Relocating?

[mwlabel]

I'm beginning to have thoughts in favor of relocating when the time comes. There is certainly a lot to love about Wisconsin, and, for what I find good about the state, I probably live in THE ideal area for me. Actually, I know I do. Plus, it's where my family is and where I grew up. Win-win all around so far.

BUT, and I cannot stress this enough, I HATE winters here. I feel like a prisoner of my own home and it just kills my soul. I'm convinced nobody should live like this.

I recently took the GRE, and my initial scores were damn good (the "official" scores take ~6 weeks to process, but I have no reason to think they will go down) and I plan on taking the LSAT in June. Why does this matter? Because I will be heading off for school again in the fall of 2016, with whatever cards I'm dealt. This seems like a damn good time to relocate should I decide to.

I will be 24. I don't have a family, wife, whatever. There is no concern about messing up somebody else's life.

So... besides the weather and obvious cost of living, what should somebody consider when relocating? I truly have no idea. School choices will be a deciding factor to some degree, but that's about it.

How would you go about deciding where to live at 24, anywhere in the country?

 

[rdomfoto]

Unfortunately, here in the US, if a location has nice winters, it's probably because the summers are intolerably hot. If the weather is nice year-round, you can strike "decent cost of living" off of the list.

That being said, you can make almost anywhere affordable, depending on several factors. So, look at places that align with what you like. Into music? Give Austin a serious look. Like hiking? Check out Arizona or California. Are you okay with rain? Washington state or Oregon may be the right place.

Denver (and Colorado) is the youngest state in the country (in terms of average age of residents). My wife's father and step-mom live in Denver and we love visiting there.

If you can, visit a few places but look for places where you will find the recreation and lifestyle that you like to live now.

 

[AlohaStyle]

I say go for it man... would hate to have regrets later down the road when you are a little more "settled" and feel like you wouldn't be able to move. With that said, just go with an area that has many things to offer what you like to do. You like guns/shooting, so make sure the area is gun friendly with options for ranges etc. Do you like the beaches? Mountains? Hiking? Any good friends in cities you are interested in? Look at taxes. Look at states that offer good school tuition incentives for residents. Not sure how long you might have to live in a city before getting residency as every state is different. Are tobacco laws important to you? You want local lounges or not?

Have fun choosing man, moving away is the best thing I ever did as I couldn't stand the MN winters either.

 

[XYRNTX]

Im 24 y/o, TX man.....stupid nice weather (the heat isn't that bad) cheap living / property, no state tax etc etc....HOT ASS WOMEN here again....etc etc lol....good luck man....I lasted 5 months in UT and moved back to S. TX


EDIT to original post.....school isn't that bad here either....wife became a registered nurse for about $15k....im in a nursing program (bachelors) for about $25,000...lots of options and community college (700 for 12 hours give or take)

 

[mdwest]

Consider TN..

Very low tuition rates... No state income tax... Very low cost of living... Very much "pro gun"...

Mild winters... Hot, but not horrible summers...

Low tobacco tax (B&Ms are actually affordable here)..

And lots of BOTL in the area...

 

[mwlabel]

Consider TN..

Very low tuition rates... No state income tax... Very low cost of living... Very much "pro gun"...

Mild winters... Hot, but not horrible summers...

Low tobacco tax (B&Ms are actually affordable here)..

And lots of BOTL in the area...

Honestly, TN has been near/at the top of my list for a while now, but I was never able to qualify it for anything beyond really basic reasons. Beautiful: check. Mild winters, but all four seasons: check. Pro-gun: check. Some major schools: check.

Beyond that, and my two trips to Gatlinburg, I didn't (and still don't) really know anything about the area.

But I still like it.

 

[HIM*]

The biggest negative I see is paying out of state tuition unless you can pull some grants and stuff. As to where to go... its really up to what you enjoy. Our country has a lot of variety to offer.

 

[smokinbrew]

Southern Utah is warm with 50-60 degree winters, and the summers are warm but not terrible. no indoor cigar lounges but in S. Utah the weather is nice enough to be outside year round. Utah has the best rating for college graduates and people starting out. people are friendly, but 3.4% beer other than that i love it here. my suggestion is look around and research all the states TX and West and utah and south you'll have a good cost of living,and the weather you are looking for. personally AZ is perfect in my eyes.

 

[Erikcooper]

Tennessee has a variety as well. It's a whole different world between Memphis and Nashville

 

[Wicket]

CO sucks too cold in winter and too hot in summers Honestly If i could move back to Northern AZ I would in a second. The wife hates rain or we would live in the Pacific NW Bellingham area.

 

[Jaybird]

I'm beginning to have thoughts in favor of relocating when the time comes. There is certainly a lot to love about Wisconsin, and, for what I find good about the state, I probably live in THE ideal area for me. Actually, I know I do. Plus, it's where my family is and where I grew up. Win-win all around so far.

BUT, and I cannot stress this enough, I HATE winters here. I feel like a prisoner of my own home and it just kills my soul. I'm convinced nobody should live like this.

I recently took the GRE, and my initial scores were damn good (the "official" scores take ~6 weeks to process, but I have no reason to think they will go down) and I plan on taking the LSAT in June. Why does this matter? Because I will be heading off for school again in the fall of 2016, with whatever cards I'm dealt. This seems like a damn good time to relocate should I decide to.

I will be 24. I don't have a family, wife, whatever. There is no concern about messing up somebody else's life.

So... besides the weather and obvious cost of living, what should somebody consider when relocating? I truly have no idea. School choices will be a deciding factor to some degree, but that's about it.

How would you go about deciding where to live at 24, anywhere in the country?

Do what I did brother! Best experience of my life (aside form Kids and Wife) long story short.. I was 20 free as a bird.. I worked 1 summer and put a few grand in my pocket and took off in my car from Northern California with only 1 plan, see the USA and what it has to offer and figure it out along the way. I traveled for over 2 months KOA camped and just had a blast! I saw so much of the USA that I feel blessed to have done it. I ended up in Athens GA with $100 in my pocket and said to myself. SELF I better find a job and a place to stay. I found work in 3 days, was renting a house in 4 days and I stayed there (in the south) for 5 years. I made life long friends and had the time of my life! I know times have changes a bit since then..Now you would need $15K to what I did on 3 LOL

Good luck on the ride brother! You'll find your way!

Cheers
Jay

 

[mcroom]

I'll second the ife stile here in Tn. We really enjoy Chattanooga for the last 7 years. There are a lot of good school choices as well

 

[RacFocus]

I say look around now while you are still young and without a wife and kids. I don't want to say my wife and I made a mistake staying where we are but I do wish we would have looked into other places while we were younger and didn't have kids. Once you have kids, moving becomes a little more difficult in my opinion. Especially once they start school.

 

[UpInSmoke]

Im in the same boat as you. 22, thinking of leaving the Communist state of NY. Think I've decided on Kentucky

 

[Catawbamatt]

NC brother!

 

[daleo8803]

Sc!! Mild winters compared to what you r use to. A little warm in summer( normal is around 90) but I love living here. Don't move to Nc them people can't drive..... sorry matt. Lol

 

[Ga Gator]

Good luck to you.
Don't be afraid to make a decision and go with it. You are young and single.

As far as moving goes, consider moving and getting residency prior to enrolling. It will take a year but financially it might make sense. You have the right considerations, weather, activities, gun laws etc.

 

[Romulus Cogswell]

I've spent a good chunk of my life visiting Tennessee and I'd live in Knoxville or Nashville if I had that option.

 

[Jaybird]

Yeah if your looking in the South NC is a GREAT state but it can get colder than bloody hell in the north but you do have Charlotte and I am sure they have finished the freeways by now so you should be golden there. SC has some of the best golfing, the weather is AMAZING and the tourism and history is oustanding! KY and Tenn... Well its KY and Tenn If you LOVE moonshine and Country music..Need I say more? Ga has Savannah and I personally don't think there is a more beautiful city in the South! I would stay away from Alabama and Mississippi myself but that's just me they both have there strong draws I didn't enjoy being there when I was traveling. Alabama does have some great little backwoods town you can just get lost in though...

Cheers
Jay

 

[mdwest]

Considering tuition costs (in state vs out of state..)

Univ of Wisconsin - Grad program = $5.9K per semester (in state)
Univ of Wisconsin - Law program = $10.7K per semester (in state)

Univ of TN - Grad program = $15K per semester (out of state)
Univ of TN - Grad program = $5.8K per semester (in state)
Univ of TN - Law Program = $18.8K per semester (out of state)
Univ of TN - Law Program = $9.5K per semester (in state)

You can obtain in state status after one year of residency in the state.

So, year 1 would be pretty expensive by comparison to going to a school in your home state.. but after that, the costs are pretty close..


The big savings is in cost of living...

For example.. Madison, WI vs. Knoxville, TN...

Housing is 27% cheaper in Knoxville
Groceries are 15% cheaper in Knoxville
Utilities are 10% cheaper in Knoxville
Transportation is 20% cheaper in Knoxville
Healthcare is 24% cheaper in Knoxville..

a $41K annual salary in Knoxville, roughly equates to making $50K in Madison...


So.. the additional money you pay in the first year of school in tuition.. you would likely make most of that back up in cost of living (your apartment would be cheaper, your utilities would be cheaper, your groceries would be cheaper, etc..)..

And every year after that (once you obtain in state status) would be considerably cheaper on you in TN..

Assuming you went on and moved in the fall of 2015.. you would be a resident before you started class in 2016.. and the in state vs. out of state issue is moot.. both cost of living.. and tuition would be cheaper than staying in WI..


And.. if you come here... I can take you to the range.. and teach you how to shoot...


As far as the quality of the school/education.. Univ of TN isnt exactly Duke or Georgetown... but.. its a good school.. Its MBA program was ranked 65th in the country last year.. and its law school was ranked 72nd..

When you consider that there are 202 ABA law schools in the US.. and probably another couple of hundred non ABA schools (not sure how many non ABA there are.. but there are lots).. That puts UT roughly in the top 25%...

There are thousands of MBA programs in the US.. so... being #65 aint too shabby all things considered... if you decide to go the business school route..