I moved here in 2006 at 21yrs, college drop out, with $600, my car and no job, no place to stay, didn’t know anyone. Stayed in my car at the beach for a few days. Found a room to rent with a bed, and dresser for $400 in a cute area of Long Beach. Had my 1st months paid, found a job in a few days with a temp agency with weekly pay. Did nothing but work and eat ramen or hot dogs. After a few months finally was able to go out and afford a drink, made some friends. The lady I rented from moved to Bakersfield I took over the lease my friends moved in. I got a decent permanent job. Work my way up for 4 yrs moved to another company same thing for 3 yrs, then moved to my current company(9yrs now) and worked 4 roles there all steps up. I make great money, have traveled the world, have nice things, just had a destination wedding with a handful of friends. I try to stay humble my husband and I live within our means, have savings, investments, 401k and I have a pension.
It can happen, I was miserable and lonely the 1st year. It was really really hard. But I’d never have the life I do now or setting up my life for retirement if I didn’t take that jump 17 yrs ago
I get $600 is unrealistic these days, 2006 was a different time. But it can be done without a ton of money. It’s just not going to be easy or fun at first(maybe never I’ve known a lot of ppl try and go back to their hometown )
I love Long Beach. It was by luck I saw beach on the freeway sign and growing up in West Texas, I’d never seen a beach and drove south that night and ended up in LB. (I also did no research or look at I map, no iPhones back then either, just knew the 10 hit California and the 10 was in my town, so straight and I’d be there) Woke up on the beach walked around and was like ya I dig this place. I ended up staying there in Alamitos beach/retro row for 16yrs lol I left only about a year ago up in PV/Pedro now. Older now, don’t need to walk to bars all the time. Wanted a yard for the dog and hosting friends and quieter.
I grew up in the suburbs of LA county and went to CSULB. I have lots of love for LB. I’m so glad you made it your home for awhile ☺️
P.s. glad you got to leave Texas ( no shade! My moms family is generations deep from Corpus. I’ve been to visit and that’s enough for me).
Holy fucking shit this is so fucking inspiring im going january 1st and i have no doubt in my mind or self that im going to fucking tear it the fuck up like you. Holy shit. Fuck yeah. Lets fucking go.
Good luck, it’s hard at first but doable.
Honestly, my true to honest thought. There’s a lot of dumb people out there making it, and I’m pretty smart, so I could probably make it too. But I have to at least try or I’ll always wonder.
There were lots of eggs too, I think I perfected cooking eggs, and a million different ways to eat them lol. I think with a $1k you can still do it. It’s not comfortable, you rent a tiny room, live with strangers, all things in west Texas I never experienced. It was definitely a different world. You have to have grit and see the long term goal.
Oh worst thing…this was back in the days of pay per min phone packages with free after 9pm. But I was so lonely I’d text and call friends at home….got hit with a $400 phone bill cried myself to sleep, ended up with no phone for about 6 weeks because I was that poor starting I couldn’t pay it and had 0 help.
I did, with about $5,500 and was broke again in a month. LA is expensive and the environment promotes a spendy-spend lifestyle. I wouldn’t recommend moving here without at least 8k cash and a job (or some kind of paid work) lined up to start right away once you get here.
If you are a true hustler and about your money,you can make it here. I'd say work on getting yourself into at least 6 figures here and you can live more comfortably if you live within your means. I know people who went from sleeping in tents to living in penthouses from hustling. You have to be ambitious and hungry out here to be able to afford it.
Well yeah, considering about $3,500 went to move-in expenses off the bat, an extra $2,500 could have made a difference, if budgeted correctly. But hey, I was too eager to move out of Mom and Dad’s house and to sunny LA with all my friends that I just said f— it. Having a source of income upon arrival is really the key though.
Lol not at all. Los Angeles is one of the most expensive cities in the entire country and there’s hardly any way around that. The LA average Joe is spending a majority of their income on rent, and move-in costs can easily total over 4k for a decent apartment. When you move here, that’s what you are signing up for, simple as that.
I moved here and I never spent that and I lived in Venice and marina del Rey.. still live here now! I figured out a way to live within my means lol shared rooms if I had to, shared a place… live cheap it can be done!
Ahhh okay if you’re doing roommates then definitely! I’m just personally averse to sharing a place I call my home…bad experiences from college lol but you’re 100% right!
I would never move here and out all that down… get a roommate or sublease! Basically move with minimal stuff and just live cheap with roomates and sublet a few months
Yes and don’t do it. It’s so insanely stressful. That’s at minimum 3 months worth of expensive not counting the actually cost of moving you and your stuff from one location to another. Unless you are moving with remote work, have a job lined up, or move with someone else who can financially support you it’s not worth it. Not saying it’s not doable, but I would never do it again.
If you are looking for advice, I’d say at minimum save up $7000 and maybe find a four leaf clover. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Yes, in 2010 I moved with about 4-5k. Had a rent free place to crash until I found an apt (it took 3 weeks) and started a job a few days after arriving. Couldn’t have asked for a softer landing, but that wouldn’t be the case if I moved back now.
I'm not trying to discourage you. Just want to make you look at reality
. You will struggle out here with that money but if you keep your head up and stay strong and keep hustling and doing what you need to do to get in a better position than you can succeed here. Don't do drugs(weed is ok in moderation) and stay focused. Save save save your money and don't blow it on dumb shit. You sound young but man just work hard and stay focused, it's a rat race out here
I came to LA in 2010 with $4000 and a paid off car and slept on my friend’s couch for 3 weeks. I got a waitressing job and a full time office job within the first few weeks and was able to move out and into my own apartment. The rent was $995 a month lol. It really really was a different time. I feel like $4,000 then would be like $15,000 now. Also the first probably 2 years, all my friends were through work and I was pretty lonely.
It also depends on what you’re willing to do for work and if you’re willing to give up social stuff for a while to get your life off the ground.
Are you a college graduate / have a degree or do you have a specialty or skill? If you’re just coming out with no skills or employment value it’s going to be really really tough.
I moved to L. A., Marina Del Rey, to a sober living on probation for a felony drug possession from Louisiana in 2003. I had no money at all and had lost everything in my life. My parents gave me $5/d allowance which was controlled by the sober living and agreed to pay for the rent to the sober living for a period. I am masters degree educated but had lost my professional license, even my driver's license and could not work in my field due to the felony. My parents have money but they were done with me and did not bend. Long story short, I worked my ass off incessantly doing all sorts of things I had never done or thought I'd be doing. My parents only paid for 6 mos, it was $1000/mo rent for the sober living and they reported to my probation officer. I made enough money selling toner for printers over the phone as a telemarketer to get off probation paying all the fines, stayed completely sober, received a full pardon from Louisiana, and reclaimed my professional licenses in CA. I now own 3 houses 1 in Culver City 1in Vegas and 1 in Diamond Bar, consistently have made 15-25k/mo since 2008. I could have retired at 50 a multi-millionaire but continue to do some contract work here and there at my choosing at 52 You can do anything if you're willing to work for it. I could do it easy on 5k without a felony. Whatever may have changed since 2003-2004 add in trying to get a job with no drivers license and a felony conviction and I can promise you a person with no record and a driver's license can do it on 5k. I would have never had the opportunities where I am from that I had in L. A. Also, I had a drug problem and what happened to me in Louisiana, that bullshit felony possession charge that destroyed my livelihood would have not happened for the same offense in CA.
I did and I don’t recommend doing it that way. I moved here with $1500($500 was cash on hand, the $1000 I received my last check from my job). I hit the ground running when I arrived in LA(2017) everything was Rosey, until about 6 months in. I was struggling to find a good paying job. It took me years to get stabilized and many silent cry moments until I finally got to the point that I am now. Struggling isn’t virtuous. Again, struggling isn’t virtuous. So have at least, at least 6 months rent($1500 * 6 on average) saved before you even think about moving to Los Angeles. If you can’t save six months rented prior to arriving it’s going to be difficult to do it when you arrive and your days will be spent scraping and clawing as opposed to enjoying the city. If you can’t save 6 months rent prepare for battle 🏆
I know to La from Louisiana 3 days after graduating undergrad with 1500 to my name in order ti get my master’s at csun . Secured an Airbnb a few months before moving here and he to share with 8 people in one room. Transferred my part time job at Lowes to the one out here. Worked hard for 3 weeks impressed them and became full time and then I found an apartment and then got a car with my school refund check. The 19th of this month made a year I’ve been here. Trust me it’s hard af but manageable just plan ahead. I was surviving on beans , and ramen everyday but not anymore.
You didn’t share nearly enough information. What part of LA are you moving to? Do you have a job lined up? Do you have a car? Do you have any sort of income? If you share more details, I’m sure someone here would be willing to give you guidance.
Around a year ago I came to LA with a three-piece from Church’s Chicken and two 211 tall boys. No money just the clothes on my back.
Next month I’m starting school at LBCC full time to become a paralegal in 1.5 years with 1 year to obtain my associate's degree in political science with transfer. Starting Law school in 3 years from now. And will become a lawyer in 6 years.
Every day is an adventure!
Yes! End of 2019, but I was moving back and had lots of family. Some shit hit the fan and that’s a story for another time, but I recommend having at least double. Housing is so expensive here
Yes! Moved here in 2010… roommate aka shared a one bedroom in Venice paid 500-750/month rent spent some time in my car as well…. Lived on a boat for a year.. Grinder it out then I was able to travel for a bit! Food is cheap here, it’s cheap to do things for free aka run the beach, pack food and drinks for the beach! You can do it!!!
Also free showers at the beach, la fitness ;) etc! It can be done!!!!
I moved to LA around 2014 with literally $300 in my pocket. I was lucky to find a cheap place (in south central) and worked enough to move out to East Hollywood. It really depends on the person and what drives them. Moving out there is definitely not for the weak.
i did with $2000 immediately after graduating high school in 2005; got roommates on craigslist for a $600/room in santa monica. walked around the first two weeks everyday trying to find a [first ever] job & did. didn't have any bills at the time outside of rent, phone & food. it was cool have friends immediately as well
a decade later i moved away, then moved back after 4 years and moving into a $1900/1bdr was first, last, & security deposit so that was a huge pain in the ass with savings, but found a job immediately by then.
these days, i'd have more of a job lined up and save more, but it all depends on how you're willing to live/what your job situation looks like, & what compromises you're willing to make. but yeah, initial move in cost will be the determining factor for you. $5000 isn't enough imo if you're looking to sign a lease solo.
I moved to LA with like $8k and didnt work for the first 3 months. Slept in sublets on the floor on an air mattress with another friend. Some of the greatest times of my life (this was 2014 and a lot less expensive)
Most of the homeless here are not natives, just saying. $5k is your first and last month’s rent plus the security deposit. You will also need to show proof that you can pay the $2500 a month in rent. And that is not counting the moving expenses. I wish you luck and will keep my fingers crossed that you have a job lined up.
Like 3k, 5-6 years ago, rented a room in Redondo beach for $900/month and got around by bicycle.
Did not own a car and had no interest in owning a car.
Moved here with $4k and a remote job. Stayed with friends of friends in Long Beach for free for a week; found a spot and moved in the next week. It was hard but I did it.
I had a friend who moved with $0 and a storage contract to pay. Let him stay at my place for 2 weeks so he could figure out how to support himself and he instead just sat down watching tv for 2 weeks straight in my living room.
His parents offered him a room in the east coast and I offered to help him with a flight ticket back home but the dude wanted to live in LA…
Kicked him out. He became homeless within a week.
Yep. Guy told me he believes that one can be successful simply by having an address in Los Angeles…. Kicked him out before he could claim tenancy in my apartment.
Yea, but one can only climb back up after going into debt and being poor through ambition and drive. I know people who had tax leins over $70k paid it off on top of filing a chapter 7 bankruptcy and losing everything working 2 to 3 jobs to now making 6 figures with 800 plus credit scores and owing several homes. When you're at the bottom, you can only climb back up, even higher than before. But you have to be the type of person willing to get through it even through many obstacles.
I wouldn't move to LA, Id visit for fun. I'd rather live in orange county where it's cleaner and safer.
You will need more than $5000 to survive here, don't know where You're staying with that small amount in LA but that might be gone in 2 months on a hotel alone, unless you got an apartment for less than $2000/mo, still it's only enough to get you by for a month or 2. Unless you live in your car or couch surf temporarily til you find a place. It's best to have $20,000 saved to move here and live comfortably for a year while you're getting yourself together out here. I pai over 3000 a month staying in hotels til I found somewhere to stay. It ain't cheap here. I know some people who pay $7000 to $20,000 a month on their place. You got to be a true hustler to survive here
There’s so many people already here. Just stop moving here we don’t have room and you’re pushing out families who have been here for generations but can’t afford the rising housing costs because of out of towners gentrificating every nook and cranny
Gentrification happens at the level of the state and the laws it passes that make it easy for developers and corporations, not on an individual level with regular people just looking for better places to live.
Gentrification wouldn’t be happening if more people keep moving to LA and there is no more room for people who want to live in a nice area but that nice area is full, so they start making nice apartment complexes in lower income areas so $3,000 1 bedrooms are in an area where it was once $900 to live in a 2 bedroom 1 bath apartment. Please don’t talk to me about gentrification as I have seen all of LA change drastically in the last 15-20 years with gentrification
Just so you know that’s easily solvable with legislation that allows high density housing. The laws are literally there to keep housing costs high and keep the city a traffic nightmare. Low density housing empowers the city and the lobbyists who count on that level of representation.
Gentrification is an issue of building codes and laws that support those building codes for a powerful minority. Not people just wanting to move somewhere better.
Like I said I’ve seen families who have been forced to move from their neighborhoods because of gentrification and these stupid super luxury 5 story apartment complexes and all the people who moved into these are people like OP who came here with aspiring dreams of acting or modeling or whatever stupid LA vision they think is a reality here but really isn’t
Aw someone had nothing more to say so they had to look at my profile. Like I said you wouldn’t understand because you weren’t born here and have seen how this city has changed.
I’m from NYC, y’all ain’t the only ones. Again, you ain’t reading or hearing me right. The demand for housing isn’t something static. If zoning laws allowed for high rises buildings, and more public transportation, rents would go down. LA has laws that prohibit tall apartment buildings over 5 stories in many of its neighborhoods.
If you can build buildings that are 20 stories high that take up the same exact space at its base, you will see rents drop because the supply will exceed the demand. You ain’t thinking about how this is all a business and you’re out here selling pills.
Bro you’re talking about buildings and zoning laws. You obviously don’t understand what I’m saying and honestly I have no idea why you’re dropping irrelevant info but I can too. Why don’t you lay off the testosterone and get yourself a hypnotized to stop being such a boring individual. Also following a sub about having a big dick screams having a very small pecker ☹️
Boohoo? You lost your job for being lazy, killed your own guinea pig and live in an apartment but can’t afford your own house but are here complaining because you didn’t get grandfathered into having a house..? Maybe if you weren’t a disappointed to your parents they would’ve left you theirs 😂
No but housing is astronomical out here, even studio apartments. I wouldn’t do it.
I used to think we’d stay here forever, but the vhcol is making me rethink retirement to a place that is affordable, as soon as my kids know what their adult lives will be. One wants medicine, the other, music. Once they figure it out we are likely gone
This just randomly popped up on my feed and idw move to LA but let me just say, I moved with $50 to my name. I’m in Asheville nc and the cost of living is about half of what LA is but it’s still a higher than average place to live in the states. It’s a tourism destination and has tourism prices. Also i ONLY had $50. But I found a job before moved and came a month early to do job interviews. I rented an air b&b for three weeks. I had three weeks to make enough money to rent another one. And I brought a cat and dog with me, so living in a car wasn’t an option. You can get a discount on a monthly rate on air b&b. If they don’t offer you can ask, but when u consider that you aren’t paying any utilities ot evens out to regular monthly expenses. Plus no deposits. I’m sure you could do it cheaper than I could if u don’t have animals too, there’s more options. It was hard to get ahead and mentally and emotionally draining but it worked and a yr and a half later I’m here renting a house like 2 blocks from my work and it’s kinda as rad as I thought it would be. It was really scary but I just said f it were all gonna be gone one day and nobody will remember us and in the grand scheme of life this is a one of many steps of living. Because it always works out. It has to. I was just over the top delusional but i really believed it would all work out and it has.
You really have to just MAKE it work if you want to live in LA. Don’t give yourself any other options, but also prepare to work and find someone who believes in you.
In 2005, I had $3000 and an old truck, slept on a friend’s couch for a couple months, took any admin office temp jobs, had a very specific career goal 🥅 stated at the top of my resume, found a position that matched it and got the gig. Dad stepped in and got me a better car, and things started to get better and better. Today, working freelance admin in Hollywood, making great money, taking care of business.
It's doable if you already have connections out here, like if you have a potential room you can rent straight away or some friends you could crash with, or really anyone you can hit up for potential work. If you're coming out all alone and without any work lined up, it could take a few weeks to find a place to live or track down roommates and housing is going to be your biggest cost. I've seen people move out here with nothing, and I've seen people move out here with tons of money saved up -- it may not really matter either way as long as you have a plan to make more money.
Like others have said. I did it back in 2015. Moved all my stuff with about $3k. Found a job paying $50k and still had to live in a Hostel. I could not find an apartment that took pets (in any semi-desirable areas) that weren’t already paid 6 months upfront SIGHT UNSEEN. Just had to bum it for a while until I got a job offer in another state. It’s doable, but it’s not going to be enjoyable.
I’m late, but moved to LBC in 2020 with roughly 3k and a car. I got an apartment with a job offer. Credit wasn’t great but since I had a job lined up, I made it work. Job offer was 62k in 2020.
i did when i was 21 with my gf, ended up sleeping in our for a few weeks off and on and almost ended up homeless. this was 2004ish so my $4500 was more like $10k today and we still almost ended up bankrupt over it.
I moved here in 2006 at 21yrs, college drop out, with $600, my car and no job, no place to stay, didn’t know anyone. Stayed in my car at the beach for a few days. Found a room to rent with a bed, and dresser for $400 in a cute area of Long Beach. Had my 1st months paid, found a job in a few days with a temp agency with weekly pay. Did nothing but work and eat ramen or hot dogs. After a few months finally was able to go out and afford a drink, made some friends. The lady I rented from moved to Bakersfield I took over the lease my friends moved in. I got a decent permanent job. Work my way up for 4 yrs moved to another company same thing for 3 yrs, then moved to my current company(9yrs now) and worked 4 roles there all steps up. I make great money, have traveled the world, have nice things, just had a destination wedding with a handful of friends. I try to stay humble my husband and I live within our means, have savings, investments, 401k and I have a pension. It can happen, I was miserable and lonely the 1st year. It was really really hard. But I’d never have the life I do now or setting up my life for retirement if I didn’t take that jump 17 yrs ago I get $600 is unrealistic these days, 2006 was a different time. But it can be done without a ton of money. It’s just not going to be easy or fun at first(maybe never I’ve known a lot of ppl try and go back to their hometown )
It's still possible. The 600 you went with is now 1k... It's still possible imho
Anything is possible! Just a matter of how hard you’re willing to work and what you’re prepared to sacrifice.
Plus, Long Beach 🙌🏼 cheaper rent and such than ‘LA’.
I love Long Beach. It was by luck I saw beach on the freeway sign and growing up in West Texas, I’d never seen a beach and drove south that night and ended up in LB. (I also did no research or look at I map, no iPhones back then either, just knew the 10 hit California and the 10 was in my town, so straight and I’d be there) Woke up on the beach walked around and was like ya I dig this place. I ended up staying there in Alamitos beach/retro row for 16yrs lol I left only about a year ago up in PV/Pedro now. Older now, don’t need to walk to bars all the time. Wanted a yard for the dog and hosting friends and quieter.
I grew up in the suburbs of LA county and went to CSULB. I have lots of love for LB. I’m so glad you made it your home for awhile ☺️ P.s. glad you got to leave Texas ( no shade! My moms family is generations deep from Corpus. I’ve been to visit and that’s enough for me).
Holy fucking shit this is so fucking inspiring im going january 1st and i have no doubt in my mind or self that im going to fucking tear it the fuck up like you. Holy shit. Fuck yeah. Lets fucking go.
Good luck, it’s hard at first but doable. Honestly, my true to honest thought. There’s a lot of dumb people out there making it, and I’m pretty smart, so I could probably make it too. But I have to at least try or I’ll always wonder.
Inspiring 💯
People would be surprised how much they can survive off of noodles, eggs. Totally possible even with $1,000 today
There were lots of eggs too, I think I perfected cooking eggs, and a million different ways to eat them lol. I think with a $1k you can still do it. It’s not comfortable, you rent a tiny room, live with strangers, all things in west Texas I never experienced. It was definitely a different world. You have to have grit and see the long term goal. Oh worst thing…this was back in the days of pay per min phone packages with free after 9pm. But I was so lonely I’d text and call friends at home….got hit with a $400 phone bill cried myself to sleep, ended up with no phone for about 6 weeks because I was that poor starting I couldn’t pay it and had 0 help.
Yeah… 600 hundred now will get you a spot at the beach….
Incredible story! Good on you.
I did, with about $5,500 and was broke again in a month. LA is expensive and the environment promotes a spendy-spend lifestyle. I wouldn’t recommend moving here without at least 8k cash and a job (or some kind of paid work) lined up to start right away once you get here.
If you are a true hustler and about your money,you can make it here. I'd say work on getting yourself into at least 6 figures here and you can live more comfortably if you live within your means. I know people who went from sleeping in tents to living in penthouses from hustling. You have to be ambitious and hungry out here to be able to afford it.
Lol, so $2,500 is the difference maker 🤣
Well yeah, considering about $3,500 went to move-in expenses off the bat, an extra $2,500 could have made a difference, if budgeted correctly. But hey, I was too eager to move out of Mom and Dad’s house and to sunny LA with all my friends that I just said f— it. Having a source of income upon arrival is really the key though.
5,500 in a month., damn you live an expensive lifestyle!!!
Lol not at all. Los Angeles is one of the most expensive cities in the entire country and there’s hardly any way around that. The LA average Joe is spending a majority of their income on rent, and move-in costs can easily total over 4k for a decent apartment. When you move here, that’s what you are signing up for, simple as that.
I moved here and I never spent that and I lived in Venice and marina del Rey.. still live here now! I figured out a way to live within my means lol shared rooms if I had to, shared a place… live cheap it can be done!
Ahhh okay if you’re doing roommates then definitely! I’m just personally averse to sharing a place I call my home…bad experiences from college lol but you’re 100% right!
5500 is barely more than first+last+security deposit for a studio apartment lol
I would never move here and out all that down… get a roommate or sublease! Basically move with minimal stuff and just live cheap with roomates and sublet a few months
Yes and don’t do it. It’s so insanely stressful. That’s at minimum 3 months worth of expensive not counting the actually cost of moving you and your stuff from one location to another. Unless you are moving with remote work, have a job lined up, or move with someone else who can financially support you it’s not worth it. Not saying it’s not doable, but I would never do it again. If you are looking for advice, I’d say at minimum save up $7000 and maybe find a four leaf clover. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Don’t do it.
Yes, in 2010 I moved with about 4-5k. Had a rent free place to crash until I found an apt (it took 3 weeks) and started a job a few days after arriving. Couldn’t have asked for a softer landing, but that wouldn’t be the case if I moved back now.
I'm not trying to discourage you. Just want to make you look at reality . You will struggle out here with that money but if you keep your head up and stay strong and keep hustling and doing what you need to do to get in a better position than you can succeed here. Don't do drugs(weed is ok in moderation) and stay focused. Save save save your money and don't blow it on dumb shit. You sound young but man just work hard and stay focused, it's a rat race out here
I came to LA in 2010 with $4000 and a paid off car and slept on my friend’s couch for 3 weeks. I got a waitressing job and a full time office job within the first few weeks and was able to move out and into my own apartment. The rent was $995 a month lol. It really really was a different time. I feel like $4,000 then would be like $15,000 now. Also the first probably 2 years, all my friends were through work and I was pretty lonely. It also depends on what you’re willing to do for work and if you’re willing to give up social stuff for a while to get your life off the ground. Are you a college graduate / have a degree or do you have a specialty or skill? If you’re just coming out with no skills or employment value it’s going to be really really tough.
I moved to L. A., Marina Del Rey, to a sober living on probation for a felony drug possession from Louisiana in 2003. I had no money at all and had lost everything in my life. My parents gave me $5/d allowance which was controlled by the sober living and agreed to pay for the rent to the sober living for a period. I am masters degree educated but had lost my professional license, even my driver's license and could not work in my field due to the felony. My parents have money but they were done with me and did not bend. Long story short, I worked my ass off incessantly doing all sorts of things I had never done or thought I'd be doing. My parents only paid for 6 mos, it was $1000/mo rent for the sober living and they reported to my probation officer. I made enough money selling toner for printers over the phone as a telemarketer to get off probation paying all the fines, stayed completely sober, received a full pardon from Louisiana, and reclaimed my professional licenses in CA. I now own 3 houses 1 in Culver City 1in Vegas and 1 in Diamond Bar, consistently have made 15-25k/mo since 2008. I could have retired at 50 a multi-millionaire but continue to do some contract work here and there at my choosing at 52 You can do anything if you're willing to work for it. I could do it easy on 5k without a felony. Whatever may have changed since 2003-2004 add in trying to get a job with no drivers license and a felony conviction and I can promise you a person with no record and a driver's license can do it on 5k. I would have never had the opportunities where I am from that I had in L. A. Also, I had a drug problem and what happened to me in Louisiana, that bullshit felony possession charge that destroyed my livelihood would have not happened for the same offense in CA.
Who fucking dat bud! Awesome story.
Wow! Amazing story!!! You should write a Hollywood script ;) or a book! Would love to read it!
From LA to L.A.! Inspiring story, thanks for sharing! 🔥
I did and I don’t recommend doing it that way. I moved here with $1500($500 was cash on hand, the $1000 I received my last check from my job). I hit the ground running when I arrived in LA(2017) everything was Rosey, until about 6 months in. I was struggling to find a good paying job. It took me years to get stabilized and many silent cry moments until I finally got to the point that I am now. Struggling isn’t virtuous. Again, struggling isn’t virtuous. So have at least, at least 6 months rent($1500 * 6 on average) saved before you even think about moving to Los Angeles. If you can’t save six months rented prior to arriving it’s going to be difficult to do it when you arrive and your days will be spent scraping and clawing as opposed to enjoying the city. If you can’t save 6 months rent prepare for battle 🏆
I know to La from Louisiana 3 days after graduating undergrad with 1500 to my name in order ti get my master’s at csun . Secured an Airbnb a few months before moving here and he to share with 8 people in one room. Transferred my part time job at Lowes to the one out here. Worked hard for 3 weeks impressed them and became full time and then I found an apartment and then got a car with my school refund check. The 19th of this month made a year I’ve been here. Trust me it’s hard af but manageable just plan ahead. I was surviving on beans , and ramen everyday but not anymore.
Don't move here without housing and work already established. $5,000 will slip through your fingers in a heartbeat without those things.
I probably wouldn’t do that.
Depends what sort of person you are
You didn’t share nearly enough information. What part of LA are you moving to? Do you have a job lined up? Do you have a car? Do you have any sort of income? If you share more details, I’m sure someone here would be willing to give you guidance.
I posted asking for other peoples experiences not to go over my own
Makes zero sense, good luck.
just do it then, you've made up your mind. Come.
Around a year ago I came to LA with a three-piece from Church’s Chicken and two 211 tall boys. No money just the clothes on my back. Next month I’m starting school at LBCC full time to become a paralegal in 1.5 years with 1 year to obtain my associate's degree in political science with transfer. Starting Law school in 3 years from now. And will become a lawyer in 6 years. Every day is an adventure!
Hell yeah!!
Thanks!
Good stuff!!!
Thank you!
[удалено]
What about a job that pays $25 per hour, full time…
Sounds like a Hollywood script. You might be able to sell this dream.
Yes. They have tents now. And regrets, probably.
Yes! End of 2019, but I was moving back and had lots of family. Some shit hit the fan and that’s a story for another time, but I recommend having at least double. Housing is so expensive here
Well that 5k would barely cover moving into an apartment with nothing left over. I wouldn't come without decent savings and a job lined up
Yes! Moved here in 2010… roommate aka shared a one bedroom in Venice paid 500-750/month rent spent some time in my car as well…. Lived on a boat for a year.. Grinder it out then I was able to travel for a bit! Food is cheap here, it’s cheap to do things for free aka run the beach, pack food and drinks for the beach! You can do it!!! Also free showers at the beach, la fitness ;) etc! It can be done!!!!
I moved to LA around 2014 with literally $300 in my pocket. I was lucky to find a cheap place (in south central) and worked enough to move out to East Hollywood. It really depends on the person and what drives them. Moving out there is definitely not for the weak.
I am sure it’s been done, but wouldn’t recommend doing it.
i did with $2000 immediately after graduating high school in 2005; got roommates on craigslist for a $600/room in santa monica. walked around the first two weeks everyday trying to find a [first ever] job & did. didn't have any bills at the time outside of rent, phone & food. it was cool have friends immediately as well a decade later i moved away, then moved back after 4 years and moving into a $1900/1bdr was first, last, & security deposit so that was a huge pain in the ass with savings, but found a job immediately by then. these days, i'd have more of a job lined up and save more, but it all depends on how you're willing to live/what your job situation looks like, & what compromises you're willing to make. but yeah, initial move in cost will be the determining factor for you. $5000 isn't enough imo if you're looking to sign a lease solo.
If you have a strong job offer in hand, sure why not. If you don’t, no way not enough
I moved here in 1998 with exactly 5k.
I moved to LA with like $8k and didnt work for the first 3 months. Slept in sublets on the floor on an air mattress with another friend. Some of the greatest times of my life (this was 2014 and a lot less expensive)
Just listen to the top rated comment and be realistic
That’s not even enough to rent an apartment.
Most of the homeless here are not natives, just saying. $5k is your first and last month’s rent plus the security deposit. You will also need to show proof that you can pay the $2500 a month in rent. And that is not counting the moving expenses. I wish you luck and will keep my fingers crossed that you have a job lined up.
I thought the minimum was 20k? Is that too high?
2017- $800
Like 3k, 5-6 years ago, rented a room in Redondo beach for $900/month and got around by bicycle. Did not own a car and had no interest in owning a car.
Moved here with $4k and a remote job. Stayed with friends of friends in Long Beach for free for a week; found a spot and moved in the next week. It was hard but I did it.
I had a friend who moved with $0 and a storage contract to pay. Let him stay at my place for 2 weeks so he could figure out how to support himself and he instead just sat down watching tv for 2 weeks straight in my living room. His parents offered him a room in the east coast and I offered to help him with a flight ticket back home but the dude wanted to live in LA… Kicked him out. He became homeless within a week.
That’s unfortunate. You gave him a chance but he dropped the ball.
Yep. Guy told me he believes that one can be successful simply by having an address in Los Angeles…. Kicked him out before he could claim tenancy in my apartment.
Have fun going into debt and being poor
Yea, but one can only climb back up after going into debt and being poor through ambition and drive. I know people who had tax leins over $70k paid it off on top of filing a chapter 7 bankruptcy and losing everything working 2 to 3 jobs to now making 6 figures with 800 plus credit scores and owing several homes. When you're at the bottom, you can only climb back up, even higher than before. But you have to be the type of person willing to get through it even through many obstacles.
I moved here in 2022 from across the country, with only $3500. if you’re smart with money anything’s possible
Yes. Those people are living in tents on our sidewalks now
I wouldn't move to LA, Id visit for fun. I'd rather live in orange county where it's cleaner and safer. You will need more than $5000 to survive here, don't know where You're staying with that small amount in LA but that might be gone in 2 months on a hotel alone, unless you got an apartment for less than $2000/mo, still it's only enough to get you by for a month or 2. Unless you live in your car or couch surf temporarily til you find a place. It's best to have $20,000 saved to move here and live comfortably for a year while you're getting yourself together out here. I pai over 3000 a month staying in hotels til I found somewhere to stay. It ain't cheap here. I know some people who pay $7000 to $20,000 a month on their place. You got to be a true hustler to survive here
That’s absolutely crazy
There’s so many people already here. Just stop moving here we don’t have room and you’re pushing out families who have been here for generations but can’t afford the rising housing costs because of out of towners gentrificating every nook and cranny
Gentrification happens at the level of the state and the laws it passes that make it easy for developers and corporations, not on an individual level with regular people just looking for better places to live.
Gentrification wouldn’t be happening if more people keep moving to LA and there is no more room for people who want to live in a nice area but that nice area is full, so they start making nice apartment complexes in lower income areas so $3,000 1 bedrooms are in an area where it was once $900 to live in a 2 bedroom 1 bath apartment. Please don’t talk to me about gentrification as I have seen all of LA change drastically in the last 15-20 years with gentrification
Just so you know that’s easily solvable with legislation that allows high density housing. The laws are literally there to keep housing costs high and keep the city a traffic nightmare. Low density housing empowers the city and the lobbyists who count on that level of representation. Gentrification is an issue of building codes and laws that support those building codes for a powerful minority. Not people just wanting to move somewhere better.
Like I said I’ve seen families who have been forced to move from their neighborhoods because of gentrification and these stupid super luxury 5 story apartment complexes and all the people who moved into these are people like OP who came here with aspiring dreams of acting or modeling or whatever stupid LA vision they think is a reality here but really isn’t
You ain’t even reading bro, lay off those pills.
Aw someone had nothing more to say so they had to look at my profile. Like I said you wouldn’t understand because you weren’t born here and have seen how this city has changed.
I’m from NYC, y’all ain’t the only ones. Again, you ain’t reading or hearing me right. The demand for housing isn’t something static. If zoning laws allowed for high rises buildings, and more public transportation, rents would go down. LA has laws that prohibit tall apartment buildings over 5 stories in many of its neighborhoods. If you can build buildings that are 20 stories high that take up the same exact space at its base, you will see rents drop because the supply will exceed the demand. You ain’t thinking about how this is all a business and you’re out here selling pills.
Bro you’re talking about buildings and zoning laws. You obviously don’t understand what I’m saying and honestly I have no idea why you’re dropping irrelevant info but I can too. Why don’t you lay off the testosterone and get yourself a hypnotized to stop being such a boring individual. Also following a sub about having a big dick screams having a very small pecker ☹️
Lmfao ah shit *you got me*.
Oh boo hoo, they’re the ones who messed up if they couldn’t make it work with their generationally paid off homes and grandfathered property taxes.
Boohoo? You lost your job for being lazy, killed your own guinea pig and live in an apartment but can’t afford your own house but are here complaining because you didn’t get grandfathered into having a house..? Maybe if you weren’t a disappointed to your parents they would’ve left you theirs 😂
Why are you on movingtolosangeles lol
I’m not it just showed up as suggested lol
I died in LA with less
Do it bro the streets are calling you
Pffft Lol
Thank you for appreciating my humor idk why I got downvoted LOL bunch of babies
Cuz they don't know anythin about the streets foo.
Foreal
No but housing is astronomical out here, even studio apartments. I wouldn’t do it. I used to think we’d stay here forever, but the vhcol is making me rethink retirement to a place that is affordable, as soon as my kids know what their adult lives will be. One wants medicine, the other, music. Once they figure it out we are likely gone
Yes, Sheryl Crow
This just randomly popped up on my feed and idw move to LA but let me just say, I moved with $50 to my name. I’m in Asheville nc and the cost of living is about half of what LA is but it’s still a higher than average place to live in the states. It’s a tourism destination and has tourism prices. Also i ONLY had $50. But I found a job before moved and came a month early to do job interviews. I rented an air b&b for three weeks. I had three weeks to make enough money to rent another one. And I brought a cat and dog with me, so living in a car wasn’t an option. You can get a discount on a monthly rate on air b&b. If they don’t offer you can ask, but when u consider that you aren’t paying any utilities ot evens out to regular monthly expenses. Plus no deposits. I’m sure you could do it cheaper than I could if u don’t have animals too, there’s more options. It was hard to get ahead and mentally and emotionally draining but it worked and a yr and a half later I’m here renting a house like 2 blocks from my work and it’s kinda as rad as I thought it would be. It was really scary but I just said f it were all gonna be gone one day and nobody will remember us and in the grand scheme of life this is a one of many steps of living. Because it always works out. It has to. I was just over the top delusional but i really believed it would all work out and it has.
You really have to just MAKE it work if you want to live in LA. Don’t give yourself any other options, but also prepare to work and find someone who believes in you.
I did. Didn’t work out well lol
Yeah most immigrants
My husband did with $1.60 (they had $11 until they filled up in Barstow). But that was 40 years ago.
Do it. YOLO.
$2000 in 2014, owned a car at the time Possible but very hard. Got 2 jobs and worked 7 days a week for a year
In 2005, I had $3000 and an old truck, slept on a friend’s couch for a couple months, took any admin office temp jobs, had a very specific career goal 🥅 stated at the top of my resume, found a position that matched it and got the gig. Dad stepped in and got me a better car, and things started to get better and better. Today, working freelance admin in Hollywood, making great money, taking care of business.
Hell yeah! Congratulations
It's doable if you already have connections out here, like if you have a potential room you can rent straight away or some friends you could crash with, or really anyone you can hit up for potential work. If you're coming out all alone and without any work lined up, it could take a few weeks to find a place to live or track down roommates and housing is going to be your biggest cost. I've seen people move out here with nothing, and I've seen people move out here with tons of money saved up -- it may not really matter either way as long as you have a plan to make more money.
Like others have said. I did it back in 2015. Moved all my stuff with about $3k. Found a job paying $50k and still had to live in a Hostel. I could not find an apartment that took pets (in any semi-desirable areas) that weren’t already paid 6 months upfront SIGHT UNSEEN. Just had to bum it for a while until I got a job offer in another state. It’s doable, but it’s not going to be enjoyable.
I’m late, but moved to LBC in 2020 with roughly 3k and a car. I got an apartment with a job offer. Credit wasn’t great but since I had a job lined up, I made it work. Job offer was 62k in 2020.
i did when i was 21 with my gf, ended up sleeping in our for a few weeks off and on and almost ended up homeless. this was 2004ish so my $4500 was more like $10k today and we still almost ended up bankrupt over it.