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posted June 4, 1996
I recently received my Master's Degree and have no real savings or credit resources. I have a promising career opportunity in academia, but taking the job will mean a cross-country move -- which the school will not pay for. How can I raise money for the move quickly -- and keep the cost to a minimum?
lsmit: Sometimes it is better to sell off those posessions that aren't worth moving. This eliminates the need for paying huge sums of money to move furniture that might not be worth investing in. However, should the furniture and belongings be worth the trip, I would suggest placing them in storage for a few months until enough money could be saved to get them shipped to your new location. If there are no children involved, this is relatively easy. Should children be involved, it would be a bit harder, but would still work. Consider renting a furnished apartment for a short-term period. When you've accumulated enough funds to rent a truck, make the move then!
dreamx: Screw academia-- you're barking up the tree. You'll NEVER make any money in academia, so wasting your time pursuing it for that reason is missing the point. Try your hand at something more profitable-- like the wonderful world of fast food. Master's degree-- ka-CHAW!
DStika: Try finding someone who needs a car move to your new city or maybe needs help moving to the area. Trade labor for travel!
meganc : You'll save money if you can drive your things cross-country, rather than hiring a moving company (I just moved from Seattle to Orlando, and my company helped with the cost, but I still got killed on new apartment and furniture expenses...). If you decide to drive (either towing a trailer, or towing your car behind a truck), put ads up on community and school bulletin boards offering to move someone else's belongings for a fee, or to get someone to share the ride with you. Also, if you don't mind camping rather than staying in motels, or if there are enough of you that you can drive straight through, you'll save quite a lot.
DTS: Here are my suggestions which come from someone who had to face that dilemma many years ago.
1. Decide if you really want to be in the world of academia. Like other users have said, there's very little money and if you don't get tenure, you really have nothing.
2. Ask the school for an advance on you salary. They want you - they can help pay the bill.
3. If you have been hired under any kind of contract, see if a bank will give you a short term loan based on the terms.
4. Get a part-time job out there to pay for your move.
5. Budget you money carefully.
6. Don't burn any bridges!!sakican: Try doing something we all hate doing: ask your parents for help. :)
Your Canadian Friend, SakiCanGolfGizmo: Work is about living the life you choose. If the move is what you want, you'll find a way to do it. But, as Shakespeare said, "above all else, to thine own self be true." It's not about money - it's about doing what you want, no matter what the cost.
JayK: I have recently done something similar. Having spent a lifetime in the Navy, when it was all done we were faced with the question "where do we go now." Although the option was offered to move us, we decided to sell it all... We left with a trunkload of personal items (pictures, personal momentos, etc.) and our clothes. The money from the sale gave us a fair start, and building it all back up piece by piece has been a real kick. Probably financially stupid, but it's been a lot of fun for us. Good luck!!
JayIceDream: Sell what you really don't need. Just keep the bare necessities and build your assets back up when you get out there. It's always better to travel light. If there are things that you must keep but don't need during the move, consider leaving them with a good friend or relative.
jools: I understand your problem! When I finished graduate school, I had to move across several states for my new position. I had no money, and was actually several thousand dollars in debt! I ascribed to the same advice that several of the members of my thesis committee did when they graduated: if it doesn't fit in the car, I don't need it! Granted, most of the stuff I owned when I was in grad school was junk that I picked up at Goodwill, but nonetheless, it was quite a lot of stuff. But the one nice thing about getting that degree is now I at least have the potential to make some money for a change! I'm now almost out of debt after two years, and I'm ready for my next position! Good Luck! And most of all, be glad you have a great new position to go to. Not everyone getting out of grad school these days are so fortunate!
terr: Put ride-share ads in local newspapers and post flyers at colleges/universities and grocery stores nearby. Chances are, there are people out there who would either like a rider or who want their stuff shipped to the same place you're going.
Shazam420: Well, I'm about to undertake a move to Boston from Berkeley. Being your run of the mill "gen-x-er" I have NEVER had a savings account. I'm trying to sell as much of my stuff as I can because I will be driving there. The proceeds will help substantailly AND it means less stuff that I have to worry about. Those things that I can't sell I will ship if it is equitable. I have some external help as well, things like a $600 deposit on my apartment, and theoretically I'll get two weeks of vacation pay when I leave! Still, this will leave only a slim margin. I'll be bringing my tent to save on motel fees as well!
tfarrell: Blow it off....There are always jobs.
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