I currently live in Austin TX, which is a pretty lively, fun city in itself, but since I grew up here I really want to branch out and move somewhere else entirely new. I'm not sure where it. Right now I'm thinking Atlanta or something, but that may change.

I want to finish school first and save up a good amount of money, but I'm already 23 and I literally feel like I'm dying to get away from my current environment. There's nothing bad about my life per se but I just feel like it's gotten so stale from my job, to the people around me, etc.

Anyways, I've never moved away from home before, so I was just wondering if anyone who has had some advice. How much di you save up before hand? How long did it take you to find a job? Was it scary? etc.

stay where you at sis, it ain't worth it

Don't go from Austin to Atlanta hun.

I moved from the Midwest to Phoenix a month ago. I'd recommend saving up at least a couple grand first. Basically I'd say get a couple thousand, arrange to have a job here, and then get a place to live and then just do it. Scary doesn't quite capture the feeling of moving on your own to a place you're not familiar with but yes it is. I'd never been to Phoenix before I moved. It's something that you can't really plan out too much or you'll overthink it and keep pushing back when you want to move.

I stayed with @xviiii for a week in Chicago and realized how much I missed texas lol

don't do it sis

Mess. can yall elaborate on why it's not worth it?

Is it cuz the cost of living is higher or why?

Also, don't listen to anyone in this thread who tells you not to move. If you have the desire you're doing yourself wrong to stay where you are. Moving to a new place on your own or at least somewhere where you don't have your friends you grew up with/parents changes you for the better. Life starts to be fun (to say the least) and I honestly can't even put into words how my perspective has changed (yes, I've only been where I am now for a short time but I've moved once prior to this).

I made the mistake of moving to a new city just this year and it was horrible but mostly due to the toxic relationship I was in at the time.

However if you do plan on moving make sure you have enough money to last you at least 2 weeks in the new city, start looking for jobs in advance, look for a place to stay before you leave, don't take too many of your belongings if you're currently living with your parents, don't surround yourself with people that will affect you negatively.

Those are all mistakes I made when I moved on my own.

Also, Atlanta is a beautiful city. Used to live there like 10 years ago, you're gonna love it.

And see this is pretty much why I want to move. Half of my friends moved away and the other half that I'm still friends with I don't really feel that connected to anymore. And I love family, but they're just... a lot, and I feel like I need some distance from them.

Also, if you're applying for jobs from a different city, how does that work exactly? Do you have to fly back and forth to do interviews?

I don't really have any advice but I wanna move away once I graduate too. Just make sure you do the proper research and have enough money to last for a few months if you don't have a job by the time you move.

I don't know how possible this is for you but one way to change up your environment for a few months would be studying/interning/volunteering abroad. You'd learn about yourself and see if you can a handle a permanent move.

Atlanta is really cool. It's not too expensive and there's a lot to do. Just be ready to drive everywhere and deal with traffic.

They think it's not worth it because they're sheltered.


As to why not Atlanta, it's just not the type of place to go from Austin. Austin definitely has more "alternative" culture that just doesn't exists in quite the same way in Atlanta. Also, since you're not moving for a job (ie a company in ATL hired you and you have to move there) there's just a lot better options. Say you want to a big metropolitan feeling, then LA or NYC (depending on what type of big city you want) would be a good choice or if you're poor like me, Phoenix. If you want a cool cultural city, Seattle, Boston, or Portland would be great. If you're looking for something more humble, Milwaukee or Chicago are good choices too. There's just not a lot to offer in Atlanta except for your Grindr will be poppin'. You might as well move to Nashville or St. Louis or some **** like that.

Nope, basically what you want to do is call and talk to a manager and explain your situation. They'll likely just ask you to do a skype interview or an interview over the phone. It's pretty common these days. Request the start date of your job to be a week after you move just so you have time to let the dust settle because you might run into problems ie you have to wait a day to move in or if you don't have a car in your new city, need time to learn public transit. I started the day after I moved in to my apartment and it was hell. Save up enough, like someone said, to last two weeks just in case there are some minor complications.

I've considered that, but it's tough because I have a full time job as well as school. I'm going to Ireland for a couple of weeks in December by myself though. It'll be my first time traveling a major distant on my own.


I guess the reason I figured Atlanta was because I eventually would like to find a job in television/radio production and I've heard there's a lot of growth going on there in the entertainment world. LA and NY would be better options for that probably, but I figured for the cost of living there and the oversaturation in that industry it would be much tougher. Though in that case, I'd be better off staying in Austin since there's some good opportunities here.

Tbh, I still have a lot of research to do as far as cities. This post was quite helpful though, thanks!

FWIW, Austin to Atlanta would basically be somewhat similar to you moving to either Dallas or Houston with a higher percentage of black people. All three are more affordable large cities, though. LA or NYC would definitely be better for TV/radio, but also much more expensive and competitive.

I want to move from my hometown to a city too, and I've got no clue how to do it.

From what I've seen, you pretty much need to have a job in order to rent your own apartment, but I don't know how I'm supposed to look for a job in the city when I don't live there (plus I have the added disadvantage of having no work experience, so I have no idea what I could reasonably expect to be hired for). Of course, I'd probably be better off trying to find a roommate (at least for a few months while I get settled and try to save up a bit), but I feel like that would be really uncomfortable for me. I'd much rather live alone. It's so stressful to think about all of this.

Just do the proper research and save enough money before moving. I live in Atlanta and was contemplating moving away upon graduating, but decided on staying once I changed my major into costume design. I'm currently doing an internship and am thankful to have a job lined-up post graduation, film work is plentiful but becoming increasingly competitive. ATL is different from Austin, but it's a cool city with a lot of great prospects for the future.

What would you say the overall vibe of ATL people is like?

Like Domination said, Austin is pretty alternative and liberal but I'd say we have our fair share of conservatism. It is TX after all.

Moved twice. Dublin to Los Angeles at 17. Los Angeles to London at 24. Been here for a year now.

Save up enough to live job-free for three months. Use Facebook to maybe try connect with people you know (or even sorta knew from school/family) who live in the new city and try meet up with them for drinks and if they're nice they'll introduce you to their friends. Getting a job will help socially too, most likely. Don't worry about stuff like liberal/conservative - it's a major city so you'll find the people you'll hang out with so they'll likely share your views on most things. You can find extremes of both ends easily in big cities.

It's lonely at first. But you adjust and it becomes your new normal and things work out. At least that's my experience.

Move to a blue state.. Texas is terrible and Trump land.

It's a major city so you'll run into a variety of types. We have our fair share of conservatism too and it's get redder the farther out from the city you are, however ATL is as liberal as it gets in the south. The gay scene is huge and vibrant, very few cities have anything like it, nightlife and music is great, etc. I think Domination's assessment is a little bit off base, Atlanta has a lot of hidden gems and great culture that are often overlooked, but I will say that he's somewhat right in the sense that Atlanta is a city still in search of an identity. It wants to be a world renowned city, but in many aspects doesn't quite know how to be one. It's something that is changing rapidly however, as gentrification/redevelopment/more investment pours into the city.

I think the most important thing is either to have a job before you go or have generous parents who'll pay your rent until you find one. Having a job is the easiest way to go straight from one city to another, especially if you don't know anyone or many people in that new place, as it automatically gives you financial security and should provide you with social opportunities also.