R-E-N-T in the U-S-A. Yeah, yeah. Renting in the USA.
January 31, 2007 11:57 PM Subscribe
Renting by the week across the USA.
So I've had this crazy idea for a while and now that the Minnesota winter has finally succeeded in breaking my spirit after 25 years, I think I should go with it. Has anyone out there lived the life of an employed vagabond? Here's what I have in mind...
I'm an ad copywriter by trade and I've been doing my research on all the major creative temp agencies (Creatis, Aquent, Creative Group). Many have branches in warmer climes. I figure I'll call on these places and find out if they have work. Hell, I have a finance degree and could do all kinds of shitty temp jobs. As long as they give me enough notice (call me on Friday and I'll be there Monday) and pay well enough, I'll go do a gig for as long as they need (min. 1 week). When that's up, I'll make more calls. If nothing pans out, I'll come home.
What I really need though is a way to find really short term housing. Preferably a room to rent by the week that's not on Skid Row or Desolation Alley. Anyone have experience with this? I suppose Craigslist and hostels are my friend. I'd bring an air mattress, microwave, Foreman grill, rice cooker and mini fridge in the car with me so I could at least have some creature comforts.
I do have a mortgage so I have to make enough to pay that too, but I have a friend in Chicago who runs a place that rents rooms for about $150/wk which seems reasonable. So I guess talk me down or push me off the ledge.
So I've had this crazy idea for a while and now that the Minnesota winter has finally succeeded in breaking my spirit after 25 years, I think I should go with it. Has anyone out there lived the life of an employed vagabond? Here's what I have in mind...
I'm an ad copywriter by trade and I've been doing my research on all the major creative temp agencies (Creatis, Aquent, Creative Group). Many have branches in warmer climes. I figure I'll call on these places and find out if they have work. Hell, I have a finance degree and could do all kinds of shitty temp jobs. As long as they give me enough notice (call me on Friday and I'll be there Monday) and pay well enough, I'll go do a gig for as long as they need (min. 1 week). When that's up, I'll make more calls. If nothing pans out, I'll come home.
What I really need though is a way to find really short term housing. Preferably a room to rent by the week that's not on Skid Row or Desolation Alley. Anyone have experience with this? I suppose Craigslist and hostels are my friend. I'd bring an air mattress, microwave, Foreman grill, rice cooker and mini fridge in the car with me so I could at least have some creature comforts.
I do have a mortgage so I have to make enough to pay that too, but I have a friend in Chicago who runs a place that rents rooms for about $150/wk which seems reasonable. So I guess talk me down or push me off the ledge.
Almost any town that is big enough to have a motel or hotel will have one that offers "weekly rates"... All you have to do is call, or plan ahead... Even if you don't plan ahead, most big cities (and even smaller ones) have hotels that offer weekly rates on short notice... Do a Google search like this: (town name) + hotel + "weekly rates" and you'll find lots of info.
posted by amyms at 1:45 AM on February 1, 2007
posted by amyms at 1:45 AM on February 1, 2007
Heh... welcome to my life (well, not so much anymore, but this characterizes lots of my recent blocks of time). If you have the wanderlust in you to really want to do this, and no concrete reasons why it would be a bad idea, I say try it. I agree with Brittanie that renting out your place would be an obvious help with the mortgage (are you not free to do that for some reason?).
It used to be that communication was my greatest issue to deal with (the weekly-room-rental places will murder you with phone charges), but that's all been solved now with a cell phone that has a data plan (i.e., allows tethering to your laptop). Cellular data is definitely the saving grace. T-Mobile has the cheapest tethering plans and (unlike Sprint or Verizon) their phones will work internationally in case you want to venture farther afield.
Good phrases to google are perpetual tourist and intentionally homeless. Good website to google for (with some articles about this, both domestic & intl) is Escape From America.
You have a huge advantage over my travels since you have a car. Carry lots of nutritious foods you like. Check bulkfoods.com for very cheap dried fruit, nuts, etc.
It sounds like the most efficient way of guaranteeing steady work would be developing a consultancy of your own (copywriting, branding, etc.) that you can run on the web and by phone; that way you can wander anywhere there's cell reception, and not worry about looking for local work.
posted by lorimer at 1:55 AM on February 1, 2007
It used to be that communication was my greatest issue to deal with (the weekly-room-rental places will murder you with phone charges), but that's all been solved now with a cell phone that has a data plan (i.e., allows tethering to your laptop). Cellular data is definitely the saving grace. T-Mobile has the cheapest tethering plans and (unlike Sprint or Verizon) their phones will work internationally in case you want to venture farther afield.
Good phrases to google are perpetual tourist and intentionally homeless. Good website to google for (with some articles about this, both domestic & intl) is Escape From America.
You have a huge advantage over my travels since you have a car. Carry lots of nutritious foods you like. Check bulkfoods.com for very cheap dried fruit, nuts, etc.
It sounds like the most efficient way of guaranteeing steady work would be developing a consultancy of your own (copywriting, branding, etc.) that you can run on the web and by phone; that way you can wander anywhere there's cell reception, and not worry about looking for local work.
posted by lorimer at 1:55 AM on February 1, 2007
Sympathy: I'm a fellow Minnesotan and I'm similarly spirit-broken.
We've decided to move to Colorado. Still a lot of snow, but it's the 6th sunniest state, versus MN at 38th.
Good luck on your mission.
GB
posted by gb77 at 3:36 AM on February 1, 2007
We've decided to move to Colorado. Still a lot of snow, but it's the 6th sunniest state, versus MN at 38th.
Good luck on your mission.
GB
posted by gb77 at 3:36 AM on February 1, 2007
Hell if you own a house, you might be able to hook up with some sort of time share arrangement. Assuming there is value that some people may find in renting your house out in the middle of a MN winter?
You'd obviously have more luck if you were in the construction industry. As an engineer I could live that life if I chose, especially in other countries.
posted by JJ86 at 5:56 AM on February 1, 2007
You'd obviously have more luck if you were in the construction industry. As an engineer I could live that life if I chose, especially in other countries.
posted by JJ86 at 5:56 AM on February 1, 2007
There are motels that offer weekly rates around $150 - not always in the worst part of town, either! In Town Suites is a pretty popular one.
posted by muddgirl at 7:08 AM on February 1, 2007
posted by muddgirl at 7:08 AM on February 1, 2007
gb77, where is the list you're pulling the 'sunniest' stats from? I'd just be curious to see it since I have enjoyed far more sun since moving from Massachusetts to California.
posted by bcnarc at 7:14 AM on February 1, 2007
posted by bcnarc at 7:14 AM on February 1, 2007
The grass is always greener... I've been in FL all my life and am ready to move somewhere where I can see the seasons change and not sweat for eight months out of the year!
Have you thought about getting a travel trailer to live in? You could have all the creature comforts you mentioned and you may be able to live cheaper than you're thinking with the room-renting.
Sounds like fun!
posted by forensicphd at 7:46 AM on February 1, 2007
Have you thought about getting a travel trailer to live in? You could have all the creature comforts you mentioned and you may be able to live cheaper than you're thinking with the room-renting.
Sounds like fun!
posted by forensicphd at 7:46 AM on February 1, 2007
When I was working at Starbucks a few years back, I heard about a guy who worked at my shop who was travelling about the country, getting temporary places at the Starbucks in the next town over, living in an RV. Starbucks is very nice to its employees, allowing them to work as many different locations as they chose. I worked in 14 different locations throughout Boston during my two month (summer) employment, and my check was sent to my "home" store. With Direct Deposit, you could do what you wanted...if you want to be a Barista.
posted by nursegracer at 8:02 AM on February 1, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by nursegracer at 8:02 AM on February 1, 2007 [1 favorite]
Nursegracer -- do you know my friend Dean (aka Dusty)? He's a Starbucks muckety muck in Boston overseeing several stores.
DonnieSticks -- Dios may say to "grow up" but I say go for it. :) If you're thinking up to two or three months at a place (as opposed to three weeks), you can find sub-lets and house sitting on Craig's List. If you're really committed to weekly, I'd go with hotels/motels or an RV. I just did a quick google search of -- "san francisco" hotels "weekly rates" -- and got a lot of hits. Most of the weekly rates were at least $300, though ...
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 9:05 AM on February 1, 2007
DonnieSticks -- Dios may say to "grow up" but I say go for it. :) If you're thinking up to two or three months at a place (as opposed to three weeks), you can find sub-lets and house sitting on Craig's List. If you're really committed to weekly, I'd go with hotels/motels or an RV. I just did a quick google search of -- "san francisco" hotels "weekly rates" -- and got a lot of hits. Most of the weekly rates were at least $300, though ...
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 9:05 AM on February 1, 2007
Having worked at a big temp agency (maybe the smaller creative ones work differenly, I don't know) it's not a great idea to rely on weekly work, even for low level clerical jobs.
posted by look busy at 9:17 AM on February 1, 2007
posted by look busy at 9:17 AM on February 1, 2007
This is not a direct answer, but you may want to check out A Walk Across America. The author, Peter Jenkins, traveled across America in the 1970s. To support himself along the way, he stopped for short-term jobs (although his were blue-collar -- and he was, obviously, walking). His housing choices were unorthodox but very interesting; an update might be possible.
posted by booksandlibretti at 1:38 PM on February 1, 2007
posted by booksandlibretti at 1:38 PM on February 1, 2007
I don't have answers and just questions. Maybe things for you to chew on before you do this. I just moved and was without permanent address for a few weeks and found it extremely inconvenient. How do people that do this deal with the inconveniences?
1) You have a car, and you need insurance. You need an address for that insurance (so they can determine your premium from the zip code). If you are moving to a different state, you might need a new drivers license and you need an address to get that too. Where would you get registration and insurance documents sent to?
2) W4, W2, and taxes. What do you put for your address when applying for employment? Where are they going to send your W2 in January? And what are you filling on your tax return in April for address?
3) What if your car breaks down? Where would you get it repaired? Where are your cell phone bills going to be sent? Or credit card bills and bank statements?
4) I found it extremely expensive for even one week without a residence. The cheapest hotel (on weekly rate) in a sketchy area was $450-$500 per week in the Silicon Valley. Also, apartments and/or subletters are wary about renting to you.
posted by lpctstr; at 2:15 PM on February 1, 2007
1) You have a car, and you need insurance. You need an address for that insurance (so they can determine your premium from the zip code). If you are moving to a different state, you might need a new drivers license and you need an address to get that too. Where would you get registration and insurance documents sent to?
2) W4, W2, and taxes. What do you put for your address when applying for employment? Where are they going to send your W2 in January? And what are you filling on your tax return in April for address?
3) What if your car breaks down? Where would you get it repaired? Where are your cell phone bills going to be sent? Or credit card bills and bank statements?
4) I found it extremely expensive for even one week without a residence. The cheapest hotel (on weekly rate) in a sketchy area was $450-$500 per week in the Silicon Valley. Also, apartments and/or subletters are wary about renting to you.
posted by lpctstr; at 2:15 PM on February 1, 2007
I'll answer some of lpctstr;'s questions.
1) In most states, you can drive in the state for up to 30 days without getting a license or registration for that state. And, if you're a temporary resident (meaning you have a home somewhere else), you never really need to change your car registration or anything. Heck, my friend went through 4 years of college driving with a Mass. license and car registration in California, because his residence was in Mass.
2) He has an address - his home in Minnesota. All his other work will be considered "out of state employment." Of course, it's going to suck to fill out 5 or 10 different state income tax forms :) (NOTE: I am not a tax attorney).
3) He'll get his car repaired wherever he is. Nowadays, bills can be directly drawn from checking accounts, or can be reviewed online and then payed from a check or online account.
4) If all else fails, there's Couch Surfing.
Really, those questions were easy to answer. The hardest part will be "How do I find work?"
posted by muddgirl at 2:48 PM on February 1, 2007
1) In most states, you can drive in the state for up to 30 days without getting a license or registration for that state. And, if you're a temporary resident (meaning you have a home somewhere else), you never really need to change your car registration or anything. Heck, my friend went through 4 years of college driving with a Mass. license and car registration in California, because his residence was in Mass.
2) He has an address - his home in Minnesota. All his other work will be considered "out of state employment." Of course, it's going to suck to fill out 5 or 10 different state income tax forms :) (NOTE: I am not a tax attorney).
3) He'll get his car repaired wherever he is. Nowadays, bills can be directly drawn from checking accounts, or can be reviewed online and then payed from a check or online account.
4) If all else fails, there's Couch Surfing.
Really, those questions were easy to answer. The hardest part will be "How do I find work?"
posted by muddgirl at 2:48 PM on February 1, 2007
I am not as nomadic as you would be, but let me just provide a caveat drawn from my experience.
With those creative-type temp agencies, it seems like their M.O. is to string you along a little bit (not unique to these agencies, I'm sure). And maybe not always in a totally evil way, but it's to their advantage to make you believe that they are going to get you work. Unfortunately, their promise of work or list of jobs they "expect to come through soon" cannot be cashed at the bank like a check. So register at as many of these agencies as you can, an insane number even. It can be a pain as they will likely require slightly customized resumes, other paperwork and possibly an interview. But it increases your odds.
Good luck!
posted by veggieboy at 3:45 AM on February 2, 2007
With those creative-type temp agencies, it seems like their M.O. is to string you along a little bit (not unique to these agencies, I'm sure). And maybe not always in a totally evil way, but it's to their advantage to make you believe that they are going to get you work. Unfortunately, their promise of work or list of jobs they "expect to come through soon" cannot be cashed at the bank like a check. So register at as many of these agencies as you can, an insane number even. It can be a pain as they will likely require slightly customized resumes, other paperwork and possibly an interview. But it increases your odds.
Good luck!
posted by veggieboy at 3:45 AM on February 2, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
Lots of hotels in business districts rent by the week, at about $150 or so. I *don't* mean corporate hotels in downtown districts, but more like near the airport of any major city.
posted by Brittanie at 1:05 AM on February 1, 2007