex fights me or not i may be moving to PA. I have lived in Pa once before but i am sure it has changed alot. Is there a bus that runs from The oley area to larger areas daily if so how much does it cost? I am currently unemployed so how is the job market in these areas? A family member will be watching my 2 yr old but how are daycare centers in these areas? I have been told crime is almost non-existent in these areas is this true? How much does a usual Gallon of milk run? If i move to PA and cannot find a job how are the assistance programs to help me find one? These are only some of the questions i have and i have alot of em but i a just trying to find out if it is worth the move. Right now i live in a very small town whose job opportunities have run dry pretty much and whose rent is so much that it outweighs what the actual income is, so Is it really better back in PA?

Not sure if much of anything would have changed given your age "27", for reference I'm 29.

1. I wouldn't know if there would be bus service in Oley. Most likely it would be to Reading.

2. Depends on what your skills are, plenty of service based jobs. Health care and education based jobs are here.

3. I don't know about day care, except that I hear people say its expensive.

4. Crime is high in the city of Reading, but not so much on the outskirts.


Hope this helps.

[SugarbabyLVB]

It helps a little see i live currently in VA so after comparing prices i have found cost of living in Pa is a little lower which is a plus but I really need specific info also I need to know if anyone knows the best pediatricians and day care centers for the area.

[Movin2Maine]

Originally Posted by SugarbabyLVB

It helps a little see i live currently in VA so after comparing prices i have found cost of living in Pa is a little lower which is a plus but I really need specific info also I need to know if anyone knows the best pediatricians and day care centers for the area.

Why not ask your relative about the area? Since they will be watching your child? The cost of living statement is something that you have to take with a grain of salt. Its very cheap to live in say, minersville. The closer you get towards civilization, the more money you pay, anything close to philly is gonna cost a lot more.

You may decide that you hate oley or end up thinking you've landed in utopia, depends on your lifestyle. Moving somewhere without any money or a job is going to be very difficult, even more so with a child. I would explore my options elsewhere.

[SugarbabyLVB]

This is the only option I have left. Plus i do feel it would be a slight improvement in living for me to say the least. I currently live with my parents and cannot find a job where i live now so my hopes are that I may find one there. And I also have plans to the point of if it doesn't work out within 3 mnths i will be moving back to VA. So right now i am already living off the grace of others, so the only difference would be where and with whom. My other relatives in the area have already said they would help me to get and keep a job so upon moving i am pretty much guaranteed a job. But i want to know all the specifics i can about the area before I move so I can be prepared for whatever may come.

[kf70]

Public Transportation:
BARTA does not serve Oley, or much outside downtown and the immediate suburbs of Reading. You can research their routes at Barta. Base fare is $1.60, one day anywhere pass $3.00, monthly passes $43.00

Pediatricians:
Reading Pediatrics has three offices- Wyomissing, Exeter and Blandon/Fleetwood. There are others, but this is probably the largest and most popular group of doctors.

Daycare: minimum is probably around $150/week, and that might be too low of a guess. My child is long out of need for daycare. There are many private daycares, especially in the larger communities like Wyomissing, Exeter, etc. If you need, BCIU (Berks County Intermidiate Unit) offers lower cost care at various facilities throughout the county.

Jobs:
See local job postings on the newspaper's website, Daily News on 7/5/2008 - Reading Eagle Newspaper. Click on the Classifieds tab and Find a Job, look in a category that suits your skills.
There are service industry and manufacturing jobs. Many of the bigger companies hire through agencies and not directly.