21 Year Old from Virginia Moving To Tampa, FL (Orlando, Sarasota: sales, apartments)

[bdwhite92]

I'm 21 years old and I live in Hampton Roads, VA. I am actively looking into moving to Tampa, FL. I attend community college, but I am nowhere near close to getting my degree. Right now I am a full-time bartender, and have been looking for a more stable job until I finish school for the past 12 months.

Hampton Roads is cool, I just think it's time for a change of scenery. This is like a military/government/medical career based area, everyone here kinda lives a routine lifestyle. I also want to move from here because there are no jobs hiring in customer service and sales what so ever, and although the job market in Florida isn't booming either, I heard the cost of living is fairly cheaper? My dad lives in Punta Gorda, FL (retirement kingdom) So I am very familiar with that area (Punta Gorda, Naples, Sarasota, Ft Myers, Port Charlotte) My dad suggested Orlando, but from the reviews I have read and the people I know that have lived there say it sucks! I feel like Tampa and surrounding areas would be more of my location. I am 21 so I like to have a good time, but I like to keep to myself a lot too.

I've been looking for jobs down there for the past few months, hoping a I get a good offer. Any other people my age living in Tampa, FL? Whats some good areas to live? Hows social life? Are most of y'all employed? What would you consider a good income to live comfortably down there?

Any feed back would be awesome! My anxiety is kickin in lol

[livingsinglenyc]

OP you posted this on the NYC forum.

[Chava61]

This should be posted in either the Florida or Virginia forums.

[MK04]

I'm actively looking to move to Tampa, FL as well

[asian_nurse]

if you like going out/drinking/etc, south tampa would be a good place for you. it's kind of expensive in that area tho but i think there are some cheaper places, but they really wouldn't be in nice areas.

anywhere near usf would be good if you like to go out and have fun, too.. there are a ton of bars everywhere and lots of students (obviously) so you will meet a lot of people. as far as living around USF area, i only know of apartment life (vs houses) and they are mostly catered to students/student-living so it's not too quiet or peaceful... and then there are some really ghetto areas (usually around university mall or anything near i-275, florida ave, nebraska ave)

if you go head toward new tampa, it gets a little better but it's still super college-y, in my opinion. and again, there are a couple bars here and there around new tampa as well.

if you keep going past new tampa and to around hunters green and near wesley chapel, the apartments get way way nicer, but then it's also more family oriented as well. there's still some bars and etc around (like in wire grass mall) but it's nothing like what you would find in south tampa.

then there's also areas around dale mabry, which is kind of right in the middle of things.

personally, if i still lived in tampa i would just stay away from living anywhere near i275, florida, nebraska, and bearss.

if i had all the money in the world, i'd splurge for a high rise somewhere in/near west shore (another area of tampa, don't know much of that except traffic seems extra congested and there's this path called bayshore that everyone and their grandma loves to be all sporty on).. so i guess west shore is also a really nice area to live, but it's just too expensive (for me)!!

when i was living in tampa, i could live comfortably off $30k a year... and i went out a lot! i shared an apartment with a friend so that helped cut costs a lot.. a lot of apartments down here also have multiple rooms with multiple bathrooms so that sharing one apartment with someone isn't an absolute pain, since the only things you really share are the common areas.

since you are 21 and i still consider that college age and tampa has USF, University of Tampa, HCC, and a bunch of other colleges, there are a lot of people your age in Tampa.

i've only had 2 jobs while i was living in tampa and both required specific degrees (and i have no other skills other than what i went to school for) so i can't say much on the job part of tampa

[jambo101]

Since Florida is all about beaches a beach area is probably the place to move, forget Tampa theres no beaches there and instead focus on the beach communities on St Petes Gulf coast..
http://www.clearwater-fl.com/info/ab...s/pinellas.gif

[Big Iguana]

Originally Posted by bdwhite92

I'm 21 years old and I live in Hampton Roads, VA. I am actively looking into moving to Tampa, FL. I attend community college, but I am nowhere near close to getting my degree. Right now I am a full-time bartender, and have been looking for a more stable job until I finish school for the past 12 months.

Hampton Roads is cool, I just think it's time for a change of scenery. This is like a military/government/medical career based area, everyone here kinda lives a routine lifestyle. I also want to move from here because there are no jobs hiring in customer service and sales what so ever, and although the job market in Florida isn't booming either, I heard the cost of living is fairly cheaper? My dad lives in Punta Gorda, FL (retirement kingdom) So I am very familiar with that area (Punta Gorda, Naples, Sarasota, Ft Myers, Port Charlotte) My dad suggested Orlando, but from the reviews I have read and the people I know that have lived there say it sucks! I feel like Tampa and surrounding areas would be more of my location. I am 21 so I like to have a good time, but I like to keep to myself a lot too.

I've been looking for jobs down there for the past few months, hoping a I get a good offer. Any other people my age living in Tampa, FL? Whats some good areas to live? Hows social life? Are most of y'all employed? What would you consider a good income to live comfortably down there?

Any feed back would be awesome! My anxiety is kickin in lol

why would wanna do sales or customer service? that doesn't sounds like bartender style.plus I think bartenders make good money. have you looked bartender jobs in Tampa?? There are tons of bars, restaurants in Tampa. lots of lots of fun.

have you been looking for place to live as well?? what price are you looking for? are you gonna have roommate?

[MAniacTHW]

Uhhhh..... I'll be the one to say it. At 21, I would've MUCH rather been in Orlando than Tampa. If it's not Friday or Saturday, the town dies at 10 pm. It is NOT youth friendly, nor is it good for college students. As for the suggestion about living near USF, look up "Suitcase city" first.