19 yr old male moving to Los Angeles, $2500 saved any suggestions? (house, find a job)

[Hutch323]

So basically I'm 19 and need to get out of my house and am planning on moving to LA this January. I moved to Chicago in '02 but grew up in Playa del Rey. I know I wont be able to afford to live in Playa so any other suggestions? Where do all the struggling artists and such with little income live? I have $2500 saved and plan on waiting tables for a while once I get out there.

[sms1967]

I'd move somewhere you can struggle and get an education at the same time. California isn't a fun place to work unless you have a degree. Lots of colleges in greater SoCal.

[jbunniii]

You can easily blow through $2500 just to obtain a place to live, not to mention whatever it will cost you to move to LA from Chicago. Also in this economy there's no guarantee that you will find a job waiting tables before you run out of cash. It's your call, but I think $2500 isn't nearly enough savings for what you are proposing.

[Hutch323]

I'm moving to LA even if I have to be homeless for awhile. I currently work at a large retail chain that has locations in the Hills and Wilshire area so I could transfer to one of those if needed but they only pay $10 bucks an hour. What are some of the areas in LA to look for to find a place to live? Thanks.

[osuzana]

You won't really have the luxury of choosing where to live with no money. You will have to find a multiple roomate situation to try and survive. Starving artist is what you may become without steady income in L.A. It is not romantic to be broke for your art. Think with you head, not your heart.

[ebuch]

I wouldn't move to CA unless you have a stable job secured. You could easily spend $2500 on a rental. Why not stay in Chi-Town for awhile, save up some more, and plan a move when the economy in Cali starts turning around more.

[KnoxTown]

That money will be gone after one month, and there is no guarentee you'll find work that quick here.

[uptown_urbanist]

You're going to need the job secured first, so why not try for the transfer and then look for work after you move? Realistically it's highly unlikely you'll find something right away, anyway, so if you absolutely must move to LA right now, terrible economy and all, you might be stuck with the $10/hr. See if you can get the transfer, then go about finding a place. Roommates are your best option. Get the job, then find the place to live. Check out Craigslist for a general sense of what's available for what cost where.

[Melissa R.]

Why would you choose to move to LA and be homeless? As much as I love living in Los Angeles if I had the choice to be homeless in Los Angeles or go back to the Mid West and have a place to live, I'd choose going back to the Mid West.

[yamota]

Well, if you have to be homeless, LA's the place for it. Weather's nice and warm, you don't have to worry about freezing to death, you can push your shopping cart with all your worldly possesions around and rummage through the garbage for food to your heart's content