   Moving when money is tight.
  Hey guys, how we all doin?I have a dilemma.  I wish to relocate from El Centro, CA (hard to make a living here) to Medford, OR.  However, I have very little money saved at this point.  (Long story, but some very necessary costs ate up all the savings I once had.)I'm looking for advice.  Would it be better in YOUR opinion to get a loan and make the move anyway, or to stay, to save that amount of money over the next year or two and then move?Honestly, I'd like to move now.Thanks ahead of time,Benji   
  Hmm....You haven't explained your situation all that well, but I might be able to give advise anyway. I would start by seeing how much it would cost to move at most. If you don't have that much money then see where you can move things around and make a moving plan that fits within your budget. I would also see if you could set up a job there before you move(if you decide on moving). What I mean is, make the decision if your moving now or not. If you are then head down there for a weekend and find a job where you can start working in a week or so. That will give you time to move without having to miss work days and you will also have a job before moving to the new state. Also make sure you have somewhere to live before you start packing up. I wouldnt recomend running down there with everything loaded in your car and no where to live. Thats my little bit of advice.   ;Quote:Original post by lethalhamsterYou haven't explained your situation all that well, but I might be able to give advise anyway.Well, I'm being concise.  That's all.  In fact, I'm not sure what more to add, but I'll try.Here's my motivation: I plan on finishing school and settling in Oregon.  I have a girlfriend, friends, and family up there.  Work wouldn't really be a problem either.The only restriction is finance.  I have two options:  A) Save some $3000 over the next year just to move and have money to live on for 3 months while I start working there; B) Get a loan for that amount at what is actually a decent rate and just move now.I guess it's a matter of whether you like loans or not.   ;Quote:Original post by Benjamin HeathI wish to relocate from El Centro, CA (hard to make a living here) to Medford, OR.And it would be easier to make a living in Medford, OR? How did you come up with $3000 as being necessary to move?   ;  Try to find a job first. Some companies are willing to pay for people to relocate! Either that or sell a kidney and get out of there. [wink]   ;  How is it easier to make a living in Oregon than California, provided you're tech-savvy? I honestly can't see this one.   ;  I figure around $1500 for a move is a good number.U-Haul shows the cost of a truck as under $700.  Add in gas and you're around $900.Moving is a good time to get rid of accumulated junk.  When you move, have a yard sale and get rid of a bunch of junk.  Then give more of your junk to a secondhand/thrift/charity store.  Most apartments require an initial down payment of around $600, plus you will need incidentals for items that are lost/broken during the move.As far as helping you make the decision, that's what decision grids are for.  There are tons of ways to make these.  In the end, it involves making a list of the criteria, assigning them weights of importance, and comparing how they rank to you.  Total up the scores, and use it to decide when to move.In the real world, I have heard people in expensive areas complain: "I want to move somewhere much less expensive, but I just don't have the money to move."  Compare the income and costs of your current place and the costs and expenses of the new place.  Taking a pay cut can be a great thing.  Especially if it means reducing your housing costs, your food costs, your fuel costs, and other day-to-day expenses by even more.  Moving to a less expensive area, even with a pay cut, can give a net increase in disposable income.  (=Disposable Income: Noun. The pittance you have left after rent, food, gas, clothes, insurance and dog food.)   ;  Well, I already have an apartment and a secured job there.  I'm going to work in the Oregon Department of Forestry.  (The tech savvy comment made me chuckle. :P)  Rent is going to be $350, and my roommate is paying all the utilities.  I'll start school to be an EMT/Paramedic in the fall.  It's all settled; I leave in two weeks!   ;  No bank is going to just loan you $3,000 unsecured. You will need collateral, or a co-signatory.Alternately, get a credit card and pay down the balance as quickly as possible. If you're working, pay the full balance no later than four months after you begin moving. Do not take a cash advance.;Quote:Original post by kSquaredNo bank is going to just loan you $3,000 unsecured. You will need collateral, or a co-signatory.Alternately, get a credit card and pay down the balance as quickly as possible. If you're working, pay the full balance no later than four months after you begin moving. Do not take a cash advance.About that...I attempted a $2500 30-month loan and was denied because I owe too much on my car.  That's what the report says.  Supposedly, and it really doesn't matter at this point, I would've gotten the loan if that wasn't the case.Anyway, the loan itself would've been backup while I get work up there, which I've already found.  So, it's not all that necessary.  I'm only moving myself and I can afford it from here.Actually, though, I considered a new career path alongside what I'm doing now.  How is it in Graphic Design these days?  I might go for that if I can.   