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ansible

(1,718 posts)
Tue Dec 10, 2019, 11:58 AM Dec 2019

Getting dismayed at life in California, need advice on what to do

I'm poor and I don't earn that much, I'll admit. I just don't have the skills to be earning 6 figures but I love living in California if it wasn't so expensive. This is my home and I grew up here but at this point I don't know what to do anymore and it's literally driving me insane. Even here in the poorer region of the Central Valley the cost of living, especially rent, is just going up every year and I can't keep up anymore at this point unless I further cut my budget even more and live miserably.

What do I do? I don't know anymore, I don't know anyone else in any other state and am afraid to just pack up and start over with little savings, no guarantee of a job and no clue about how life works in other states either. Any serious advice would be appreciated, thank you.

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Getting dismayed at life in California, need advice on what to do (Original Post) ansible Dec 2019 OP
What is your skillset? AJT Dec 2019 #1
I live in CA,. I'm old, retired and on a fixed income. underthematrix Dec 2019 #2
Is a roommate possible? brush Dec 2019 #3
Don't give up. procon Dec 2019 #4
My family and I left California in 1995. We had fears but we had hopes too and in the end abqtommy Dec 2019 #5
Start researching costs of living in other states and what kinds of jobs are available The Velveteen Ocelot Dec 2019 #6
This place micDROP Dec 2019 #7
What are your skills? WhiteTara Dec 2019 #8
This may sound ridiculous but The Figment Dec 2019 #9
I'm sorry you are going through this. cate94 Dec 2019 #10

underthematrix

(5,811 posts)
2. I live in CA,. I'm old, retired and on a fixed income.
Tue Dec 10, 2019, 12:08 PM
Dec 2019

I love being poor. We're getting ready to get rid of our cable and switch to Internet only. While I admire law abiding and socially responsible billionaires, I hate helping them get rich so me and hubby do as little spending as possible. We don't eat out, mainly because food safety is an issue under the Trump admin. We don't buy new if we can buy used.

procon

(15,805 posts)
4. Don't give up.
Tue Dec 10, 2019, 12:35 PM
Dec 2019

There are lots of areas in California where you can still find affordable housing. Yes, there's a trade off as these are usually smaller, remote communities with fewer amenities, services and cultural or entertainment venues.

Think about the things you must have, like 24/7 public transit, big shopping opportunities, gourmet restaurants, higher education centers, airports, or access to state of the art medical centers.

By example, I live in a rural desert area with several towns in the local vicinity. Rental apartments advertise from $750 on up. There is public bus services, ends at night and limited on weekends, and connections to LAX.

On the plus side, we have three hospitals, a regional airport, higher ed campus, farm team baseball, good choice of entertainment with music, popular singers, dancers, plays, and film festivals. There's a farmer's market, craft fairs, big flea market, a nice museum.

On the negative; it's hot, very hot so your air conditioning will be costly. Everything is far apart so you spend a lot of time driving from one place to the next, so your gas bill might take a bite. There are jobs, mostly service and retail unless you have marketable skills or training.

Anyway, I'm just saying there are certainly hundreds of similar locales all over Calif, but you'll have to suss them out and be willing to relocate. Good luck!

abqtommy

(14,118 posts)
5. My family and I left California in 1995. We had fears but we had hopes too and in the end
Tue Dec 10, 2019, 12:40 PM
Dec 2019

the decision for what is best is up to you.

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,267 posts)
6. Start researching costs of living in other states and what kinds of jobs are available
Tue Dec 10, 2019, 01:01 PM
Dec 2019

that you would be qualified for. California isn't the only good place to live, and lots of other places are much cheaper. Consider whether you would be happier being dead broke in California or better off somewhere else that's not California. Here's a list of the most affordable states: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/slideshows/10-most-affordable-states and here's a list of states with the most available jobs: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/slideshows/the-best-states-to-find-a-job Nebraska, for example, is in both categories. (You might not want to move to Nebraska, which is much different from California, but Omaha is actually a pretty nice city.) Or nearby states with a climate more like CA might work out. In any event, don't be afraid to consider moving. You'll feel better if you realize that you're not trapped and that you do have options. Good luck!

 

micDROP

(75 posts)
7. This place
Tue Dec 10, 2019, 01:12 PM
Dec 2019

This state has self-destructed. Its not the paradise people think it is unless you make $3 million+ a year

I regret moving here. There's no middle class here any more and wont be for a while

WhiteTara

(29,676 posts)
8. What are your skills?
Tue Dec 10, 2019, 01:12 PM
Dec 2019

We moved from northern California 10 years ago. We had our own business that afforded us the ability to live anywhere and not be dependent on the local economy. We moved to northwest Arkansas and it's now home.

Depending on what you can do, I suggest that you check out this part of the country. It is growing and on the "corridor" there are many job opportunities. Do you have manual labor type skills, sales skills, building skills, computer? You don't say what you do. The area I'm suggesting is Fayetteville, Springdale, Bentonville and Rogers. Also, Fayetteville is home of University of Arkansas.

The Figment

(494 posts)
9. This may sound ridiculous but
Tue Dec 10, 2019, 01:55 PM
Dec 2019

Check out Lawrence Ks...nice cost of living (as compared to California) reasonably liberal, home of University of Kansas, nice nightlife, lotsa restaurants.
Lawrence is what Boulder Colorado was before the money invaded.

cate94

(2,797 posts)
10. I'm sorry you are going through this.
Tue Dec 10, 2019, 05:29 PM
Dec 2019
Perhaps you could find someone to share an apartment? If you try that approach, I would make sure everything was spelled out up front.
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