Moving to San Diego...Need Advice (rent, home, find a job) - California (CA) - City-Data Forum

robbiehart · 07-11-2009, 07:06 PM

Hi,

I'm a 22 yr old college grad in the biotech/pharma field that is currently in the process of moving to San Diego. I'm from Rhode Island so this will be a huge move for me. What are the costs like for shipping my car, bed, furniture etc. across the country?

Also I just landed an entry level job in the La Jolla area with a 45K starting salary plus benefits. I also found a roommate and a place to live. The rent is $900 a month. Will I be struggling to make ends meat or will I be okay? Would it help to get a part-time job on the side as well?

Last I'll be living right near University of San Diego on Morena Blvd. Is that considered a "good" area?

Thanks!

moved · 07-11-2009, 07:18 PM

I wouldn't bother shipping your belongings, it would be too expensive. Just load your car with what you want to bring and drive out. The other suggestion is a pod.

oddstray · 07-11-2009, 10:13 PM

Morena Blvd. includes "south Morena Blvd." and "north Morena Blvd." A good friend of ours lives near "north Morena Blvd." It's a good area. From what I've seen of "south Morena Blvd." it's more industrial/commercial. That doesn't mean it's not a good area for residential once you're off the main drag. I haven't heard anything about it being not a good area.

If you're commuting from Morena Blvd. to La Jolla than you're going opposite rush hour. That should make your commute less of a drag ... unless there's something going on in that area that I don't know about.

Sounds to me like you've hit the jackpot! (Job, rent, neighborhood) Welcome to San Diego!

robbiehart · 07-13-2009, 09:20 AM

I love how I got 66 views on this thread but 2 responses haha...whatever.

Thanks though for the comments! I appreciate it! And yeah I don't know how to differentiate yet between north and south Morena Blvd. but I'm assuming I'm more north because I'll be living north of I-8 and Friars Rd. About parallel with Sea World or maybe a little north of that as well.

Still trying to figure out though if I should sell my car and just buy a new used one when I get out there or not. Decisions..decisions...And thanks for the suggestion on the pod. I'll need to look into that!

moved · 07-13-2009, 09:32 AM

There's no need to sell your car. Check into quotes for shipping your belongings, you might find that's it's not worth it to ship them. It might cost less to replace them once you get here, unless they're antiques or very valuable. Is your job paying for your moving expenses? If you're going to live near USD on Morena, yes, it's a pretty good area.

sav858 · 07-13-2009, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oddstray

.
If you're commuting from Morena Blvd. to La Jolla than you're going opposite rush hour. That should make your commute less of a drag ... unless there's something going on in that area that I don't know about.

That is actually the commute direction, more people are driving north toward La Jolla than south toward Downtown in the morning.

And $45K should be enough to live MODESTLY on as long as you don't have a lot of debt payments.

Just1Lion · 07-13-2009, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moved

I wouldn't bother shipping your belongings, it would be too expensive. Just load your car with what you want to bring and drive out. The other suggestion is a pod.

it still costs a bit to ship the pod doesnt it?

moved · 07-13-2009, 11:19 AM

If the OP thinks that her furnishings are worth shipping, she'll pay it. Shipping cross country is expensive, and unless you have antiques, it's better to sell your stuff, and buy new/used when you get to your destination. Unless, of course, your employer is paying for the move. And they don't do much of that anymore.

msgsing · 07-13-2009, 12:56 PM

Finally a sensible post from a younger person who has a good education and a relatively well paid job lined up. Usually, it's someone with no marketable job skills who just wants to pack up and hope they can find a job as a waiter or bartender because they like the beach.

robbiehart · 07-13-2009, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moved

There's no need to sell your car. Check into quotes for shipping your belongings, you might find that's it's not worth it to ship them. It might cost less to replace them once you get here, unless they're antiques or very valuable. Is your job paying for your moving expenses? If you're going to live near USD on Morena, yes, it's a pretty good area.

Well the reason I was considering selling it is because its only worth maybe $3000 and from the quotes I've looked at its going to cost almost a grand to get it out there. I'd hate to have a car payment but I'd settle for a used car out there and pay for it by putting down the $3000 from my old car in RI.

And yeah luckily I don't have much furniture. I'd figure I would buy most of it once I get out there. The only things I would ship would be the bulk of my clothes, my TV + stand, and my bed potentially. Course my parents are trying to get me to keep my bed home and buy a new one when I get out there as well...seeing as I wouldn't have a place to sleep anymore when I did come home for holidays and such...

And I WISH my job was paying for my moving expenses haha...I tried to squeeze a bit of $ for the move out of them but they weren't really budging...so I'm sort of biting the bullet and doing it on my own.