Where to go? (school, community college, cost)

[Halo Image]

We live in north east san antonio and LOVE LOVE LOVE it. My husband even drives 37 miles to work because of how much we adore our area! There is a lot to do, people are friendly and it's great. CA traffic is prob just as bad as San Antonio traffic. It's nice here... in the 70's now and really things are easy to find and get to around here...just come on down and give it a try!

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by RS91

Well I'm a 20 year old and thinking of moving from CA to San Antonio for school and just to throw myself out there into something new and out of my comfort zone if you will. I think it'd be easier if I were going to go to a big university living in a dorm and what not but i'm not, i'm going to attend a community college for a specific program (which would be cheaper there than going a different city here in California). I do have a close friend there so she should help me a lot. She pointed out the better part of town to me. But i'm getting a bit frustrated, maybe i'm over thinking it, I need some advice please.

1. Where should I really start
2. I've narrowed down the area to move to
3. I looked into the vehicle/license aspect a bit. Would it be cheaper to sell my car there and buy a used one there then to register it there and all that?
4. what would be a reasonable amount to actually save before going
5. should I get myself settled and get a job before going to school?
6. jobs,insurance anything else i need to worry about when moving to a new city/state

I'd appreciate any advice

Which part of calif are you in? Tex does not have a fee to register your out-of-state vehicle. The registration would most likely be a lot less than you're paying now since Tex charges by "weight", not the "worth" of the car. My car registration was only $75 or so vs $150 or so back in 2005.

Correction: son of a gun, here's another "fee" that is passed on to the Tex newbies, a $90 "new resident tax":

http://www.txdmv.gov/vehicles/drivers/new_residents.htm

Let's stick it to them.

[Mel-BG]

Do not consider a full move unless you have at least $10,000 in savings to blow. If you can visit for 3 months and then perhaps make a more informed decision.

[NDak15]

Originally Posted by Mel-BG

Do not consider a full move unless you have at least $10,000 in savings to blow. If you can visit for 3 months and then perhaps make a more informed decision.

If this was true than most people would never be able to move. It is tough for most working Joes to have $10,000 to blow and pretty stupid to quit a job and suck around somewhere for three months.

The more reasonable thing to do would be to get on the California forum and see what they have to say since they are residents and know the area better than any of us who don't live there would know.

[bouncethelight]

Do the community colleges in Texas charge more for non-resident tuition? If so, it might be cheaper to finish school in California. Not that the higher cost should stop you, if you really want to be in Texas - but it is something you should look into, before you move.

In California, the increased cost for non-resident tuition, can amount to thousands of dollars each semester.

[bouncethelight]

Originally Posted by Mel-BG

Do not consider a full move unless you have at least $10,000 in savings to blow. If you can visit for 3 months and then perhaps make a more informed decision.

Students go to school in other states all the time - and with a financial aid package worked out, it's perfectly safe. One of the benefits of being a student!

[DubbleT]

Originally Posted by Mel-BG

Do not consider a full move unless you have at least $10,000 in savings to blow. If you can visit for 3 months and then perhaps make a more informed decision.

Guess I'd still be in the same place I was about eight moves ago if I followed that advice.
I've done plenty of moves on the cheap, most of them made with about roughly 5 times $$ whatever the average apt rent I expected to pay. That usually covered deposits, first and last months rent, and a couple hundred for minor emergencies. You can drag along used pots and pans, bedding, etc from home and hit yard sales and second hand stores for furnishings until you get settled and can afford to buy better.

[HillCountryHotRodMan]

Originally Posted by bouncethelight

Students go to school in other states all the time - and with a financial aid package worked out, it's perfectly safe. One of the benefits of being a student!

... until you have to start paying back that student aid package that you worked out....

[badhornet]

Dont drive on the highways here after 2 AM...getting hit by a wrong way drunk driver is as common as catching a cold

[NDak15]

Originally Posted by DubbleT

Guess I'd still be in the same place I was about eight moves ago if I followed that advice.
I've done plenty of moves on the cheap, most of them made with about roughly 5 times $$ whatever the average apt rent I expected to pay. That usually covered deposits, first and last months rent, and a couple hundred for minor emergencies. You can drag along used pots and pans, bedding, etc from home and hit yard sales and second hand stores for furnishings until you get settled and can afford to buy better.

I would still be living with my parents if I had taken that advice.