Hey my name is Ryan, I heard about the Free State Project I think about a year ago when I was listening to Ian and Mark from FTL on the Alex Jones Show about the immigration debate and searched the FSP on youtube and came across Dave Ridley's videos which really inspires me to do something similar once I make the move. I live in Denver Colorado right now but thinking about moving to NH hopefully soon. I'm only 20 years old and I've never lived on my own, still live with my parents trying to save money and what not. I'm not sure where or when I am going to move but hopefully soon. A question I have is how I should go about moving to another state pretty much across the country away from everything I know and everyone I know? I've never lived in any other state besides CO and since I haven't lived on my own I have no idea how I should go about making a big move like that, how I should save money and what to save money for, etc. Should I just move as soon as i save enough money or should I get an apartment in CO for a year or so and see what its like to live on my own first and then move? The biggest fear that I have is that the culture shock will be so intense that I'll just end up moving back to CO like 3 months after moving to NH. I currently work at Dish Network as a Customer Service Rep(CSR). Are there a lot of call center jobs like that in NH and if so, where? Its probably going to be at least another year if not longer before I make the move so I still have plenty of time but I just want to get my ducks in a row first before I do something drastic like this.
I'm looking to make more connections to FSP friendly people so feel free to addme on Facebook: Facebook.com/ryan.asbury1
Thanks!
-Ryan
The scariest thing about moving out on your own is having enough money to pay your bills. If you've been working full time and living with your parents then you should hopefully have plenty of money saved up. In my opinion, the best thing you can do is either A) find a one bedroom apartment on craigslist or move into a room with other bachelor porcupines. Normally, your monthly total monthly expenses are three times your rent. So, if you're paying $400 per month in rent, your cost of living should be around $1200 per month. Figure that number out, then have 6 months worth of that saved up and you'll be fine. Once you get there just get a job and hang out with other porcs. The rest will come naturally. There's nothing to be worried about.
I am not in NH, wish I was, but I have just moved out of the US. My advise is to shrink your life as much as possible. For instance try to just have 2 full size suitcases of clothes. Moving and life are so much easier with less stuff. Digitally photograph all the keepsakes you want to keep, grab a gray bed sheet and a friend that has a good camera and knows about photography and head outside for good lighting. The memories are important, not the stuff. Then shrink your monthly requirements as much as possible. Get rid of car payments if you have them, sell the nice car and pay the difference you may owe in cash. Pay cash for an older car where your monthly insurance is cheap, honestly you are not your car. Or get a bike, even NH winters are doable on a bike. Prepaid, pay as you go cell phone service is great, no monthly requirements. Get a NH number. Download skype on your laptop for the longer phone calls. Not having required monthly payments hanging over your head are a huge advantage and makes living so much easier especially when life is unscripted.
[quote author=elkingrey link=topic=5230.msg53275#msg53275 date=1309027665]The scariest thing about moving out on your own is having enough money to pay your bills.[/quote]
Why should that be scary? Come prepared with tent and sleeping bag in the event of no work, (as I'm), and keep some food money in the pocketbook.
Winter is only partially bikeable. Biking is insanely dangerous with ice, slush or snow on the road.
Elkingrey's advice is good. Don't get an apartment in CO unless you want to throw money down a hole and make it so you have to stay in CO longer.
If things are good at your parents', keep saving your money, then you can leave anytime you like, rather than being stuck in a lease and helping pay the apartment owner's mortgage with your extra money.
You will likely make new friends and get new work. I'd recommend sticking with NH through any homesickness - some people do get it. Mark originally wanted to go back to FL for about the first year, but now he loves it here.