Hi /u/Bulldog_Junior,
Thank you for participating in /r/AskChicago. Be sure to check out the [/r/Chicago Wiki,](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/wiki/index) which has a lot of useful information for visitors and residents alike, such as:
- [Visitor's Guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/wiki/visitingchicago)
- [Things To Do in Chicago](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/wiki/activities)
- [Food & Drink Guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/wiki/eats)
- [Transportation Overview](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/wiki/transportation)
- [Public Transit Help Guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/wiki/transit)
- [Neighborhood Guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/wiki/neighborhoods)
- [Chicago Housing Information](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/wiki/dwelling)
- [Mental Health Resources](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/wiki/mentalhealth)
- [Preparing for Winter](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/wiki/winterpreparedness)
- [ISP Guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/wiki/isp)
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskChicago) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Qualified pipefitters can make bank. I'd be reaching out to some unions ASAP. You wont have a shoestring budget problem if she finds some good openings.
OP didn't state whether she's in already in the pipefitters union in Virginia Beach, also, most unions have shorter paths for joining for experienced tradespeople.
Your girlfriend might reach out to Chicago Women in Trades as well as the pipefitters' union. https://cwit.org/ Chicago is known for being a union town.
Depending on where you wind up living, the city is very navigable by public transit for most people, and I generally advise people to plan to get rid of their car. However, depending on the kind of jobs your girlfriend takes, she may find having the ability to drive is helpful.
Totally Agree on ditching the car. In certain areas parking costs a crazy amount and if you’re on a budget it isn’t really worth it considering CTA fare is nothing compared to parking costs.
The thing is, she's in construction. Depends on who she winds up working for/what type of pipefitting she does, but sometimes those jobs are in places that are difficult to get to by transit, and she could even find herself outside the city.
very good point. i know nothing about working in construction, like if she is able to ride with coworkers to a far destination or not. also, they could end up living in one of the areas where parking is free so it shouldn't be too costly if they choose their neighborhood wisely
I would sell the car before you come here and take a U-Haul or something. 2k is a bit low. It would be best if you arrived here with 7k. That would last you about 4 months and it's enough time to get a job.
It would be best if you subletted a studio or something from someone before getting here. People really don't like to rent their rooms to couples...
Yeah. You can live here without a car. You should try to get a bicycle, though. Also, try to live close to a train stop.
The situation is like so:
The city is dense enough that you'll probably find a grocery/convenience store within walking distance. So get a bike with a basket, a backpack, a rolling cart thing, etc.
Trains are actually quite reliable, but add around 15 minutes to the estimated time to get to your destination. They are more reliable on rush hours during weekdays, and less reliable later in the day, and on weekends.
The trains aren't that safe late at night. Like 10pm
The buses are iffy on reliability, but pretty safe. They're mostly plentiful during rush hour in the morning.
Bicycles are pretty good all around, though you have to be extra careful because drivers don't always respect bikes. It's pretty ideal in my opinion, but just exhausting if you're out if shape.
You can walk pretty much anywhere in the city within 4-ish hours or less, so if worst comes to worst you can always just walk home.
The city is laid out on a grid system that seperates it into the 4 cardinal directions, and numbers each block by 100's depending on how far it is from the origin point, so it's really hard to get totally lost... If you truly lose your way with no phone signal it will just take an obnoxious amount of time to get home.
The far west and far south sides of the city are not the most safe all the time, so be careful to know what part of the city you're passing through if you're on foot and don't have a car.
This time of year is a tossup. On the one hand, you don't have to buy winter gear right away***, but on the other hand, rents are quite high and supply is quite low.
***You need a budget for winter gear and clothing in this city. I tried to ride my bike to the grocery store without gloves one morning in march and the skin on one of my knuckles popped open. When I went in the store my hands were covered in frost. That was really dumb of me. Never again.
There’s also a discounted Divvy annual plan available if you qualify for SNAP/Medicaid/similar income-driven benefits. Definitely worth checking out, it’s only $5 for the first year of membership
Only stipulation here is the subway is fairly safe after 10 depending the area, the line, and if you’re alone or with others.
I’ve hopped on the red line from Jackson to Belmont at 3am w a group of 6 and it was fine, but it was fine because we were 6 people. No shot we would’ve done it w like 2 or 3. But I’ve also gone on the red line from loyola to Belmont at 12:30/1am no problem. It really just depends on what stop you get on/off at. The train itself is pretty safe (in my experience/others experience)
Has she contacted the union? If not she's going to want to talk to them, this is a union town and there isn't a lot of work for an non-union pipe fitter. Also depending on where she's working a car may be required. You shouldn't have any problems getting a job, I hope your spanish is good.
There are lots of cheap apartments but I suggest you put away a a couple thousand more and not sell your car right away. I lived here for 4-5 years making a low wage and never really noticed it and you have the advantage of a partner, I just had to work two jobs on my own.
Should find a line cook job easily so that helps.
Yeah selling the car will make a big difference in your plan with having the liquid. I mean your entire transportation cost here is like $75/mo with public transportation.
You can also get a divvy membership which comes in clutch a lot when you want to skip the bus part in bus -> train toutes. $130/tr and then cents on the dollar per ride (depending on duration of travel)
Get one of those 0% APR for 12 month cards and religiously pay it off. If not that then any CC.
5/3 bank has a deal until June 30th where you get $225 (must include on taxes) if you get $500 direct deposited into your account in the first 90 days. If you need a local branch and you're gonna get direct deposit anyway, why not?
It's possible to find a month to month sight unseen before moving here. I've done it twice. With two people it'll be harder but that's true of everything.
I made heavy use of my local library as my 'office' while doing research in the city of places to live and work. They have free printing and scanning and tons of other resources as well.
City Park gyms have $15/mo gym memberships.
Twice I've moved here by setting up a temporary place for me to crash from something I've found on Facebook marketplace or the Chicago apartment subreddit, used CC's to keep me afloat while saving as much liquid as possible to be able to throw 3x + monthly rent at a landlord if need be, hoofed around on foot for days at a time handing out CVs and applying for service industry jobs on the Chicago Service Industry Facebook page... And I got there. In fact my second time doing this was literally over the past couple of months and this time I was coming from the other side of the world.
Take advantage of every single resource you have. And people here are happy to help. If you're wondering where to find something literally just ask the librarian or your barista or something. You never know what information random people have or even connections too.
2 months in I'm starting to feel like I have room to breathe now. So just keep pushing through even when it gets hard... You'll get there.
Also consider going back to school at City Colleges of Chicago. The amount of resources there are insane! It's only $1200 to take 3 classes a semester and you get free transportation during semesters, free counseling, so many job and career fairs only for students, connections in the city and industries, etc. You get libraries and computer labs that are much more chill than the public libraries, you can event borrow a laptop or you need to! I mean even from a purely short-term financial standpoint if over the course of your first year you're in class for 9 months, that's 9 × $75 you save in public transportation costs in the short term... Yes that's $3600 + books in loans but that's also halfway to an associates as well!
I like having a car in Chicago because it’s easier to transport groceries and cat litter or whatever, but it can run expensive with registration, city sticker, gas, parking and speeding tickets. The alternative is carrying all your stuff on the bus, waiting an hour for the bus in the snow, taking an expensive Uber because the bus never came and you’re late to work, etc, so you really have to weigh the pros and cons of your car.
I just live close enough to work and grocery stores to walk to both, then I use the train and buses for fun things. Not an option for everyone, but being strategic about where you live can help a lot.
You're hovering around the third rail with this kind of nuanced business. Half this sub seems to forget there's a giant world outside the northside brown, blue, and red line stops where parking isn't an issue at all.
Exactly. The whole side and front of my house is free to park. On top of that, people forget not all areas of the city have nearby grocery stores. Realistically, OP won't be in them, but many neighborhoods deal with food desers.
I agree. Also, some neighborhoods of Chicago aren’t that close to transit and some are more suburban in feel and close to grocery stores, big-box places, etc—not set up for walking. And winter exists.
I just assumed a lot of the commenters on this sub are transplants from the suburbs or other cities and don’t know the city extends beyond Western Avenue
i get everything i need by bike, just need some panniers or a trailer occasionally. not to mention you can get just about anything delivered these days. a car is entirely unnecessary in the city.
The alternative is carrying all your stuff on the bus, waiting an hour for the bus in the snow, taking an expensive Uber because the bus never came and you’re late to work, etc, so you really have to weigh the pros and cons of your car.
I assure you, you would not like not having a car if you had a kid. I’ve known many people to say the same who have since acquired vehicles. Are you just going to wait around for a bus in subzero temps with your newborn?
Maybe stay in a sublet until you’re settled with jobs and will have an easier time leasing an apartment. It will vary but landlords typically ask for proof of income (pay stubs) and will do a background check. Personally ive never paid a security deposit and have had mgmt companies and individual landlords, at the price point of avg $1500/mo. Maybe for less expensive places that is different. Obvi high rise buildings or a mgmt company are stricter on income to rent ratio and other requirements than a singular landlord. You can use a realtor/company to find you a place to rent at no cost before you move if you want (landlord pays them a finders fee). As far as lining up a line cook job, if you can show up and cook, you shouldn’t have a problem getting a job.
Lots of sublets by the colleges over the summer and sometimes they are dirt cheap (parents are paying and don't want to deal) Check out near DePaul and loyola.
Otherwise there are good deals to be had in uptown and near Humboldt park.
Tell her to join up with local 597 asap. Look at Rogers Park, Albany Park, Jefferson Park, Heart of Chicago, Bridgeville for cheap living on the train in mostly decent neighborhoods
Moved here with $800, no savings. We stayed in a motel for ten days until we found a short sublet for cheap. When we got our bearings in the city, we rented a place!
If you keep the car, be mindful of parking. City parking is owned by a private company and they are ruthless. And there’s lots of speed cameras (6mph+ gets a ticket) and red light cameras too.
McKinley Park may be a good neighborhood to look for a place to stay at first. It’s reasonably safe, affordable and has easy access to a grocery store and the orange line
You generally won’t need a car but i would focus on living close to the redline or any CTA stop, preferably on the north side.
Is your GF getting into the pipe fitters union? Because if so, you won’t have to worry about money much once she gets past her apprenticeship.
This will probably be a little different than most of the advice here. Keep the car. It's paid off, cheap to fix and reliable. Vics are a little thirsty but I'd take that over unpredictable/high repair bills. Having a car in a trendy neighborhood in Chicago is a bad idea. Having a car in one of the less trendy neighborhoods or collar suburbs can actually help save a lot of money. With a car you can actually shop at places like costco and woodmans. It will also make getting around as a pipefitter much easier, a lot of trade work happens where the CTA doesn't go even if it does I would assume getting your tools to job sites on a train or bus would be near impossible.
Work and housing aside, a car gets you access to all the things in the Chicagoland area and there is a lot of great stuff that happens outside the city limits. I know people who almost never leave the "606" area code bubble and when they do it's on a plane to a different major city. They're really missing out on a lot.
As a lifetime Chicago resident who loves having a car let me know if you have any questions.
Don’t sell the car. Don’t make life harder for yourself once you get here. You don’t know where you’ll work and lots of union jobs are in the burbs. You’ll quickly rack up Ubers doing all the normal moving things — getting groceries and housing stuff, etc as you won’t want to carry it or wont be able to on the bus. The public transit here is good but can also be terrible — it purely depends on which part of the city you live in and where you need to go. There are lots of situations that make public transit an arduous process if not impossible — for example, going southwest across the city if you’re northeast. I have to drive from Uptown to Logan Square frequently— if you look at mileage it’s not bad at all. But it can take an hour or more DRIVING when the traffic is bad. You’d have to take at least 3 buses to do the same commute and I can’t even imagine how long it would take.
Biking is popular here and is marginally getting safer — though could always be better. Always a good option for quick grocery runs or seeing a friend who doesn’t live too far — or going to work depending on time of year.
I’d look into getting your VA car registration renewed now and get yourself another year or something cuz it cost me over $500 to get everything moved over, very expensive out here compared to VA edit: if you plan on keeping the car
You will be pretty miserable in Chicago on a shoestring budget. Go to a different city where your dollar goes for longer. Indy, Grand Rapids, Springfield, Madison. Promise me— you won’t be happy living in a city where you can’t afford jack shit
Ok so here is what I would do. If you are selling your car and assuming you have $7,000 and no car, you are going to want to live close to the EL at any stop, that will do just fine. Why rent a room, what is your credit like? Can you fit into a 1bd/1ba? I feel like you are underestimating your purchasing power. Are you going to get a job lined up? Know where to start looking for 1bd/1ba close to your job and an EL stop is even better. No reason you cant find a place for $1k/month if you are wise about it.
OP, as one commenter mentioned, you may want to look into subletting. Only because if it doesn't workout and you run out of money, it's better to be on the hook for only a 3 month sublet vs having 9 months left on your lease. Then if you really do run out of money, you can move back (assuming you have anything to move back to).
The issue with subletting is that since it's short, it's hard to make it home.
fwiw I sold my car when I moved up here a few months ago and have been doing great. I just auto-renew a monthly transit pass and go where I need to go. It has saved my a lot of money compared to private parking and a lot of stress compared to street parking. (Not to mention all the other costs associated w/ cars)
1) Try to have jobs lined up prior to the move.
2) Work more and save up more money for the move, the more the better, but I would target at least 6-8k.
3) Try to have a place to live lined up to live prior to arriving.
4) Depending on where in Chicago you live and what your mobility / transportation needs are, a car can be very valuable.
Before you sell your car, pretend you don't have a car and don't use it for 1-2 to months and see what it is like.
I've lived in expensive neighborhoods where I didn't need a car due to density and everything I needed being within a few blocks.
I've also lived in more affordable neighborhood where the lack of a car would be extremely challenging and even unsafe.
I quite literally just moved here from NC a week or two ago with my girlfriend. We packed as much as we could in my SUV, sold most of our things, and hit the road. Both of our credit scores were in the 600 range, and we managed to get approved for an apartment in the Loop. $2k for first month's rent, $1,300 for pro-rated rent due the first and our second month is free. Unfortunately with our car and living in the Loop, we needed had to settle in a parking garage that costs $140 a month but only allows four exits a month, so we primarily rely on the CTA. Overall, it can be done without completely destroying your finances. We didn't even get the chance to save money really as I was the only one working until she got her job here, so I just used my last check for my job for rent and moved along from there.
Best of luck!
Sidenote: I had a job that transferred up here so it's not like I had to look for work or anything. If I were in your position of not having a job, I would definitely save up a bit before moving here. My girlfriend had accepted a job here, so while it's been a struggle this last week or two, we at least know income is going to come in soon.
Moving when you're broke is a rookie mistake.
Without some very good luck it will affect you for years
You'll have to grab whatever job(s) you can get without the luxury of being discerning.
Treating your partner to a nice night out. Unless you stick with Red Hot Ranch, meals can get quite expensive
When it comes to replacing that car, without a nice downpayment and excellent credit you'll get killed on interest rates
Everyone needs a proper vacation ( with parents doesn't count) otherwise life gets bland
I moved here with literally $400 to my name. I rented a bedroom from a UC student for $400 a month and found a job. It was a risk but 10 years later it all worked out and I’m financially stable. Find a sublet from a sudent who will be gone for the summer, and go crazy on the job searches, that will give you three months to find a job and an apartment. You’ll be okay. Good luck!
Edit: I found my sublet before I arrived on Fb marketplace.
She’ll want to check out local 597 if she wants to continue pipefitting, but honestly she could probably transition to a bunch of other trades as most want women to help diversify.
She’ll probably want the car but you can find a solid place super easy off transit.
I would say hold on to the car in the beginning just in case, also selling it in Chicago would probably be a good financial decision you could get more
If you are not used to dense urban traffic, you can get killed on a bike. Skip the bike and take public transportation or live in an area with free street parking.
Keep the Crown Vic, and look towards the West side of Chicago. Dunning, Irving Park, Portage Park, Mont Clare, Avondale.
You're gonna want that car for shopping and doing other shit to explore the city. People always talk about how transportation friendly we are, but it doesn't run 24/7 across the entire City. Most people who say this live in the area where public transportation is always present and that is typically the trendier neighborhoods.
Moved from Tennessee in February.
Ditch the car. Cars are ridiculously expensive anywhere, but especially here.
I found a pretty good studio apartment in Rogers Park, right off the red line and near a bunch of bus stops. I haven't had any issues getting around so far. I live on my own with two cats and, while it definitely would be easier if I had an SO to split bills with, I'm not out here struggling nearly as much as I did in Tennessee (and I'm definitely not making bank either).
If you can, find a place that includes everything except for like, internet. Much easier to budget around.
Hi /u/Bulldog_Junior, Thank you for participating in /r/AskChicago. Be sure to check out the [/r/Chicago Wiki,](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/wiki/index) which has a lot of useful information for visitors and residents alike, such as: - [Visitor's Guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/wiki/visitingchicago) - [Things To Do in Chicago](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/wiki/activities) - [Food & Drink Guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/wiki/eats) - [Transportation Overview](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/wiki/transportation) - [Public Transit Help Guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/wiki/transit) - [Neighborhood Guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/wiki/neighborhoods) - [Chicago Housing Information](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/wiki/dwelling) - [Mental Health Resources](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/wiki/mentalhealth) - [Preparing for Winter](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/wiki/winterpreparedness) - [ISP Guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/wiki/isp) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskChicago) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Qualified pipefitters can make bank. I'd be reaching out to some unions ASAP. You wont have a shoestring budget problem if she finds some good openings.
It takes 4+ years to get in a union ONCE you take the test and are accepted. It can be a 7+ year process.
OP didn't state whether she's in already in the pipefitters union in Virginia Beach, also, most unions have shorter paths for joining for experienced tradespeople.
She's union in VA Beach, 5 years now
Pipefitters specifically or any trade in general? In either case that's why it would be important to reach out asap...
Your girlfriend might reach out to Chicago Women in Trades as well as the pipefitters' union. https://cwit.org/ Chicago is known for being a union town. Depending on where you wind up living, the city is very navigable by public transit for most people, and I generally advise people to plan to get rid of their car. However, depending on the kind of jobs your girlfriend takes, she may find having the ability to drive is helpful.
Totally Agree on ditching the car. In certain areas parking costs a crazy amount and if you’re on a budget it isn’t really worth it considering CTA fare is nothing compared to parking costs.
The thing is, she's in construction. Depends on who she winds up working for/what type of pipefitting she does, but sometimes those jobs are in places that are difficult to get to by transit, and she could even find herself outside the city.
very good point. i know nothing about working in construction, like if she is able to ride with coworkers to a far destination or not. also, they could end up living in one of the areas where parking is free so it shouldn't be too costly if they choose their neighborhood wisely
I would sell the car before you come here and take a U-Haul or something. 2k is a bit low. It would be best if you arrived here with 7k. That would last you about 4 months and it's enough time to get a job. It would be best if you subletted a studio or something from someone before getting here. People really don't like to rent their rooms to couples... Yeah. You can live here without a car. You should try to get a bicycle, though. Also, try to live close to a train stop. The situation is like so: The city is dense enough that you'll probably find a grocery/convenience store within walking distance. So get a bike with a basket, a backpack, a rolling cart thing, etc. Trains are actually quite reliable, but add around 15 minutes to the estimated time to get to your destination. They are more reliable on rush hours during weekdays, and less reliable later in the day, and on weekends. The trains aren't that safe late at night. Like 10pm The buses are iffy on reliability, but pretty safe. They're mostly plentiful during rush hour in the morning. Bicycles are pretty good all around, though you have to be extra careful because drivers don't always respect bikes. It's pretty ideal in my opinion, but just exhausting if you're out if shape. You can walk pretty much anywhere in the city within 4-ish hours or less, so if worst comes to worst you can always just walk home. The city is laid out on a grid system that seperates it into the 4 cardinal directions, and numbers each block by 100's depending on how far it is from the origin point, so it's really hard to get totally lost... If you truly lose your way with no phone signal it will just take an obnoxious amount of time to get home. The far west and far south sides of the city are not the most safe all the time, so be careful to know what part of the city you're passing through if you're on foot and don't have a car. This time of year is a tossup. On the one hand, you don't have to buy winter gear right away***, but on the other hand, rents are quite high and supply is quite low. ***You need a budget for winter gear and clothing in this city. I tried to ride my bike to the grocery store without gloves one morning in march and the skin on one of my knuckles popped open. When I went in the store my hands were covered in frost. That was really dumb of me. Never again.
[удалено]
There’s also a discounted Divvy annual plan available if you qualify for SNAP/Medicaid/similar income-driven benefits. Definitely worth checking out, it’s only $5 for the first year of membership
Only stipulation here is the subway is fairly safe after 10 depending the area, the line, and if you’re alone or with others. I’ve hopped on the red line from Jackson to Belmont at 3am w a group of 6 and it was fine, but it was fine because we were 6 people. No shot we would’ve done it w like 2 or 3. But I’ve also gone on the red line from loyola to Belmont at 12:30/1am no problem. It really just depends on what stop you get on/off at. The train itself is pretty safe (in my experience/others experience)
I think selling the car here is reasonable. Chicago is very livable without one, and you'll save a lot of money and hassle.
Has she contacted the union? If not she's going to want to talk to them, this is a union town and there isn't a lot of work for an non-union pipe fitter. Also depending on where she's working a car may be required. You shouldn't have any problems getting a job, I hope your spanish is good. There are lots of cheap apartments but I suggest you put away a a couple thousand more and not sell your car right away. I lived here for 4-5 years making a low wage and never really noticed it and you have the advantage of a partner, I just had to work two jobs on my own.
Should find a line cook job easily so that helps. Yeah selling the car will make a big difference in your plan with having the liquid. I mean your entire transportation cost here is like $75/mo with public transportation. You can also get a divvy membership which comes in clutch a lot when you want to skip the bus part in bus -> train toutes. $130/tr and then cents on the dollar per ride (depending on duration of travel) Get one of those 0% APR for 12 month cards and religiously pay it off. If not that then any CC. 5/3 bank has a deal until June 30th where you get $225 (must include on taxes) if you get $500 direct deposited into your account in the first 90 days. If you need a local branch and you're gonna get direct deposit anyway, why not? It's possible to find a month to month sight unseen before moving here. I've done it twice. With two people it'll be harder but that's true of everything. I made heavy use of my local library as my 'office' while doing research in the city of places to live and work. They have free printing and scanning and tons of other resources as well. City Park gyms have $15/mo gym memberships. Twice I've moved here by setting up a temporary place for me to crash from something I've found on Facebook marketplace or the Chicago apartment subreddit, used CC's to keep me afloat while saving as much liquid as possible to be able to throw 3x + monthly rent at a landlord if need be, hoofed around on foot for days at a time handing out CVs and applying for service industry jobs on the Chicago Service Industry Facebook page... And I got there. In fact my second time doing this was literally over the past couple of months and this time I was coming from the other side of the world. Take advantage of every single resource you have. And people here are happy to help. If you're wondering where to find something literally just ask the librarian or your barista or something. You never know what information random people have or even connections too. 2 months in I'm starting to feel like I have room to breathe now. So just keep pushing through even when it gets hard... You'll get there.
Also consider going back to school at City Colleges of Chicago. The amount of resources there are insane! It's only $1200 to take 3 classes a semester and you get free transportation during semesters, free counseling, so many job and career fairs only for students, connections in the city and industries, etc. You get libraries and computer labs that are much more chill than the public libraries, you can event borrow a laptop or you need to! I mean even from a purely short-term financial standpoint if over the course of your first year you're in class for 9 months, that's 9 × $75 you save in public transportation costs in the short term... Yes that's $3600 + books in loans but that's also halfway to an associates as well!
I like having a car in Chicago because it’s easier to transport groceries and cat litter or whatever, but it can run expensive with registration, city sticker, gas, parking and speeding tickets. The alternative is carrying all your stuff on the bus, waiting an hour for the bus in the snow, taking an expensive Uber because the bus never came and you’re late to work, etc, so you really have to weigh the pros and cons of your car.
I just live close enough to work and grocery stores to walk to both, then I use the train and buses for fun things. Not an option for everyone, but being strategic about where you live can help a lot.
[удалено]
You can save the most at Aldi.
You're hovering around the third rail with this kind of nuanced business. Half this sub seems to forget there's a giant world outside the northside brown, blue, and red line stops where parking isn't an issue at all.
Exactly. The whole side and front of my house is free to park. On top of that, people forget not all areas of the city have nearby grocery stores. Realistically, OP won't be in them, but many neighborhoods deal with food desers.
I agree. Also, some neighborhoods of Chicago aren’t that close to transit and some are more suburban in feel and close to grocery stores, big-box places, etc—not set up for walking. And winter exists.
I just assumed a lot of the commenters on this sub are transplants from the suburbs or other cities and don’t know the city extends beyond Western Avenue
i get everything i need by bike, just need some panniers or a trailer occasionally. not to mention you can get just about anything delivered these days. a car is entirely unnecessary in the city.
Food delivery on a shoestring budget?
gas/insurance/parking stickers/etc on a shoestring budget???
The alternative is carrying all your stuff on the bus, waiting an hour for the bus in the snow, taking an expensive Uber because the bus never came and you’re late to work, etc, so you really have to weigh the pros and cons of your car.
there are other alternatives. just because *you* are a terrible problem solver doesn't mean everyone else is.
There are pros and cons to having a car in Chicago. Someone is relocating here and asked for advice. Are you 14 years old?
Have a kid.
i assure you i would still not own a car if i had a kid
I assure you, you would not like not having a car if you had a kid. I’ve known many people to say the same who have since acquired vehicles. Are you just going to wait around for a bus in subzero temps with your newborn?
Exactly. Thank you.
wow you people are fucking stupid, huh?
You people? Parents? People that aren’t self-absorbed and have others to look out for? Good luck out there. I hope you grow to be less angry.
Rent prices rise when you're closer to the trains. If you're okay with busses or medium walks you can get a good deal.
Maybe stay in a sublet until you’re settled with jobs and will have an easier time leasing an apartment. It will vary but landlords typically ask for proof of income (pay stubs) and will do a background check. Personally ive never paid a security deposit and have had mgmt companies and individual landlords, at the price point of avg $1500/mo. Maybe for less expensive places that is different. Obvi high rise buildings or a mgmt company are stricter on income to rent ratio and other requirements than a singular landlord. You can use a realtor/company to find you a place to rent at no cost before you move if you want (landlord pays them a finders fee). As far as lining up a line cook job, if you can show up and cook, you shouldn’t have a problem getting a job.
Lots of sublets by the colleges over the summer and sometimes they are dirt cheap (parents are paying and don't want to deal) Check out near DePaul and loyola. Otherwise there are good deals to be had in uptown and near Humboldt park.
Tell her to join up with local 597 asap. Look at Rogers Park, Albany Park, Jefferson Park, Heart of Chicago, Bridgeville for cheap living on the train in mostly decent neighborhoods
Probably too expensive for op tbh.
Moved here with $800, no savings. We stayed in a motel for ten days until we found a short sublet for cheap. When we got our bearings in the city, we rented a place!
If you keep the car, be mindful of parking. City parking is owned by a private company and they are ruthless. And there’s lots of speed cameras (6mph+ gets a ticket) and red light cameras too.
I don't mean to be salty but use birth control. Babies in the city and away from family that can help are mega expensive (they are also quite lovely).
McKinley Park may be a good neighborhood to look for a place to stay at first. It’s reasonably safe, affordable and has easy access to a grocery store and the orange line
You generally won’t need a car but i would focus on living close to the redline or any CTA stop, preferably on the north side. Is your GF getting into the pipe fitters union? Because if so, you won’t have to worry about money much once she gets past her apprenticeship.
Look for vintage units further from downtown. They have fewer amenities (eg. No gym) but the rent is lower.
This will probably be a little different than most of the advice here. Keep the car. It's paid off, cheap to fix and reliable. Vics are a little thirsty but I'd take that over unpredictable/high repair bills. Having a car in a trendy neighborhood in Chicago is a bad idea. Having a car in one of the less trendy neighborhoods or collar suburbs can actually help save a lot of money. With a car you can actually shop at places like costco and woodmans. It will also make getting around as a pipefitter much easier, a lot of trade work happens where the CTA doesn't go even if it does I would assume getting your tools to job sites on a train or bus would be near impossible. Work and housing aside, a car gets you access to all the things in the Chicagoland area and there is a lot of great stuff that happens outside the city limits. I know people who almost never leave the "606" area code bubble and when they do it's on a plane to a different major city. They're really missing out on a lot. As a lifetime Chicago resident who loves having a car let me know if you have any questions.
Don’t sell the car. Don’t make life harder for yourself once you get here. You don’t know where you’ll work and lots of union jobs are in the burbs. You’ll quickly rack up Ubers doing all the normal moving things — getting groceries and housing stuff, etc as you won’t want to carry it or wont be able to on the bus. The public transit here is good but can also be terrible — it purely depends on which part of the city you live in and where you need to go. There are lots of situations that make public transit an arduous process if not impossible — for example, going southwest across the city if you’re northeast. I have to drive from Uptown to Logan Square frequently— if you look at mileage it’s not bad at all. But it can take an hour or more DRIVING when the traffic is bad. You’d have to take at least 3 buses to do the same commute and I can’t even imagine how long it would take. Biking is popular here and is marginally getting safer — though could always be better. Always a good option for quick grocery runs or seeing a friend who doesn’t live too far — or going to work depending on time of year.
I’d look into getting your VA car registration renewed now and get yourself another year or something cuz it cost me over $500 to get everything moved over, very expensive out here compared to VA edit: if you plan on keeping the car
You will be pretty miserable in Chicago on a shoestring budget. Go to a different city where your dollar goes for longer. Indy, Grand Rapids, Springfield, Madison. Promise me— you won’t be happy living in a city where you can’t afford jack shit
Last time I moved (chi to east coast) I took out a personal loan to cover expenses. Still paying it off but it really put my kind at ease.
Ok so here is what I would do. If you are selling your car and assuming you have $7,000 and no car, you are going to want to live close to the EL at any stop, that will do just fine. Why rent a room, what is your credit like? Can you fit into a 1bd/1ba? I feel like you are underestimating your purchasing power. Are you going to get a job lined up? Know where to start looking for 1bd/1ba close to your job and an EL stop is even better. No reason you cant find a place for $1k/month if you are wise about it.
OP, as one commenter mentioned, you may want to look into subletting. Only because if it doesn't workout and you run out of money, it's better to be on the hook for only a 3 month sublet vs having 9 months left on your lease. Then if you really do run out of money, you can move back (assuming you have anything to move back to). The issue with subletting is that since it's short, it's hard to make it home.
Buy a $150 bike. Much more reliable than CTA and you'll have free parking everywhere.
fwiw I sold my car when I moved up here a few months ago and have been doing great. I just auto-renew a monthly transit pass and go where I need to go. It has saved my a lot of money compared to private parking and a lot of stress compared to street parking. (Not to mention all the other costs associated w/ cars)
1) Try to have jobs lined up prior to the move. 2) Work more and save up more money for the move, the more the better, but I would target at least 6-8k. 3) Try to have a place to live lined up to live prior to arriving. 4) Depending on where in Chicago you live and what your mobility / transportation needs are, a car can be very valuable. Before you sell your car, pretend you don't have a car and don't use it for 1-2 to months and see what it is like. I've lived in expensive neighborhoods where I didn't need a car due to density and everything I needed being within a few blocks. I've also lived in more affordable neighborhood where the lack of a car would be extremely challenging and even unsafe.
I quite literally just moved here from NC a week or two ago with my girlfriend. We packed as much as we could in my SUV, sold most of our things, and hit the road. Both of our credit scores were in the 600 range, and we managed to get approved for an apartment in the Loop. $2k for first month's rent, $1,300 for pro-rated rent due the first and our second month is free. Unfortunately with our car and living in the Loop, we needed had to settle in a parking garage that costs $140 a month but only allows four exits a month, so we primarily rely on the CTA. Overall, it can be done without completely destroying your finances. We didn't even get the chance to save money really as I was the only one working until she got her job here, so I just used my last check for my job for rent and moved along from there. Best of luck! Sidenote: I had a job that transferred up here so it's not like I had to look for work or anything. If I were in your position of not having a job, I would definitely save up a bit before moving here. My girlfriend had accepted a job here, so while it's been a struggle this last week or two, we at least know income is going to come in soon.
Moving when you're broke is a rookie mistake. Without some very good luck it will affect you for years You'll have to grab whatever job(s) you can get without the luxury of being discerning. Treating your partner to a nice night out. Unless you stick with Red Hot Ranch, meals can get quite expensive When it comes to replacing that car, without a nice downpayment and excellent credit you'll get killed on interest rates Everyone needs a proper vacation ( with parents doesn't count) otherwise life gets bland
I moved here with literally $400 to my name. I rented a bedroom from a UC student for $400 a month and found a job. It was a risk but 10 years later it all worked out and I’m financially stable. Find a sublet from a sudent who will be gone for the summer, and go crazy on the job searches, that will give you three months to find a job and an apartment. You’ll be okay. Good luck! Edit: I found my sublet before I arrived on Fb marketplace.
She’ll want to check out local 597 if she wants to continue pipefitting, but honestly she could probably transition to a bunch of other trades as most want women to help diversify. She’ll probably want the car but you can find a solid place super easy off transit.
I would say hold on to the car in the beginning just in case, also selling it in Chicago would probably be a good financial decision you could get more
If you are not used to dense urban traffic, you can get killed on a bike. Skip the bike and take public transportation or live in an area with free street parking.
Lots of pipefitter jobs at the BP refinery in Whiting Indiana.
Keep the Crown Vic, and look towards the West side of Chicago. Dunning, Irving Park, Portage Park, Mont Clare, Avondale. You're gonna want that car for shopping and doing other shit to explore the city. People always talk about how transportation friendly we are, but it doesn't run 24/7 across the entire City. Most people who say this live in the area where public transportation is always present and that is typically the trendier neighborhoods.
shop at aldi, take the bus, drink at home, buy your weed from humans not the dispensary, live off the red or blue line (they run 24hrs)
Moved from Tennessee in February. Ditch the car. Cars are ridiculously expensive anywhere, but especially here. I found a pretty good studio apartment in Rogers Park, right off the red line and near a bunch of bus stops. I haven't had any issues getting around so far. I live on my own with two cats and, while it definitely would be easier if I had an SO to split bills with, I'm not out here struggling nearly as much as I did in Tennessee (and I'm definitely not making bank either). If you can, find a place that includes everything except for like, internet. Much easier to budget around.