So, am I a crazy? ...need advice (Seattle: rent, health insurance)

[Beat02]

My hope is to move to Seattle by fall semester (early-mid September). I'll be out of the military with an honorable discharge, completed of 4-years active duty service, come June 1st.

My plan is to move in with my parents near Chattanooga, TN over the summer for approximately 3 months and find work (and as much of it as possible) to save for that time. Realistically, how much money should I have saved to make a move out to Seattle on my own?

Once in Seattle, I'll be going back to school on the Post 9/11 GI Bill (at a community college), which pays for my education, as well as my rent (hope to have $200-$300 left over from the rent money each month, to use towards bills and cost of living).

My worries in this transition:

A. Having enough money saved to make the move, settle in and be able to find a good part-time job without pulling my hair out and smoking two packs of cigarettes a day because of stress

B. Finding that part time job.

My expenses are/will include (unless there's something I haven't though of):

-Truck payment $240/mo
-Cell phone $85 (might downgrade and get a cheaper plan, if need be (I have an iphone))
-Auto Insurance $100/mo
-Gas (varies???)
-Food
-Health insurance (no idea how much to expect to pay for this, I've never had to worry about it living with my parents and then being in the military)
-Misc (clothes, hygiene items, car maintenance, a night on the town every once in a while etc.)

I'm just looking for any/all advice I can get! Thanks in advance.

[Inkpoe]

Insurance looks a little low... unless you're looking to do liability-only insurance (But if your car is new/making loan payments, you have to have full coverage, put it around 250-300 minimum).

I'm not sure what you can save on in RE: Cell phone. You can expect at a minimum of 15 dollars of taxes and fees added on towards your bill.

[Redline]

2 packs a day? How much does that work out to per month dollarwise?

[Inkpoe]

Originally Posted by Redline

2 packs a day? How much does that work out to per month dollarwise?

depending on brand, cigs are 7-9 dollars. Probably around 500 a month.

[Beat02]

No, I was making a joke about the smoking. I do smoke now (not quite a pack a day), but I'll be forced to quit (or cut back to only a cig or two per day) after relocating.

As for the auto insurance: I got a quote and it's about $200/mo. $100 insurance... you were nice while you lasted.

[awolcfh5150]

Being from the middle TN area (and mother-in-law that lives in Chattanooga) let me kind of lay it out for you. Seattle is very expensive compared to Chattanooga, but definitely do-able. First, for a studio apt within the city limits count on paying around $800 - $1000 a month. Gas is over $3 a gallon for the cheap stuff. Smokes, average about $9 a pack. If you're a beer drinker (I am!) then a 6'er of Coors Light is going to be around $7 instead of $5 (there's so much great beer here!). Make sure you have enough funds to get you through a couple of months and until you get a job. Minimum wage is much higher, but so is the cost of everything else. After a few months things start to even out and you get used to paying $6 for a pint at the bar.

One thing I always use to explain the cost of living difference to friends & family back in TN is this, to have your oil changed in that area of TN you are currently in, probably runs no more than $50 on the really high end. Here it's about $75 for the average to get Jiffy Lube to change your oil. It's a good example of how pricey it is to live here. On the upside you can live a comfortable existence in Seattle and when you go back to TN you can live high on the hog because of how cheap everything is!

[sofia76]

$75 to change oil at Jiffy Lube? I'm in Portland, and it costs around $30 - sometimes $19.99 if you catch them on a slow day! Seriously, that seems ... wow.

[Inkpoe]

Well, actually one of the Jiffy Lube's employee told my husband and I that they're going to raise the prices because the company isn't making any money... 40-75 dollars might be a possibility soon.

[sofia76]

That is so nuts. Then again, my cousin in New York City mentioned last week that she went to get her oil changed and they wanted $135. So she "shopped around" and found a place to do it for $85. My dad showed me how to change the oil when I first got my license. I've only done it once, though. Might be time to refresh.

[Redline]

$75 at a Jiffy Lube??? I thought they charged $30? I guess they stopped using recycled oil.