Before you leave PA, you should check into qualification for Section 8 housing, if you haven't already done so.

For $1,600, you should be able to get an apartment in a decent part of Torrance.  Not a large one, but a large enough to suit your needs.  It would be the BEST city to live in for convenience to the types of jobs yu are considering, most of which pay fairly decently.  Torrance has great medical facilities and Torrance Memorial Medical Center is one of the few hospitals I know which is GROWING.

You do know I am getting ready to relocate to Kuwait for at least a year, though?

Jackie:

Some things to also consider before moving to CA.  I don't know your situation, but based on the fact you have 2  SSI members, you need to be aware that the state of CA does not allow SSI recipients to receive Food Stamps. 

As for the Section 8 housing, your income is too high to qualify for that.  Utilities are very high priced here as well (not sure what they are like in your current state).  Have you considered that you will need a minimum of $2500 to $3000 to pay deposits, etc. to move into a new place, the nicer the place, the more the $$?  Factoring in pets, the deposits will go even higher. 

Medical insurance could be a problem for you.  The guys are o.k. because they wil have medi-cal via their SSI, but you more than likely will not qualify for state medical insurance (called Medi-Cal in California) because you do not have any linkage to the program.  Obviously, with both the guys on SSI, there are health issues in the family.  Depending on where you decide to relocate, you may have trouble finding the specialists they might need to see, you may need to travel a great distance. 

Then you have car insurance.  You are going to need a car when you live out here, and car insurance in California is usually double of any other state, and sometimes the minimum coverage you are required to have in CA increases the cost that much more. 

Now. what about gas??  The gas prices are hovering at 2.90-3.15 a gallon right now.  If hubby is going to have to travel from job to job as a musician, this is also a factor you need to take into consideration.

I don't know what the food prices are like there, but, for example, in the town I live, Knudsen Whole Milk (a name brand milk) sells for $5.89 a gallon.  WalMart sells it for $2.43 a gallon (Wal Mart brand).  Eggs are $2.87 for an 18 pack at WalMart.  How does this equate with your state?

There are many opportunities available in your job field, so that is a plus.  BUT, since times are so tough here, you will be competing with folks that may even have several degrees and be way way overqualified, but they need to work.  It is an employer's market, that's for sure.  They do no longer have to pay top dollar, there are so many willing to work for a lot less.  If you can speak Spanish, that will pretty much guarantee you a job though.  Businesses, all types, need the bilingual Spanish/English people badly.

These are the things that I can think of right off the top of my head.  I hope that you heed the advice you have been given by me and the others.  I am kind of thinking that your family has made up their mind and you are coming here no matter what anyone says so I will just tell you that I wish you luck when you get here because, unfortunately, hard work alone isn't going to cut it here.  You are going to need a great deal of luck as well.

Oh, CraigsList.  You should not trust what is listed if it is anything of value.  There are truly some very legitimate folks out there using it just like they should and like it was designed to be used.  However, the bad folks far outweigh the good ones, making it really hard to trust.  Like someone else posted about the rentals you found.  They are looking for folks who are not knowledgeable about the L.A. area.  With the rentals the prices they are, no one would have to advertise a place to live if it was for $800 a month because they would have 100's of potential occupants waiting to snatch it up.

Again, wishing you luck and hoping you make a rational decision based on facts 90% and desire 10%.  I really don't want your family ending up here thinking you will be able to make it when the true reality is, without you having a permanent, full time job lined up that pays at least $15.00 per hour before you get here, you won't make it.  At $15.00 per hour, you won't be rich by any means either.  If you live like paupers on that salary and the SSI, you MAY be able to save $50.00 a month, maybe.

Thanks :)

I make too much money working to even consider Section 8 - We aren't on it here, we aren't going to be on it out there. Just because they're on SSI doesn't mean I'm a slacker. I work hard, pay my bills, and have money left over for fun things. I'm not worried about spending money on rent, and as I said to someone else, I am willing to go above $800. I was just feeling around to see what I'd have to spend for a decent apartment or house. Here in Erie, Pa $800 will get you an awesome apartment.

Also, we aren't on Food Stamps here in Erie, either - again, because of my income, so I wasn't worried about that in California, either.

I have a lot of money saved up for the move - CDs, a savings account, a checking account, money from my inheritance when my dad died in 2003 - everything is covered, but thanks.

Actually, I'm a little offended that you'd even suggest that I haven't thought about these things.

I'm not worried about medical insurance, either. I was on Medicaid when I was disabled for a bit due to my diabetes rotting my legs away, but that was temporary (6 months) and now that I've lost the weight and I'm back to work, I'm working full-time and my insurance will be kicking in shortly through my job - and it's transferable when I move, as long as I keep it paid. So health insurance isn't going to be a problem, either. And yes, the guys will still have their insurance.

The only specialist Michael needs to see is a chiropractor for his back and a psychiatrist. Nathan just needs a psychiatrist and a counselor - and chances are, as soon as he graduates from high school, the SSI will be over anyway, and that would happen no matter what state we live in.

Car insurance. I already have a car and it runs great. Just got it inspected - had to replace the front struts. I have Progressive, and they've already assured me that the policy will go wherever I go - and it's paid and current. They have let me know that the rates will go up, but not by much since I have had the same policy since I was 16 and I am now 29 with a great driving record - one minor accident, no traffic tickets, no parking tickets, etc.

Gas out here is just under $3.00 - I think it's at $2.89. I've never had a problem keeping my tank filled up, I doubt that will be a problem out there. But thank you. We plan on living in or around L.A. He'll have gigs on the weekends. If we're 35 to 45 minutes away from downtown, that's no different from being 35 to 45 minutes away from my mother right now, so we'll be fine.

We're vegetarian. I lived in California with my father from 1993 to 1996 when I moved back to Erie to live with my mom. He lived in Redondo Beach which was surrounded by health food stores. Food's going to be fine for us, too. From the prices you've quoted, the milk is almost $2.00 more than Erie, but we drink soy milk and we don't eat eggs, so I couldn't tell you what they go for here. We spend most of our money on tofu, tempeh, fresh veggies, beans, veggie "meats", fresh fruit, yogurt, etc. and we're already used to having to pay more for those things.

I won't be moving out there until I can find and secure a job, even if that means having to travel back and forth a few times to either interview or job hunt. My husband has relatives in the area that we can stay with during those times.

I wish I spoke Spanish! I took one year in high school and hated it.

I do appreciate you taking the time to fill me in on things that I'm sure most people aren't aware of. Trust me when I say I have done my research on this. I'm not the type of person that just wakes up and says,

"The weather here sucks! Let's go to California!"

I agree with you about the whole Craigslist thing. Nothing but spam and scams so far.

I am kind of thinking that your family has made up their mind and you are coming here no matter what anyone says so I will just tell you that I wish you luck when you get here because, unfortunately, hard work alone isn't going to cut it here.  You are going to need a great deal of luck as well.

Yes, we have made up our mind that we're moving out of the Erie area. My other choice was Prague where my sister currently is. I'm thinking staying in the U.S. is the better choice.

I am familiar with the L.A. area. If I wasn't, L.A. never would have been an option.

Thanks for the luck. I'm a tough girl who can appreciate some tough love. Your assumptions were a bit much, though.

If you have any further advice, feel free to share.

We aren't living like paupers now, and I don't see that happening wherever we decide to live, either. The only thing I splurge on is a tattoo every once in a while, sometimes a new guitar, and occasionally eating out. I'm awesome at saving money and I'm awesome at spending it.

Again, assumptions.

Its all good!  No worries!  Didn't mean to imply anthing at all about your status, just wanted to really impress on you how ****ty it is for a lot of people already here.  I would never want someone to get stuck in getting here and then not being able to make it.  I guess I am superimposing my fears onto you because that is one of my worst fears, not being able to make it!

It sounds like you have a better chance of success here with all the research you have done, and especially having been here before.  Careerbuilder.com is a great place to look for jobs, I mean real jobs at real places, not those abstract jobs like are on the biggie websites like monster.com.   I think you need to know the zip code of the area you are thinking about looking for work though.

Take care!!!! 

I just wanted to add that I pay attention to you on OH - I think you're a smart woman and I think you're cool on top of that. I know that what you've said to me is coming from a good place, and I appreciate that.

It did give me more things to think about when talking to my husband about when I try to convince him that there are more areas to live in than just Studio City, Sherman Oaks and all of the other areas we're just never going to fit in no matter how hard we try ;)

If you are finding something in the South Bay area, ie Torrance, Redondo Beach, or Lawndale that is under your $800 please maybe post here or if you have someone to go check it out that is BEST cause there is barely anything with 1 bedroom let alone 2 in that price range.  Being a native and knowing people in those cities listed I would be very LEARY of anything especially 2 bedroom priced under 1K.

Ms Shell

Thanks for that.

I plan on contacting realtors in a few areas tomorrow based on the recommendation of my husband's cousin, and we've moved our price range up to no greater than $1600.

If they find something nice, I'll let you know so you can check it out for me :)

rents are $1,000 and above in So Cal, my place would go for 1300 and it is a small condo.
If you pinpoint an area, say where your jobs are going to be, I can see if I can do some research.