need advice from older people that have relocated

Check out the web page for apartments and see what they cost. On top of the rent you need to pay for heat, electricity and food. PA is a big industrial state so you can probably do much better then $400 to $500 a week as a general laborer.

 

Seriously, do not come up here to the north east. it is expensive up here, and come winter you will freeze your butt off if you cannot afford the cost of heating, rental, gasoline, food, etc,etc. You will be taxed to death as well

Go to a warmer climate. Like Floridah as a pharmacy tech, and all the old farts, you'll make a killing working at a pharmacy.

Or try New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada. Stay away for the north east, even PA as you say, ain't no pic-a-nic in the park.

 

Are you kidding..??
That alone can be a months rent around here. and many times, I am talking about a one bedroom or even what is called an "efficiency", meaning everything is in one room, good luck.

 

Well I own my home. I GET $1,000 per month rent, (2 other tenants) and they still have to pay, gas, electric, not me. energy bills here depend on the weather. a real bad cold winter and with oil heat, can cost a mere $800 for a month of oil. gas is cheaper, costs me a mere $275-$300.

no need to know my mortgage, as I re-fi'd that recently.

so for my tenants, maybe around a mere $1800 per month? (during cold, severe winters) Summers, their electric bill skyrockets with the a/c's they have.

One thing about having rental property, if everything is included,. the renters will have the heat on 24/7 and at or about 100 degrees. Screw that, I make 'em pay to keep warm, that way, they make sure they do not keep the heat on all the time.

And I GET a mere $2,000 deposit before they ever move in.

and if they do not pay, I know how to evict.

 

If you have an asthma problem, you really are likely to be much better off in the desert southwest. There are plenty of areas here that are NOT Phoenix! What triggers your asthma, do you know?

 

Something I forgot to add here. To just "up and move" is never the best idea in the world! Though it is better since you are young and single, than it would be if you had a family to support. But to just move to anyplace, with the idea the you are going to find the kind of job you want, may be unrealistic. Also, what will you do if you find out you hate it there? Moving is expensive, whether it is across town, or across the country.

 

I'd say where in PA he moves would be a big determining factor in cost of living. Obviously, Philly would be very expensive, but I used to have a gf that lived in Clearfield (in the mountains near the middle of the state. Beautiful place btw.), and cost of living there was very comparable to where I live in TN.

 

First I'd throw out some "moon shot" job applications. Glaxo-Smith Kline, DuPont, Phyzer (sp?).

If you've got a degree in Pharmacology (or in the process of pursuing one) they might give you an interview.

Next, bus drivers aren't truck drivers. Very different. A public bus driver is union and line to apply starts that way----->. School bus drivers ARE in demand but be careful. They quote high pay numbers but you only work part time most days.

Lucky for you there are coach outfits up here. Into and out of NYC daily, plus casinos and tour busses. Here are a few:

Capital trailways
Peter Pan
Bieber
Aderondack (sp?)

Google them, check out their websites, maybe apply online.

Then save up some cash and spend a month or so up here.

Lancaster county PA is cheaper than Philly. Avoid Camden & Newark NJ. There are spots in DE and MD you might be able to rent for a few weeks (get a quote for a buisness Motel) oh and the Allentown area in PA.

NY is a problem because the closer you get to NYC the prices skyrocket. But CT can be reasonable once you get away from the Western side. I had my eye on the Naugatuck Valley for years before moving to PA.

Good luck.