Should I move to Texas from Washington State? (West: how much, to buy)

[eric3781]

Originally Posted by descovy

What's funny is when I waited Tables in WA we could work a lunch/dinner 8hr shift (maybe 11-7 for example). Yes it was slow mid afternoon, but we could do side work/ prep for evening. Restaurants let you stay and pay you the whole time.

Waiting tables in Houston meant working lunch shift, being sent home until dinner shift. Damned if the restaurant wanted to pay $2.13/hr when there weren't many customers

When I waited tables I preferred working a double like that. Come in at 10am and make a quick $50-$75 or so on the lunch pop, get off at 2:30pm and go relax, run errands, whatever, come back at 5:30pm and work through dinner making another $100 or so, get off at 10:30pm, go have a few with your co-workers, sleep it off and get back to it at 10am the next day. Put myself through college doing that on weekends and summers. Not a very stressful way for a 20-something to make money IMHO.

Why do I need to stick around when it's dead just so I can ride the clock for $2.15/hour, polishing and rolling silverware??? I am there to hustle tips and slop tables, not make tipwage.

[txdemo]

Originally Posted by eric3781

When I waited tables I preferred working a double like that. Come in at 10am and make a quick $50-$75 or so on the lunch pop, get off at 2:30pm and go relax, run errands, whatever, come back at 5:30pm and work through dinner making another $100 or so, get off at 10:30pm, go have a few with your co-workers, sleep it off and get back to it at 10am the next day. Put myself through college doing that on weekends and summers. Not a very stressful way for a 20-something to make money IMHO.

Why do I need to stick around when it's dead just so I can ride the clock for $2.15/hour, polishing and rolling silverware??? I am there to hustle tips and slop tables, not make tipwage.

Hope you didn't take part in the socialist tip pool.

[eric3781]

Originally Posted by txdemo

Hope you didn't take part in the socialist tip pool.

I was forced to by the fascist dictators in the politburo of management against my will.

[theSUBlime]

Originally Posted by eric3781

It's math time kids!:

($2.15/hour tip wage + tips - tipshare) / hours worked > federal minimum wage mandate

or else:

Employer has to adjust the hourly rate to meet or exceed minimum wage.

Class dismissed.

That's not even really the problem though. The problem is the entire etiquette of tipping. I think everyone has had the awkward thing of going out with a group and everyone having different tipping policies or service expectations. Some people are much more forgiving than others and some people are needy. There are horrible servers and some great ones. There is also the ubiquitous tip jar at the coffee shop. It gives some interesting results, especially the foreigners genuinely confused.

[theSUBlime]

Originally Posted by cheryjohns

Is this a little rough? Yeah, but it's 100% correct. Attempt to land the job first, unless you are a minimum wage worker. Save up a lot more money. There are more opportunities in Dallas and Houston than San Antonio - but S.A.'s cost of living is less than the bigger two. Texas in general is not a public transportation area - you are going to need a car. Sounds like you are not ready.

It's 100% correct, but being helpful involves providing reasoning. Sometimes the reason is more important than the answer.

[scraps1960]

I made the move 2 years ago and I am so very sorry I left Washington. Now I am stuck here!

1) You cannot make it here without a car. This state is big and very unorganized compared to Washington or any other state I have lived in. The metroplex is twice as bad. Public transporation is pretty much nothing compared to Washington. In some cities in the DFW area public transportation doesn't exist at all.
2) Good jobs are rare. The competition is rough. Employers in Texas do not like to pay even the minium wage which is $7.25 compared to Washington $10.00. Does that tell you anything? The quality of life here is pretty low from the politics to the bible thumpers. Up north people and politics work for a better way of life for the community as a whole. Texans work to survive and nothing more. It's a very sad place to live in and the heat makes it worse. Read the paper and see for yourself.
3) Rent is a little less but so is the quality of housing.
4) Utilities are a little higher prices. Food prices are about the same. Gas is a lower. Medical care is far behind times (the good doctors don't stay here either). Auto insurance twice as much.
5) There is no such thing as "Southern Hospitality" unless its smiling and lying. Don't fall for that "Southern Hospitality" stuff, it's just a marketing approach to get people into the state.

Do yourself a favor and stay up north in civilization, try Oregon or California or Colorado. Texas is "hell in a basket". I am trying to work myself back to Washington.

That is my opinion about Texas.

[lipbalm]

Originally Posted by eric3781

I was forced to by the fascist dictators in the politburo of management against my will.

Hmm...I always thought Fascist and Socialist were mortal enemies.

[eric3781]

Originally Posted by lipbalm

Hmm...I always thought Fascist and Socialist were mortal enemies.

Suuuuure, that's why Hitler's "national socialists" and Mussolini's fascist Italy never quite got along.

[katygirl68]

Originally Posted by scraps1960

I made the move 2 years ago and I am so very sorry I left Washington. Now I am stuck here!

1) You cannot make it here without a car. This state is big and very unorganized compared to Washington or any other state I have lived in. The metroplex is twice as bad. Public transporation is pretty much nothing compared to Washington. In some cities in the DFW area public transportation doesn't exist at all.
2) Good jobs are rare. The competition is rough. Employers in Texas do not like to pay even the minium wage which is $7.25 compared to Washington $10.00. Does that tell you anything? The quality of life here is pretty low from the politics to the bible thumpers. Up north people and politics work for a better way of life for the community as a whole. Texans work to survive and nothing more. It's a very sad place to live in and the heat makes it worse. Read the paper and see for yourself.
3) Rent is a little less but so is the quality of housing.
4) Utilities are a little higher prices. Food prices are about the same. Gas is a lower. Medical care is far behind times (the good doctors don't stay here either). Auto insurance twice as much.
5) There is no such thing as "Southern Hospitality" unless its smiling and lying. Don't fall for that "Southern Hospitality" stuff, it's just a marketing approach to get people into the state.

Do yourself a favor and stay up north in civilization, try Oregon or California or Colorado. Texas is "hell in a basket". I am trying to work myself back to Washington.

That is my opinion about Texas.

Yeah, I'm sure the lack of hospitality towards you is because you were hoodwinked by a marketing campaign. It couldn't be the attitude you put out there.

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Originally Posted by scraps1960

I made the move 2 years ago and I am so very sorry I left Washington. Now I am stuck here!

1) You cannot make it here without a car. This state is big and very unorganized compared to Washington or any other state I have lived in. The metroplex is twice as bad. Public transporation is pretty much nothing compared to Washington. In some cities in the DFW area public transportation doesn't exist at all.
2) Good jobs are rare. The competition is rough. Employers in Texas do not like to pay even the minium wage which is $7.25 compared to Washington $10.00. Does that tell you anything? The quality of life here is pretty low from the politics to the bible thumpers. Up north people and politics work for a better way of life for the community as a whole. Texans work to survive and nothing more. It's a very sad place to live in and the heat makes it worse. Read the paper and see for yourself.
3) Rent is a little less but so is the quality of housing.
4) Utilities are a little higher prices. Food prices are about the same. Gas is a lower. Medical care is far behind times (the good doctors don't stay here either). Auto insurance twice as much.
5) There is no such thing as "Southern Hospitality" unless its smiling and lying. Don't fall for that "Southern Hospitality" stuff, it's just a marketing approach to get people into the state.

Do yourself a favor and stay up north in civilization, try Oregon or California or Colorado. Texas is "hell in a basket". I am trying to work myself back to Washington.

That is my opinion about Texas.

This is exactly why people are posting what they are to the OP. It sounds like you sort of did what the OP is asking about doing, your attitude and experiences are the result of such a foolish move.