Some Tips on Moving to Another State

Dear Papa Bear,

I'm writing to you because you've helped me out multiple times while I was a teenager, and it just felt nice to come to you for advice once more as an adult! So for that, let's start this off with a thank you.

So, the TLDR of my situation is that my parents divorced. Dad retired from the army, kicked me out. My mom helped me move to California, where I had a lot more job opportunities. Mom is moving back with her bf in January, and I'm planning on leaving California. They (half) joke about you needing to make $30/h or higher to live here on your own haha. It's just a bit too expensive for my taste.

So when January comes, I'm hoping to go to Kansas, but I'm unsure, actually. It'll be my first time on my own. I was always planning on moving out but so many things in life kept happening that my plans kept suddenly changing.

When it comes to that time, do you have any advice on moving out on your own? How much money should I have saved up? What things should I do to make sure it goes smoothly? Advice on getting an apartment for the first time?

Sorry that this is a big question. It's been weighing on my mind a lot lately.

Anonrat

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Dear Anonrat,

Welcome back. It's weird, this column has been going on for about 8 years now and, yes, some original letter writers who were teens back then are now adults. How fast you grow up!

Depending where you live in California, you need to make more or less money. For example, it's much cheaper to live in the Central Valley than in a coastal city, but I get what you're saying.

Moving across the country is a really complicated and involved process, and I could write a book on just how to do that. Really, too much to say for this little column of mine. But I can give you a few pointers:

• Have a job in your new location BEFORE you move; otherwise, it could be an expensive disaster in which you spend a lot of time and money and end up moving back to where you started. This is critical. Don't just up and move without a plan. If you need to, find a temporary place to stay while you job hunt. 
• How much money should you save? As much as you possibly can. There are too many factors to say. If you can save up a lot of money--enough to cover expenses while you job hunt--then good for you. If you already have a job waiting for you, then all you will need is enough to cover travel expenses and, say, at least two-months' rent and deposit money.
• Finding an apartment: it helps if you know people out there who have an apartment and then you can ask them if they like where they are living. I didn't know anyone out here in the valley before I moved and ended up in a shitty apartment. Fortunately, I only lived there a year before getting a house. Barring personal contacts, try a ratings site such as https://www.apartmentratings.com/ks/ to help you gauge which places are run well and in your price range.
• When moving, try to move as few things as possible. Moving trucks and companies for cross-country are pricey, so if you don't have a lot of furniture etc., try to pack everything in your car and go. If you have some old furniture and stuff, I would advise selling it and buying new when you arrive. If you have too much stuff to fit in your car, consider boxing some of it up and mailing it to your destination.
• Get to know where you are going--in your case, Kansas. Here is a helpful guide https://www.greatguyslongdistancemovers.com/moving-to/kansas/

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Papabear