Make a long wait shorter?

[Mono~rail]

I'm 15, but getting a little tired of the "you're young" bit that everyone is saying. Most people who know me in real life know I'm INCREDIBLY mature for my age (saying I act 16, maybe 17). I definetly want to do this, I know "a lot can happen in 2.5 years", but this are my plans. So please take them as concrete and continue with advice

This line really caught my attention.

I'm trying to figure out how to make time slow down. Got any ideas for me?

 

[Beth76]

Well it made me mad because I had an 8-page thread about moving to Florida and I talked PLENTY about jobs. Not saying it was the person's job to read the thread/know that I asked EXTENSIVELY about careers, but I did, so I got a little mad. It's because I know deep down I have career ideas secured, and it poked me the wrong way to be treated as if I had never thought of it, when in fact I had a long thread about it!


As for money down there, I figure about $2000 a month (remember I'll have a roomate) should be basically enough. As for a job paying that much (it's $24k obviously), I hope I find one. Or at least $1500 a month!

Sorry if my other post seemed rude. You asked for advice and I gave it to you. No I didn't research your other posts, I was going by info on this post. Where did this roommate come from all-of-a-sudden? What guarantees this? How do you know what jobs will be available and the salary in two-and-a-half years? How do you know what rents will be at that time? How do you know how much money you'll need to live off of? What about a car? What about insurance? What about furniture?

I think it's great that you want to move to Orlando. But there's way more involved than just wishing for the time to go by quickly.

 

[kirbsam]

good luck. the best way to make the time go faster, is to just stay as busy as possible.

 

[DisneyfeverTN]

I think having a dream and making it happen is what life's all about. I don't blame you for wanting to live in Florida, so do I!

If I were you, I would get a part-time job while still in high school. After graduating from high school, I would get some type of higher education. If you don't want to earn a four year degree, there are other options. For example, our community college offers two year programs and many other certification programs in a wide variety of fields. I would do that before moving. You will be more likely to get a job above minimum wage if you do this. Also, save as possible during this time.

Also, whatever part-time job you get during high school, will give you experience that you will be able to put on a resume.

Good luck!

 

[sajetto]

My advice is focus on a college you can afford and think of nothing else. When I was 15 I had the EXACT same aspirations I was convinced that I was going to go to Eckerd college in Florida and was getting all the applications, info on the surrounding areas, traveled down there with my parents to explore the area, I EVEN started budgeting for it. Honey, things CHANGE trust me on that. At the time I was planning on going to school for marine biology. The very harsh reality of what it would cost hit even with a fully paid scholarship. It even paid my books and room and board. I also had extremely generous parents who were willing to shell out serious bucks, but maturity really set in at 18 when I learned that I could go to college in my home state for less than HALF of what it would cost in Florida and I could bank that money that my folks were so eager to give me. When you realize that you want more for your life than trips to Disney World like a full time career, a future family, and a home that suits your tastes you want to hold on to every cent that you can to meet those goals that you have. Who knows you may actually move to FL in the future, but it takes more than just an idea it takes money, time, and energy. Don't put more on yourself than you can handle. But heck, what do I know? My parents didn't know anything either, but at least they played along.


Also another major hit of reality came when I stayed in Orlando for an entire summer with a friend from High School. I loved the few visits to WDW, but full time Florida wasn't all I thought it would be. (Not that it wouldn't be perfect for other people)


I just realized that I should say this, a lot of my reasoning for moving to Florida was because I wanted warm weather and beaches. Well, I did go to a university close the ocean here in NC. The university was GREAT, but over time the beach became a bore. Now I'm headed right back to the frigid mountains where I came from. Oh well, funny how things work.

 

[kdm31091]

My roomate won't be 18, he'll be a little older, would they rent to someone who's about 20 in 2009? And I thought they would rent to you as long as you had the money and were 18? My sister had an apartment on her own around 19.

 

[kdm31091]

Acting 16 or 17 doesn't qualify as incredibly mature.

On your other thread you alternated between the following careers: Real estate agent, nurse, McDonald's employee, barber, doctor, Disney employee...and several others, as I recall.

Of those jobs, the only ones you can do straight out of high school are McDonald's and Disney employee...neither of which will pay you the salary you are depending on to make ends meet. You're going to have to get by on a lot less...it can be done, but you have to be realistic about how you'll be living.

Maybe barber, if you take hair-cutting in high school.

I'd suggest using the time before you move to formulate some kind of realistic plan about how it is going to go when you do move, starting with the move itself.

If I were your mom, I'd tell you to figure out WHY you want to go to Florida. For a year to work for Disney, then on to college? Are you planning to stay there?

You're going to need 1st month's rent, plus security deposit (and possibly last month's rent, as well) and you're going to have to find someone willing to rent you an apartment. They'll want verification that you have a job! So, you'll need to have a job lined up. After all that, you have to think about furniture, etc.

And this is all just the beginning of the planning.

There's a lot for you to do, if you are serious.

What are your parents telling you?

Uhh, I think it does qualify that I act 2 years older then my real age. Explain, how does that not qualify as mature?

I know about how much I need to save up for rent. I know about security, 1st months rent, etc. I know about having a job beforehand. I know, I know I know. Believe me, none of this is shocking.

I am probably gonna stay in Florida after college, unless I really hate it. As for college itself my mom said "it's covered" - I have a college fund. She said I can go "anywhere I want" for college, so I think we can afford it. Also, both mom and dad would obviously be sad I wouldn't be here in Delaware but they encourage me to look into Florida. They said it has a good market there for careers I like because of the many hotels/tourists. So I do have parental support.

I do want to work for Disney during college - but it's not really the reason I'm going to Florida. I love Disney, but I'm also going because I just love Florida. On my visits, including those which didn't include Disney World, I liked Florida a lot.

 

[kdm31091]

So what do you guys think, based on my last post?

 

[kdm31091]

Aslo can anyone tell me more about apartments not renting at 18? I could've sworn it was legal to rent one at 18/they would let you.

 

[Lady de Winter]

I moved away from home when I was 18 and I admit, it was very difficult. Unless you are moving to a college town where apartments are commonly rented to young kids with roommates, you can expect to find few places willing to rent to anyone under their "target age". That might be 30, it might be 25, it might be 20. It depends on the place. And yes, there are laws in place about whether or not you are legally "allowed" to rent there, but that doesn't mean you'll be approved. Also, I encountered special fees that were charged to people under age 25. Things like extra security deposits and cleaning deposits. Granted, you get those back if you follow the rules, but it's a larger outlay of cash to get started.

There are a lot of businesses that really don't seem to want the business of young adults. My car needed repair and I couldn't get a rental because I was under 25. Things like that.

I think it's great that you have a dream and a goal and are willing to work toward them. It's just really hard to get started. You won't have your own credit history established, you won't be old enough to qualify for a lot of things, and let's face it... older adults will still think you are a kid and treat you as such. For example, the job I had when I was 18 passed me over for things like overtime, because they preferred to give that to people who had families they were trying to support.

Keep after your dream, but don't go into it blindly. Spend the next few years becoming prepared. Good Luck!

 

[kdm31091]

So as long as I prepare everything, I can pull it off and be not poor and broke?

To help me out - can someone make a quick list of all the things I need to figure out before I go? As in, "apartments, insurance, etc". Just so I have a quick list to refer to. I'll organize things over the next 2 years.

 

[BillSears]

So as long as I prepare everything, I can pull it off and be not poor and broke?

Sorry to say this but no. You'll be 18, living in an area with a high cost of living and low wages, no real skills, possibly paying for college and living away from home. You're going to be poor and broke no matter how much planning you do. Poor and broke is just part of being young and starting out which is why so many people delay moving out of their parents houses.

 

[kdm31091]

But I'll have a roomate...and by poor and broke I meant unable to survive.

I know you guys are the best sources but I've never heard that Florida has an exceptionally high cost of living. It's not much more expensive then Delaware. The rents are about the same, if you search rent.com. For nice apartments, the difference in rent is pretty minimal. Many other prices are similar. Most people forget about Delaware, but if you do live here, it's definetly not cheap, so I could handle Florida just as easily as Delaware.

Even if I moved to Alaska at 18, the point is that I'm going to move and it'll be hard no matter what.

Also, I have a cushion. I'm always allowed to come back home with no problem. I've been told that whenever I mention my Florida plans. So even if I end up failing miserably in Florida, I can come back here without a problem. I should definetly go for it!

 

[CF'er]

Yes, you will have a roommate but he isn't your parent and shouldn't be expected to support you if you can't make it. While either going to school/working or both you may have little time to go to Disney every week.

As for the cost of living, it usually is higher in a touristy area. Also the recent rash of hurricanes are causing problems with insurance premiums etc which will be driving prices up.

College will also be more expensive as you will be paying out of state tuition rates.

The time will pass by faster than you know it and you'll be wondering where all the time went. Enjoy your life now, each and every day. Have a dream and goals there is nothing wrong with that. Stay focused on what is important to you. But don't set yourself up for a big fall if things don't work out as you would like.

Wishing you the best.....

 

[kdm31091]

So what do you guys think, based on my last post?

Yes, you will have a roommate but he isn't your parent and shouldn't be expected to support you if you can't make it. While either going to school/working or both you may have little time to go to Disney every week.

As for the cost of living, it usually is higher in a touristy area. Also the recent rash of hurricanes are causing problems with insurance premiums etc which will be driving prices up.

College will also be more expensive as you will be paying out of state tuition rates.

The time will pass by faster than you know it and you'll be wondering where all the time went. Enjoy your life now, each and every day. Have a dream and goals there is nothing wrong with that. Stay focused on what is important to you. But don't set yourself up for a big fall if things don't work out as you would like.

Wishing you the best.....

Well, I'd be happy with monthly Disney. I was sort of idealiizing there. But it will be nice to have Disney closer.

BTW - The apartment furnishings are covered too, because I can take basically this entire room with me. My bed, tv, computer, furniture, etc can all come. My family is being supportive. When I go, I can take it all, and I can bring it all back and live here if things don't work.

 

[lesroi]

But I'll have a roomate...and by poor and broke I meant unable to survive.

I know you guys are the best sources but I've never heard that Florida has an exceptionally high cost of living. It's not much more expensive then Delaware. The rents are about the same, if you search rent.com. For nice apartments, the difference in rent is pretty minimal. Many other prices are similar. Most people forget about Delaware, but if you do live here, it's definetly not cheap, so I could handle Florida just as easily as Delaware.

Even if I moved to Alaska at 18, the point is that I'm going to move and it'll be hard no matter what.

Also, I have a cushion. I'm always allowed to come back home with no problem. I've been told that whenever I mention my Florida plans. So even if I end up failing miserably in Florida, I can come back here without a problem. I should definetly go for it!

Look, you have already made up your mind. Stop beating the dead horse. Everyone here has given you stellar advice. If you truly think you are going to relocate to a new state with no higher education and get a high-paying job and a sweet apartment, you are sorely mistaken.

I am going to tell you again what Bill told you. YES YOU WILL BE BROKE. Whether "broke" to you means living on mac and cheese or PBJ and working 2 low-paying jobs - or living on the street, you WILL BE BROKE and POOR.

You can trust me. I haven't lived at home since I was 16. YOU WILL BE BROKE AND POOR. Believe it. I didn't have the luxury as you do of being able to run home to Mommy and Daddy if it didn't work out. I am sure this fact has the most bearing on your decision and your cavalier attitude.

Also, whoever told you Florida is not in the bottom percentile on wages and has a nice low cost of living is a big fat liar. I can guarantee you that with no formal education, you will be enjoying a job at Wal-Mart with no health insurance or at a theme park with a lavish $7 per-hour wage. Again, I live here, so I am pretty familiar with wage packages. The reason I went into Real Estate here instead of continuing my 13-year HR career is because of WAGES. There is a huge gap here between the haves and the have-nots.

Maybe you should take some of the wonderful advice given here and get a part-time job now. See how you like working in the real world first before you decide to leave that cushy nest your parents have set up for you.

I am not sure how many more people need to tell you that it is going to be VERY HARD for you to believe it. Again, you are a 15 year-old boy. (I don't care if you act 16 ) You are a boy. Get some life experience before you tell the rest of us that are just trying to help you out that we are all wrong.

I wish you luck and hope not to see you operating the cash register at my local Wal-Mart when I am buying my groceries.

Tracy

 

[kdm31091]

Look, you have already made up your mind. Stop beating the dead horse. Everyone here has given you stellar advice. If you truly think you are going to relocate to a new state with no higher education and get a high-paying job and a sweet apartment, you are sorely mistaken.

I am going to tell you again what Bill told you. YES YOU WILL BE BROKE. Whether "broke" to you means living on mac and cheese or PBJ and working 2 low-paying jobs - or living on the street, you WILL BE BROKE and POOR.

You can trust me. I haven't lived at home since I was 16. YOU WILL BE BROKE AND POOR. Believe it. I didn't have the luxury as you do of being able to run home to Mommy and Daddy if it didn't work out. I am sure this fact has the most bearing on your decision and your cavalier attitude.

Also, whoever told you Florida is not in the bottom percentile on wages and has a nice low cost of living is a big fat liar. I can guarantee you that with no formal education, you will be enjoying a job at Wal-Mart with no health insurance or at a theme park with a lavish $7 per-hour wage. Again, I live here, so I am pretty familiar with wage packages. The reason I went into Real Estate here instead of continuing my 13-year HR career is because of WAGES. There is a huge gap here between the haves and the have-nots.

Maybe you should take some of the wonderful advice given here and get a part-time job now. See how you like working in the real world first before you decide to leave that cushy nest your parents have set up for you.

I am not sure how many more people need to tell you that it is going to be VERY HARD for you to believe it. Again, you are a 15 year-old boy. (I don't care if you act 16 ) You are a boy. Get some life experience before you tell the rest of us that are just trying to help you out that we are all wrong.

I wish you luck and hope not to see you operating the cash register at my local Wal-Mart when I am buying my groceries.

Tracy

I do have a job...mentioned in my last Orlando thread. I work at McDonald's on weekends.

Who said anything about not going to college? Where did you get that from anyway? I mentioned college in this thread. Believe me, I briefly considered not going, but I think it was pretty clear I did decide I am going. So take that "no higher education" and forget about it - I'm going.

I know I've decided. That was the point of the thread? I never said "Tell me if I should go". I said give me some advice and things I need to figure out before I do go.

Nobody told me. The statistics told me. Florida is NOT one of the most expensive states to live in. Period. Look at the stats. I realize it's getting more so, but I will stand by the fact that even if I chose Alaska, it's gonna be hard either way! I know the wages are low - I fricking know that. I'm not stupid. Not nearly as much as you think. I ask people honest questions, and they flip out.

When did I say anyone was wrong? All I did was ask more questions (more specific ones) or provide an argument to their statements.

Could you guys do me a favor? Treat me like you treat most people on here. Be nicer. I'm not having a cavalier attitude. I wanted to spread my happiness about moving to Florida and get some advice.

BTW, don't think of my family as cushy or luxurious. We're not rich or anything near it. My mom makes $39k. My dad lives in a 1 bedroom apartment up the road. Nobody said I'm rich. i just said I'm allowed to come home. It's not cushy or luxurious, it's just them being nice.

So please guys, cut me some slack. I wanted advice, not being called cavalier and stuff. I'm a sensitive person, please chill.

And lastly - It's the same difference no matter what state I pick. So don't harp on me about florida being expensive. Most of the other states I'd choose are MORE expensive.

But Tracy, WHEN DID I SAY "I expect a high paying job! I expect a sweet apartment with no college!?" You're putting words in my mouth. I didn't say that. Or anything close to it! And also, yeah, my "mommy and daddy" aren't even TOGETHER. So that was really insulting. I know you don't know they aren't, but it really made me feel disgusting. I'm not a snot. I was just saying my mom would let me come home. God.

Not to put on a sob story, but you guys are mostly hurting my feelings and not helping me, which is making me not listen to your advice. It's good advice. Just don't be so harsh!

 

[LucyStorm]

Ok, I was not harsh, and I was supportive. You can look at the stats all you want, but I am telling you that it is expensive down here compared to other states. I have lived just 7 miles south of Delaware in Maryland, in NJ, and in Ohio.

The difficulty here is that most of the people in Florida (at least in my area) are not from Florida. We have brought our expectations and our prices with us from other states. My house payment here is twice what it was in Ohio and 4 times what it was in Maryland. The groceries are comparable to Maryland or in your case, Delaware. The income tax is nonexistant, but we make up for it in high sales tax (which unless something has changed, you don't have in Delaware) and high property tax. Now I know that things like house payments and property taxes are not something you are considering now, but they may be down the line, and we are trying to help you prepare.

Other higher costs-restaurants. Fast food or any other kind. As someone said, most of Florida caters to tourists, and as such, we all pay the prices. As I told you, I made this move only 18 months ago, had done all the same research you have, and thought the same thing that you did about cost of living. It's just not true no matter how many stats you look at.

All anyone is trying to tell you is to be prepared. Have a back up plan. And while having the back up of Mom or Dad is great, they will be 18-20 hours away.

Research apartments that will rent to people your age. As someone said, just because the law says you can, doesn't mean that the owner says you can.

Again, best of luck to you. And try to put aside the sensitivity, and see the concern here.

 

[kdm31091]

Could you guys check out my new thread and maybe suggest other, possibly "better" states? I'm getting scared of Florida now, lol.

 

[tw1nsmom]

OK, I think you need to calm down a little. You came to this board for advice and that's what you got. Also, having a temper tantrum (and that's what your responses are coming off as), isn't helping to prove your point that you're mature.

Now, for my advice. IF your parents are willing to pay for your college education while you're in florida (and I'd have to assume that means they'd help subsidize housing as that's part of college), then it may be doable. You will be poor in a way you probably never have before, but if it's something you really want you can do it.

I would spend the next two years preparing for your move in order to make time pass, and it will take that much time to prepare. If I were you I would imediately get a job in a restaurant. You're most likely too young to be hired as a waiter, but get your foot in the door bussing tables or washing dishes. As soon as you're old enough start waiting tables. That way you can have some experience when you look for jobs in the Orlando area. You won't make much, but you'll have the ability to make more than you could from a minimum wage job. Also you may have an easier time working shifts around college.

Will you have a car? Orlando doesn't strike me as an easy place to get around without one. You could start saving now.

Another area that you may want to look into for a job is contruction. They're always looking for manual laborers (ditch digging, gopher/grunt on construction sites...), and you can make over minimum wage. It's hard work, but okay money.

Really, if you spend the next two years working on your job marketability and saving every penny, time will fly by.

Oh, and one more thing. It costs money to move furniture. If you really want to live within a budget and not trap yourself in a bad situation (you may not be able to afford to move back or to a different apartment if you have a lot of stuff), I would only bring the bare essentials with you. Clothes, a couple pots, pans, and dishes, towels and a blow-up air mattress would be a good way to begin. You can always bring more stuff down when you know it's really going to work out.