Burning my boats: need tips to pick a new city to move

[Claude Roy]

Hey Guys,

I took the bet on myself and I'm not renewing my lease here in Florida. I'm quitting my job, moving somewhere cheap and I'm going on my own. I looked at the cheapest places to live in the US so I've been looking at apartments. I found Mississippi, Georgia, Kansas and Alabama to all be pretty cheap so far.

I just started looking and haven't decided yet where I'm going to go but I wonder if you guys have any factor that you would consider that I might not have thought of like maybe the entrepreneur community there or other things like that.

Thanks and have an outstanding day,

Claude

 

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[Kruiser]

Hey Claude, You might consider looking at your location choice a bit more holistically. It seems that cheapness is your main (only?) criterion right now. Keeping your expenses in check is critically important, but if you don't step back and look at things from a broader perspective, you are going to end up in a ghetto a$$ apartment in rural Mississippi wondering what happened. The cheapest option is just to become homeless, but that probably won't serve your business or personal goals. I don't know what your business is or what you need to run it, but here are some things you might consider: location of family, location of friends, weather, availability of high speed internet, good food sources, entreprenurial community, exercise and cultural options, transportation options, warehouse availability, etc. Best of luck!

 

[MJ DeMarco]

You might consider looking at your location choice a bit more holistically.

but I wonder if you guys have any factor that you would consider

Agreed. Also getting good vegan food in the Midwest (if you like to eat out) is nearly impossible. And even the vegan junk food is hard to find.

Congrats on the big move!

 

[TheCj]

Don't people move to Florida because it is cheaper to live without the state income tax? Combined with no cold winter season (snow) makes it cheaper than a lot of northern states I would think.

Coming from a Canadian who scraped ice of windshield today :| Florida sounds amazing.

 

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[Real Deal Denver]

Don't people move to Florida because it is cheaper to live without the state income tax? Combined with no cold winter season (snow) makes it cheaper than a lot of northern states I would think.

Coming from a Canadian who scraped ice of windshield today :| Florida sounds amazing.

That's exactly what I was thinking!

I'm trying to get TO a warm sunny beach - not leave it!

I'd take two jobs before I'd move to some cold dreary state and be miserable. Have you looked at Flint Michigan? Or Detroit? Who would even WANT to live there?

Congrats on your powerful attitude and wanting to take massive action. Just don't leave paradise to save a few bucks. Take a one day part time easy job - cut down somewhere. It's amazing how a little more push with a little pull can make a big difference.

 

[minivanman]

You are looking for cheap and cheap usually means not in a great area. So.... if it's CHEAP you are looking for, why not buy a travel trailer for $2500 and all you have is a few hundred dollars a month lot rent. You can find a decent area to park it in. AND, if you don't like the place you choose..... you can move it!

 

[Bekit]

Hey Guys,

I took the bet on myself and I'm not renewing my lease here in Florida. I'm quitting my job, moving somewhere cheap and I'm going on my own. I looked at the cheapest places to live in the US so I've been looking at apartments. I found Mississippi, Georgia, Kansas and Alabama to all be pretty cheap so far.

I just started looking and haven't decided yet where I'm going to go but I wonder if you guys have any factor that you would consider that I might not have thought of like maybe the entrepreneur community there or other things like that.

Thanks and have an outstanding day,

Claude

Congratulations on betting on yourself and burning the boats. You'll make it. Kinda scary but good for you.

I would listen to the other posters who have encouraged you to find a place to live where there's a good balance of multiple criteria, not just "cheap."

Here's a story of why I say this. My parents "burned the boats" and chose a new location for a home based solely on low cost of living. So they moved to East Tennessee in 2005.

Problem is, THERE ARE NO GOOD JOBS. And that's why the cost of living is cheap. No one can afford anything because no one makes any money. And if you live there, you can't make any money, either.

This wouldn't be that bad if it were not for a second factor: MINDSET. If the mindset of most of the people in a community is a poverty mindset, a limited-thinking mindset, a negative mindset - then sooner or later, some of that mindset will creep into your thinking. I saw this happen to my dad.

You would be better off moving to a higher cost of living area where there is a higher proportion of good jobs and ambitious people with a good mindset.

Not the highest cost of living area, certainly. Of course you'll avoid San Francisco, Seattle, LA, New York.

You know what city I think is an attractive choice? Indianapolis. Tons of good jobs, thriving economy, an up-and-coming city, super well-connected with interstate highways to other cities like Chicago & Cincinnati, but still a relatively fair cost of housing.

Obviously this is not the only option. But please do establish some additional criteria beyond just "cheap." You'll hinder your progress as a fastlaner.

 

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[Real Deal Denver]

Congratulations on betting on yourself and burning the boats. You'll make it. Kinda scary but good for you.

I would listen to the other posters who have encouraged you to find a place to live where there's a good balance of multiple criteria, not just "cheap."

Here's a story of why I say this. My parents "burned the boats" and chose a new location for a home based solely on low cost of living. So they moved to East Tennessee in 2005.

Problem is, THERE ARE NO GOOD JOBS. And that's why the cost of living is cheap. No one can afford anything because no one makes any money. And if you live there, you can't make any money, either.

This wouldn't be that bad if it were not for a second factor: MINDSET. If the mindset of most of the people in a community is a poverty mindset, a limited-thinking mindset, a negative mindset - then sooner or later, some of that mindset will creep into your thinking. I saw this happen to my dad.

You would be better off moving to a higher cost of living area where there is a higher proportion of good jobs and ambitious people with a good mindset.

Not the highest cost of living area, certainly. Of course you'll avoid San Francisco, Seattle, LA, New York.

You know what city I think is an attractive choice? Indianapolis. Tons of good jobs, thriving economy, an up-and-coming city, super well-connected with interstate highways to other cities like Chicago & Cincinnati, but still a relatively fair cost of housing.

Obviously this is not the only option. But please do establish some additional criteria beyond just "cheap." You'll hinder your progress as a fastlaner.

DAMN - this is one smart lady! (I know because she has given me advice on other topics too)

 

[Dianne Cohen]

Hey Guys,

I took the bet on myself and I'm not renewing my lease here in Florida. I'm quitting my job, moving somewhere cheap and I'm going on my own. I looked at the cheapest places to live in the US so I've been looking at apartments. I found Mississippi, Georgia, Kansas and Alabama to all be pretty cheap so far.

I just started looking and haven't decided yet where I'm going to go but I wonder if you guys have any factor that you would consider that I might not have thought of like maybe the entrepreneur community there or other things like that.

Thanks and have an outstanding day,

Claude

Hey Claude, I live in Florida too. And it's a tough place. Very brave of you to take off.

In picking a new place to live, what is important to you matters.

Congrats on the move no matter where you end up.

 

[Dianne Cohen]

Don't people move to Florida because it is cheaper to live without the state income tax? Combined with no cold winter season (snow) makes it cheaper than a lot of northern states I would think.

Coming from a Canadian who scraped ice of windshield today :| Florida sounds amazing.

Yes. Those are two reasons people come here. But, housing has gotten very expensive and it is an extremely transient place, so I believe it is difficult to live here for many people. Somehow it is not the most friendly place to live.

 

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[Real Deal Denver]

 

[MattR82]

You are looking for cheap and cheap usually means not in a great area. So.... if it's CHEAP you are looking for, why not buy a travel trailer for $2500 and all you have is a few hundred dollars a month lot rent. You can find a decent area to park it in. AND, if you don't like the place you choose..... you can move it!

I love this idea. Seriously. Kicking myself that I didn't do it when I had the chance about a year ago. Am going to revisit this idea in a few months!

 

[Stargazer]

Goes to show how good Florida is at Marketing.

Everyone outside the US is scratching their heads at this.

Dan

 

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[MattR82]

Goes to show how good Florida is at Marketing.

Everyone outside the US is scratching their heads at this.

Dan

I'm from Australia, never been to the states, but when I think of Florida I think of Miami. We have our own little version here called the Gold Coast. It's trash...

 

[Stargazer]

That's true. I went there once.

Dan

 

[Real Deal Denver]

I'm from Australia, never been to the states, but when I think of Florida I think of Miami. We have our own little version here called the Gold Coast. It's trash...

Wha Wha Wha What?

I've been to Miami. Loved every second of it. EVERY second. Of course, I was a tourist, so I was probably in the "exciting fun part" of Miami - ?

We take cruises out of Miami, but we arrive a few days early to have a mini-vacation before the vacation - and then we stay a few days afterward because I AM a professional vacationer. Don't try this at home!

I guess it's all relative. Coming from the mountains (which some people love) to the beach is almost too much to take. When I'm there I people watch, and am amazed at how many people just stand around like cows in a pasture - staring and chewing on something. Ho hummmm. Hey man - this is Miami - wake up!

You know that old saying "it's five o'clock somewhere?" My saying is "it's Miami somewhere!"

 

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[minivanman]

I agree, we have a great time in Miami. The best bbq ribs in the WORLD are at the Waldorf. I was thinking just the other day that we should fly there to eat at the Waldorf.... that's how good they are! Nothing trashy about Miami.....

 

[MattR82]

I agree, we have a great time in Miami. The best bbq ribs in the WORLD are at the Waldorf. I was thinking just the other day that we should fly there to eat at the Waldorf.... that's how good they are! Nothing trashy about Miami.....

Fair enough! I probably had the wrong view of it, it was just my impression from the limited stuff I saw and had read about it. I had actually read that it was where a lot of criminals end up living lol.

 

[Lambo-Hunter]

How about outside the US? If you have a business or can work online then go to southeast asia, you wont have an issue finding others who are working on their businesses and it's incredible cheap. I'm probably heading back there next winter myself.

 

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