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xxxafterglow · 10-07-2007, 03:37 AM

Dude, the doormen in Seattle make more than you do! Seattle has pretty good public transit but it's buses so you're still stuck with morning traffic and everything.

If you want to save on public transport, save EVERY transfer ticket you get. They cycle the colors/letters (e.g. Pink X's) every day but you can usually get a glance before you get on. My boyfriend used to carry around an envelope of transfers and used those instead of paying. It REALLY helps (it's $1.25 to ride, $1.50 during rush hour for a two hr period).

Not sure about Renton but if you live in a cheaper area of Seattle (e.g. Leschi, Beacon Hill, even some parts of West Seattle), you can get downtown in 20-30 min (by bus). Also, for some reason Seattle is full of short-term rentals. It seems like a lot of young people pop in and out of that city or at least move around a bit. I've rented/scouted for $375/mo (shared w/ two ppl), $400/mo (shared w/ 9 ppl), $275/mo (would have shared w/ 10 ppl), and $675/mo (for the boyfriend and I together). As big cities go, Seattle has low rent.

Sell as much as you can and keep your bare necessities. I kept a cell phone (one up from the most basic plan) and shared internet with my housemates/neighbor (this can really slash that $50/mo down to maybe $10 or $20/mo) but that was it. You can find a lot of free stuff on CL cuz (like I said before) people are always moving - take care of it and sell it later at a higher price when you move/upgrade.

Ditto on the Savings account. Don't touch that shit til you know you need to use it. Don't dip into it for stupid spending - save, save, save.

But yeah, you need to push yourself to get a better job. Even retail pays more than that. I was severely underpaid at my job there (HUGE and well-known art gallery) but was making around $11.50/hr and was able to have money to put away and live pretty comfortably (take vacations and stuff). My boyfriend was making $8/hr working for a health care advocacy group. A receptionist job in Seattle will be around $9-10/hr but there are tons of service jobs (waiter, clerical, retail) that can start you out with decent pay. Hell, Dick's burgers offers pretty good pay PLUS HEALTH INSURANCE!!

It seems like you're selling yourself short in the job market. There are plenty of idiots getting paid to do jobs you could perform blindfolded. I'm sure you're qualified for more than a pizza delivery job. Anyway, temp agencies, craigslist and the Stranger job listings are your friends. If you're interested, my boyfriend worked for Washington CAN, a really cool organization with awesome people. You canvas door to door and it pays pretty well. They're always taking new people. Whatever you take, make sure it's full-time (even if you're an artist/musician - you have to push yourself to make work / play on your off-time).

Hmm I also have to ask... why Renton? Why not Seattle? Just curious.

P.S. Consider living in a house with people. They usually already have a TV and my house had two PS2s and a really good game/movie collection. It's also hella fun (most of the guys I lived with smoked so we had a house dealer) and if you can get over the fridge sharing (get a mini-fridge) and the toilet paper shortage (buy your own and keep it in your room), you probably won't need to buy much more than a bed and something to throw your clothes in.

P.P.S. Rental plug. Renting is awesome, especially in your situation - you're not committed to a job or a person or a city, even. It's one less piece of baggage holding you back. Ok, and I'm also going to say you should just move to Seattle - the job market and life is better, you're close to everything, etc. etc. Unless you have some good reason for being in Renton, do Seattle.

10-07-2007, 03:37 AM	#15 (permalink)
xxxafterglow Crazy Location: Berlin	Dude, the doormen in Seattle make more than you do! Seattle has pretty good public transit but it's buses so you're still stuck with morning traffic and everything. If you want to save on public transport, save EVERY transfer ticket you get. They cycle the colors/letters (e.g. Pink X's) every day but you can usually get a glance before you get on. My boyfriend used to carry around an envelope of transfers and used those instead of paying. It REALLY helps (it's $1.25 to ride, $1.50 during rush hour for a two hr period). Not sure about Renton but if you live in a cheaper area of Seattle (e.g. Leschi, Beacon Hill, even some parts of West Seattle), you can get downtown in 20-30 min (by bus). Also, for some reason Seattle is full of short-term rentals. It seems like a lot of young people pop in and out of that city or at least move around a bit. I've rented/scouted for $375/mo (shared w/ two ppl), $400/mo (shared w/ 9 ppl), $275/mo (would have shared w/ 10 ppl), and $675/mo (for the boyfriend and I together). As big cities go, Seattle has low rent. Sell as much as you can and keep your bare necessities. I kept a cell phone (one up from the most basic plan) and shared internet with my housemates/neighbor (this can really slash that $50/mo down to maybe $10 or $20/mo) but that was it. You can find a lot of free stuff on CL cuz (like I said before) people are always moving - take care of it and sell it later at a higher price when you move/upgrade. Ditto on the Savings account. Don't touch that shit til you know you need to use it. Don't dip into it for stupid spending - save, save, save. But yeah, you need to push yourself to get a better job. Even retail pays more than that. I was severely underpaid at my job there (HUGE and well-known art gallery) but was making around $11.50/hr and was able to have money to put away and live pretty comfortably (take vacations and stuff). My boyfriend was making $8/hr working for a health care advocacy group. A receptionist job in Seattle will be around $9-10/hr but there are tons of service jobs (waiter, clerical, retail) that can start you out with decent pay. Hell, Dick's burgers offers pretty good pay PLUS HEALTH INSURANCE!! It seems like you're selling yourself short in the job market. There are plenty of idiots getting paid to do jobs you could perform blindfolded. I'm sure you're qualified for more than a pizza delivery job. Anyway, temp agencies, craigslist and the Stranger job listings are your friends. If you're interested, my boyfriend worked for Washington CAN, a really cool organization with awesome people. You canvas door to door and it pays pretty well. They're always taking new people. Whatever you take, make sure it's full-time (even if you're an artist/musician - you have to push yourself to make work / play on your off-time). Hmm I also have to ask... why Renton? Why not Seattle? Just curious. P.S. Consider living in a house with people. They usually already have a TV and my house had two PS2s and a really good game/movie collection. It's also hella fun (most of the guys I lived with smoked so we had a house dealer) and if you can get over the fridge sharing (get a mini-fridge) and the toilet paper shortage (buy your own and keep it in your room), you probably won't need to buy much more than a bed and something to throw your clothes in. P.P.S. Rental plug. Renting is awesome, especially in your situation - you're not committed to a job or a person or a city, even. It's one less piece of baggage holding you back. Ok, and I'm also going to say you should just move to Seattle - the job market and life is better, you're close to everything, etc. etc. Unless you have some good reason for being in Renton, do Seattle. __________________ Uh huh her. Last edited by xxxafterglow; 10-07-2007 at 03:44 AM..