I've bounced from city to city several times.
First, in the Army. The service is like "relocation training wheels". Everything is taken care of: housing, bills, food... just drop your gear off at your bunk and head on over to the chow hall. Easy. All you have to do is change your addresses. You get used to it and often welcome the change.
Then, after I got out, it was time to get my own place. The first move is easy: just move your stuff out of the parent's place - no rush. But, then you deal with leases, setting up power, and transferring all everything to your new address: bank, cell phone bill, and whatever lingering things that need to chase you around.
After that, it was time to relocate long distance - I moved 2000 miles. From Wisconsin to California. I had traveled plenty, relocated plenty, and set up my job ahead of me: I knew the drill. I didn't bring any furniture, just personal junk that would fit in the car, and off I went on a road trip. I got there, and first thing was to stop at my new job and shake hands with the boss. Once that is cool and I have a good report going, off to the hotel I went to start sifting through the yellow pages and take a shower. I jotted down some numbers, and hopped back into the car. There are two essential things you need to get paid, right? An address, and a phone number. I went straight to the post office, crap still in the car, to get a P.O. box. Done, now I need a phone number... buzz over to the mall and duck into a phone joint to get a pager with voicemail. Bam! Give them my P.O. box, they give me a phone number, back to work I go! Give work my Addy and Phone number, Pow. Done. Er... wait... the crap is still in my car.
Let me back up. See, I was all set to chill at the hotel for a week or so until I found a place. Well, while at the phone joint, I chatted up a woman and her daughter as we waited to be finished. They finished, and it was my turn, but they hung out to chat with me. Blah, blah, blah... I explain my situation, they inform me that they have an efficiency (servants quarters/guest house) for rent at their place. RIDICULOUS!
I show up in north bay San Francisco, sight unseen/no scouting, with nothing but my car, my crap, and a job... and in a matter of like 8 hours, I'm fully established.
Since, I've bounced back from there to Wisconsin, to another city, to Orlando, back to Wisconsin to... well, around.
Dude, there is a "fuss" that you must be used to: leases, bills, overlapping start/stops, checkouts, changing over everything, getting a bank, etcetera. You have to understand everything you need, and in what order, to make a jump. And, if you plan on making a huge jump, start liquidating crap early. People try to hang on to so much "stuff" they don't need! Crappy furniture, clothes they never wear, pets, dust collectors, sh!t like shelving... it ends up costing more to move that crap than to just get new stuff. Seriously, if you know you are going to make a jump, pull up a trash can and start kissing sh!t goodbye. Give it to friends, sell it on e-bay, donate to charity, leave it on the curb - whatever, just streamline your gear to minimal personal stuff so you can travel light and easy. Since you don't own a home, make a conscious effort to not buy a lot of crap you honestly don't need: big screen TV's are a big no-no, huge leather couches, another bad mistake, there are so many "nice" things that you'll want to get as a bachelor - don't. It will only get wrecked from moving it around, plus, YOU HAVE TO MOVE IT AROUND! Take your damn money, toss it into a CD or other investment, and stay light. STAY LIGHT! I can't stress this enough about bachellorhood. I kick myself for getting a cat all the time - he's the coolest fuxer on the planet - but he's also a huge anchor, he's a responsibilty almost on the same level as a kid. Don't get a pet, it will slow you down. Besides, it's more crap to move around - doggy dish, dog food, leashes, whatever... more crap to move.
Dude, I gave my microwave to my mother: I never used it, and I'm tired of moving it! Man, I can't stress it enough - don't buy a bunch of nice stuff. Beanbag chairs, futons, folding tables and chairs: cheap, and you don't give a damn if it gets beat up. Stuff that breaks down, folds up, and travels well is the way to go. When you find yourself wanting "nice, pimp sh!t" go price it out, seriously, and take that money and throw it in the bank. You'll want to sux my cox later for it.
Sure, some "less than lavish living" will be looked down on by your lady friends and others, but noone can talk sh!t about a fat wad of cash coming out of your pocket, and a huge down payment on a house. HUGE. If you feel you're getting a "this guy is broke" vibe... leave a bank statement laying around "inconspicuously". People will snoop, and they'll realize that you "have your sh!t together"... because you will.
This, djbr, is the essence of "living within your means". Buying fancy sh!t when you don't own a home is ass-backwards. You'll destroy the nice sh!t moving, and you'll stay that much further away from owning: forever stuck in a cycle of renting - throwing money away for something you'll never own.
Start a checklist of things you need to do on a notepad, load up your crap, and hit the road. Once in town, knock out your list, settle in... and live within your means with an eye on the future. Know you'll have to move crap you buy, and don't put yourself into debt by making big-ticket purchases.
And last, Use public transportation, or buy a bike, and avoid the hassle of a car if at all possible. Sure, you'll want a hot ride, but insurance, upkeep, gas, tickets... all that cash you save from going without for a couple years will slingshot you towards your goal of owning your own home.
I can tell you now, because I've made my mistakes and learned. I learned some things late, and want to help you get further, faster, by letting you see the path that others don't see until too late - hell, some people never catch on to "living within your means". I know that you, getting an early jump on DJ-dom, will have no problem with "not impressing people with your shiny things".
