Seattle Or Northwest Offshore Jobs?

Can I afford to live in Seattle with two jobs?

• I'll be twenty-three by the time I head to Seattle. I'll have about 8 grand saved. But a grand of that I'll be spending driving up to Seattle on a road trip this summer 09. I plan on immidiately getting two jobs to keep car payments (215 a month) and rent going.. I am looking for a studio apartment. Nothing fancy, nothing big, I just want a place of my own. I just dont know the pricing of small studios out there. Is it doable? Or are studios even outragious? I'm by no means rich or will have parents sending me money. But I plan on working two fulltime jobs basically to pay my way. I've found sites that have studios for rent at 725 a month with electricity included. Are there enough places like that available where I'll be able to find one once I attempt to secure a place this May/June? There's people here (I'm from NH) who thinks I'm nuts and can't do it. And the rest say as long as I work hard I can make it happen. So my question is for Seattle people who live there now and know the daily costs.

• Answer:

  That you will have $7K is outstanding. Most people who ask these types of questions don't have any savings and they think they can start a new life in Seattle with their hat in their hand. What's encouraging is that it sounds like you were successful in NH and you aren't afraid of hard work. The advice I try to give anyone moving here is to have a job lined up before they get here. There are two ways to do this. Apply for jobs in the area (see attached links) or get a job where you currently live at a national company (Starbucks, UPS. Walmart, etc.) and transfer to Seattle. A (rhetorical) question remains, "Why do you want to move to Seattle?" Good reasons are you want to go to a specific school here, you are looking for the type of jobs that are available in the area (Microsoft, Boeing), you like the natural make up of the area - ocean, mountains and forrest. Bad reasons are you want to be a part of the Seattle "scene" or you met someone online who lives in Seattle. If you can work 50 hrs. a week at $10 / hour, that's $1600 / month after taxes. If you can find a place to live for $1000 / month including utilities - you won't be living like a king, but I think you can do it. Your $7K may only last you 3 months so be sure you have everything you need before you get here (clothes for interviews, resumes, dishes, bedding, etc.) you don't want to spend your money on stuff you left at home. Good Luck.