I currently live with my parents and I want to move out by early January 2014. Here's what I understand so far:
1) I need money- I just got laid off from my temp job and am now looking for a new one. I'm being as frugal as possible and putting 10% of what I earn into a separate account so I can start my own business with it.
2) Location matters- The state, city, part of the city. Does it have jobs? Transportation? Nightlife? People the same age as me? Are the people friendly?
Now what I don't get is how to do it. I asked a couple of friends who moved out and they weren't much help. Friend #1 said he researched cities and when he found a city he liked, he looked up jobs and housing and when he found what he liked, he saved the money and basically drove out there without putting a down payment on an apartment or having a job waiting for him. Friend #2 said he vacationed at a city where one of his friends lived and decided to move there a few months later with him. He later found a job but is still living with his friend.
Here are the questions on my mind and what Google doesn't really help with:
Do I need credit history to rent a place?
Do I really need a credit card? If so, how do I go about getting one and what advice could you give me? I mainly use cash and my debit for online. I hate owing money.
Should I have a job locked down when I move or should I save some extra money to tide me over and go looking for one?
Should I buy a car before moving? (I'm a little iffy on this because cars eat up a good portion of one's paycheck (gas, insurance, maintenance))
How do I calculate the cost of living in a city per month?
I would prefer to live on my own but if a roommate would keep expenses down, so be it.
If you guys have any advice, stories or suggestions on where to move/what to do, please share.
1) I need money- I just got laid off from my temp job and am now looking for a new one. I'm being as frugal as possible and putting 10% of what I earn into a separate account so I can start my own business with it.
2) Location matters- The state, city, part of the city. Does it have jobs? Transportation? Nightlife? People the same age as me? Are the people friendly?
Now what I don't get is how to do it. I asked a couple of friends who moved out and they weren't much help. Friend #1 said he researched cities and when he found a city he liked, he looked up jobs and housing and when he found what he liked, he saved the money and basically drove out there without putting a down payment on an apartment or having a job waiting for him. Friend #2 said he vacationed at a city where one of his friends lived and decided to move there a few months later with him. He later found a job but is still living with his friend.
Here are the questions on my mind and what Google doesn't really help with:
Do I need credit history to rent a place?
Do I really need a credit card? If so, how do I go about getting one and what advice could you give me? I mainly use cash and my debit for online. I hate owing money.
Should I have a job locked down when I move or should I save some extra money to tide me over and go looking for one?
Should I buy a car before moving? (I'm a little iffy on this because cars eat up a good portion of one's paycheck (gas, insurance, maintenance))
How do I calculate the cost of living in a city per month?
I would prefer to live on my own but if a roommate would keep expenses down, so be it.
If you guys have any advice, stories or suggestions on where to move/what to do, please share.