I'm considering moving there in the spring and have a few questions (Jacksonville: best cities)

[simon22]

1. How much should I have saved? I'm thinking I'll probably have around $2,000-3,000 saved by then.


2. How hard and how long will it take me to find a job? I know this varies, but I've been told it's a good entertainment/media city (and no I don't want to move to Orlando). Here's my resume in the first post:
Best cities to find a job with this resume (excluding NYC/LA)
I also have lots of clerical experience as well.


3. Is it easy to find AirBnB or Couchsurfing there for the first few months?


4. What's the dating scene like for a single guy in his late 20s/mid 30s semi-hipster?


5. How easy is it to make friends there and are people friendly?



Any other advice is much appreciated. Thanks guys.

[Fl1150]

Yea Downtown Tampa, South Tampa are areas for a young adult looking to start as they are up and coming areas and also say check St.Pete. It really has become a go to place for young professionals and college students to live, work and play. I think you should make some calls to HSN since it is located here and see if they have any openings. Also you got a lot of radio stations around here but you have to research those. The Tampa Bay times is nice newspaper that maybe you can start out at since you do have some experience.

[The Villages Guy]

Originally Posted by simon22

1. How much should I have saved? I'm thinking I'll probably have around $2,000-3,000 saved by then.


2. How hard and how long will it take me to find a job? I know this varies, but I've been told it's a good entertainment/media city (and no I don't want to move to Orlando). Here's my resume in the first post:
Best cities to find a job with this resume (excluding NYC/LA)
I also have lots of clerical experience as well.


3. Is it easy to find AirBnB or Couchsurfing there for the first few months?


4. What's the dating scene like for a single guy in his late 20s/mid 30s semi-hipster?


5. How easy is it to make friends there and are people friendly?



Any other advice is much appreciated. Thanks guys.

These are generalized amswers, as no one can guarantee anything.

1) 6mo to a year of expenses. Here I would lean toward one year of expenses. $2,000-$3,000 is nothing. DO NOT move on that little...IMO.

2) The model used is one month per every $10,000 of income. So the estimate on a $40,000 is 4 months.

3) No clue what all that means. Sorry.

4) Depends on where you live. Picking the right place to live is most important. Don't pick a family oriented suburban area like Palm Harbor.

5) Depends on who and where. People from all over move here. In my 'hood, some are very helpful to me, others like to wave and go into their homes and others hide like in a cave.......LOL!

[dothetwist]

Agree with NPG....6 months is the absolute MIN. savings for all your expenses, a year is better/safer. A few grand will disappear fast when you find an apartment: first month's, last month's and rental deposit. This is assuming you qualify for a rental (proof of current income).

Re: Airbnb and couchsurfing, yes you'll find them, but like anywhere, what you see online may not be as nice as reality. Plus, for anything more than a week, most will want someone who is employed with local references. And this is HIGH season as in, prices are HIGH for short term rentals now; many are booked a year in advance if they are near beaches or Downtown St. Pete.

You should save more money, then come down in off-season, which starts in May.

[simon22]

Originally Posted by dothetwist

You should save more money, then come down in off-season, which starts in May.

Yeah, the thread title says I'd move in the spring.

[AES328]

$10k per month is a bit high unless you're living a baller lifestyle, but it can't hurt.

[XxDrifterJxX]

Originally Posted by simon22

1. How much should I have saved? I'm thinking I'll probably have around $2,000-3,000 saved by then.


2. How hard and how long will it take me to find a job? I know this varies, but I've been told it's a good entertainment/media city (and no I don't want to move to Orlando). Here's my resume in the first post:
Best cities to find a job with this resume (excluding NYC/LA)
I also have lots of clerical experience as well.


3. Is it easy to find AirBnB or Couchsurfing there for the first few months?


4. What's the dating scene like for a single guy in his late 20s/mid 30s semi-hipster?


5. How easy is it to make friends there and are people friendly?



Any other advice is much appreciated. Thanks guys.

1.) I moved here with 2,300 bucks 4 months ago

2.) Take a look on Indeed, browse and see if its what you like, and there are a few Temp places, Bush Gardens hired my 2 friends after a week of being here.

3.) Not sure I understand either

4.) It's not too hard, trust me.

5.) Almost everyone I have met has greeted me with open arms, I have seen some snobs, but not many.

[tnphelps]

If you like being in a clique you will love Tampa. If you prefer to not be a follower you will like it much less.. Watch the movie Mean Girls. That is exactly what Tampa is like. To be cool, you have to drive a BMW or better, (many can only afford it because they live with their parents), you must go to Jackson's on weekends and you must love crappy DJ's. Tampa has absolutely no local live music scene. Which is sad because the area was a hub for live music in the 80's for metal bands.

Tampa has tons of Beautiful women. OF all colors and ethnicity. Way more than Orlando...A single mans dream. As long as you can get in a clique. That is what I miss most..

Job market is not that great.. I actually have been looking to leave the firm I work for and the opportunities in my profession are in Orlando, Miami and Jacksonville.. Jacksonville seems to be booming. Even though my post seems negative I would move back to Tampa for the right job opportunity.

I wouldn't move with less than $8,000 in your pocket.

[Pinballdad]

What does #3 mean??? Please explain further.

[Fl1150]

I don't think Couchsurfing is that common here but you could give it a try.