Boston Area Posters

[eltonslady]

Hi!
I live in the Boston area, I'm 25 and single and I am trying to find other 20-somethings to hang out with! I'm female, too. Seems like most of my girlfriends have boyfriends or whatever, so they're not available to go out all the time, and I'd love to find people who are willing to explore the city. Email me at amybeth4577@hotmail.com!
-AmyBeth

[jparrott]

Hi Everyone!
I was just wondering if there were any posters out there from the Boston area??? Let me know. We'll chat. I'm not looking for a boyfriend (already got me one of those ;) but looking for some people to talk to that know the area, etc......


Jules

[Unregistered]

Hi Jules...are you new in the area...if so...welcome to one of the greatest cities on earth!

[jparrott]

I actually moved here about 3 1/2 years ago...but was wondering about Boston QLC members...
Curiousity, i guess.

[Unregistered]

Boston's a haven for mid-twenty-somethings looking for new adventures. Not necessarily suffering a QLC mind. Great place to be when you're new to it all (been here from England about 18 months now) but doesn't necessarily get you any answers when it comes to life, love or the career...

[jparrott]

That is so true! I moved her looking for a new life/adventure. I grew up in a very Small town and wanted to get out and make something of myself. I always loved Boston,,so I came here. I guess maybe I took things too fast and got in over my head b/c now I'm stuck with alot of debt, a job that I don't like or never thought I would be doing, and a lack of a social circle b/c many of my friends live elsewhere. :(

[Unregistered]

I was born, raised and eduated in the Boston area......

Did the State College thing - traveled and worked the whole time. I live with my parents stilll..without a clear end in sight

Its difficult not to feel pathetic.....when you add the "i live with my parents" to the end of it......its been a complication in at least one relationship.

I love Boston - but its friggin expensive to live here! Even outside the city! I think its the perfect big town for someome from a small town to live...as long as the weather isnt too much.

I just keep asking myself - is it this difficult for other people to establish themselves..

I"d like to find that person who strung these words together "Major in what you love, the money will follow"

Yea........in the form of an unlikly scratch ticket.

Not to blame anyone but myself for my own road.....its just difficult to swallow.....my intentions were in the right place......I just feel like I've been blindsided by the so-called "adult life"

ack! i;ll go before i ramble :)

night!

-kat

[NSU]

I am thinking of going to Boston and get an MBA. I need info on business schools. i have to GMAT before applying. i am planning on going next month.

can any1 help?

[moo]

I am moving to Boston in a couple of months for grad school. I'm coming from a small town, so it is nice to hear that Boston is a good town for small town folks.

I'm very nervous about the actual move, and living so far away from all my family and friends (I'm originally from WA state.) I don't know a soul there. Plus I need bedroom furniture.

I don't know the point of this, except I guess to see if anyone wants to be my friend! :) Or wants to hire me.

[optimistic]

moo ------

Have you moved to Boston yet? If so where are you?
I live here and love it.

Kim

[ValentineGirl]

I'm thinking about moving to Boston, in case some of you didn't see my other thread. I'm worried about the cost of living. I'm from Kentucky and the cost of living is excellent here. But I need to get away and experience another place.

[Unregistered]

Boston is one of the most expensive places in the States. Unless you are earning a good salary, you will find difficulty surviving. Rents and food are more expensive than in other states.

But it's a beautiful city though. One I wouldnt mind living for my whole life if it wasn't so expensive.

[Unregistered]

Hmmm, don't know about Boston, comparable to DC,I think. Are there any surrounding suburbs that are very accesible, most jobs I'm sure are in the city. Just starting out, you'll probably have to go to a group house thing. I'm in one and I'm very lucky to have found such a great group, but planning way ahead is key, that way you won't be forced to go into a crappy roommate situation. USE YOUR INSTINCTS AND DO YOUR RESEARCH.

[optimistic]

Hi ValentineGirl, Just curious - why Boston? I love it here and to be honest I don't make all that much money but I have more than enough to live on and be comfortable. It's no news to you that the cost of living is going to be high so if you really want to make the move you need to know that you have a job secured before you do (obviously) (otherwise you will find difficulty in surviving) there are surrounding suburbs... What type of work would you be looking for?
You could experience allot here - keep in mind it's only what you make of it. If your mature you'll understand that you must work first and play later, with that knowledge at least, you'd make a great Bostonian.

Kim

[CAT11]

I saw someone posted about a Zip Car, and I checked out the site and it looked really neat. I would look into that.

Also, here is a cost of livng calculator.

http://www.monstermoving.com/Find_a_Place/Compare2Cities/

If that doesn't work, just do a search for cost of livng calculators.

I moved from po-dunk nowhere to Santa Barbara and couldn't believe the expense. I made more money there, but I couldn't live like I lived here.

[Margo]

I've been living in Boston for about a year and and have really enjoyed it. I would say the cost of living is probably its main drawback. When I talk to friends who live in other areas of the country and they tell me what they are paying in rent I get so jealous. Last year I paid $830/month for 1/3 of an apartment in Brookline. I knew that couldn't go on! The place was nice but not THAT nice! This year I looked around a lot more (it's much easier to find somewhere once you're here, rather than coming in for random weekends). I found a great place in Jamaica Plain for $675... (I still am sharing with 2 other people, so that's my 1/3)A good deal for Boston, but if I were living where I went to high school (WV) then that would be enough for me to rent a whole house! The frustrating part is- I don't really earn more than my friends back home! (That's a whole other topic completely though). Pretty much everyone I work with feels the same way. (And I have a pretty decent job- not the most fun, but it pays alright for 1 year out of college). I would definitely say you need a job or decent savings to move here (or have mom and dad help you out). I've managed to avoid realtors (and their fees, which are generally one month's rent) and found both my apartments (and roommates) on http://www.bostonapartments.com . It's a pretty good website (and free!). I'd also check out http://www.boston.craigslist.org too- not only do they have apartments, but you can get great deals on used furniture and other things you might need in an apartment (I got a great sleep sofa and loveseat set for $150). I'm the person who posted earlier (in another thread) about Zip Car http://www.zipcar.com . Its been a great money-saver for me. I was at the point where I couldn't deal with things like being able to only buy what I could carry at the grocery store and just plain being limited to where I could go on the T. Because of my limited funds, I signed up for Zip Car instead. It's cheap and fills my needs (I only need a car for errands on weekends) AND one of the cars that is parked near my apartment is a Beetle. It is so adorable- has a sunroof and leather. Lots of fun to drive! (I'm more of an SUV type girl, I would probably never actually buy one on my own, so it's lots of fun). Aside from the cost of living, Boston has so many things to do (a lot of them are even free or fairly cheap), that I've been happy with my choice to live here. It hasn't all been easy- It can be tough to meet people (but I think- especially from reading these boards, that it can be a problem most places). One year in I've got a few new people that I spend time with (aside from people I knew from college who also moved here), but am still trying to build a good group of friends to do things with (makes taking advantage of all the fun things the city has to offer much more fun). Living anywhere far from your family and most of your close friends can be difficult at times, but I think it makes you a more independent person to do it. It proves to you that you CAN take care of yourself, manage your money. In short, all of the things I personally never had a chance to do until I graduated from college (even though I went to school out of state, the whole experience was pretty sheltered in a lot of ways- all I had to worry about was going to class, getting my work done, and enjoying college life). Anyway, that's my take on Boston, (and just moving somewhere on your own). I'd say go for it. There's really not too much to lose and a lot to gain, just (like someone said in an earlier post) do your research and make sure the city is right for you. Drop me a line if you want to talk more about the city. (or if you live here and are looking for people to hang out with)
-M
maggielyn01@yahoo.com

[Dymphna]

Margo,

I have to ask, where in Brookline did you live last year that you were paying $830 a month AND living with 2 other people? I am going on my third year here and my rent just got increased to $825 and I only live with ONE other person.

You're right Boston can be expensive when it comes to rent, but I think the prices are leveling off some what. I would advise anyone who plans on moving to Boston to either use the resources available online, or move to one of the surrounding neighborhoods (rather than in Boston itself) like Jamaica Plain or Brighton that are less expensive. I know that some schools (and even some employers, like hospitals) have websites that have listings of apartments available in the Boston area.

I also agree with Margo about the ZipCar....I have been using it for over a year and it's great. I go to functions out of town a couple times a year and ZipCar is so much better than renting a car...especially in Boston, where parking is very limited.
ZipCar is also in Washington, D.C. and New York City now.

-D

[Margo]

I would agree that the rental prices in Boston have definitely leveled off... it was much easier to find something with a rent that is comfortable for me to pay this year as opposed to last year.

The $830 was on Beacon Street near Washington Square... it was totally overpriced, (the apartment was pretty good sized, however) which is why we left (we moved there because a week before we were supposed to move into another apartment, the deal fell through... I was starting work and had to live somewhere... one of the girls I was living with at the time absolutely HAD to live on Beacon St... a side street wouldn't do...I really didn't care, but at that point I didn't feel like I could do much about it)...my deal this year is much better- the apartment is just as convenient, really nice and way cheaper (and this year my new roommates and I are splitting the phone bill and internet, things that in my last place we each had separately... yes, 3 phone lines... it was a little ridiculous... one of my roommates had never had to share anything and didn't seem to want to learn to... she took the biggest bedroom (really large, you could have put a couple of queen beds in it) in the apartment and one of the bathrooms... and then said because she didn't use the two hall closets, we should all split the rent equally... arguing with her was so unpleasant that it was easier for my other roommate and me to just pay the rent... needless to say we don't live together anymore). I guess you live and learn. (Don't get me going on this roommate, I can go on for hours about that situation:mad: She wasn't a bad person, just someone who was ill equiped to deal with roommates...)
-M

[ValentineGirl]

Thanks for the info. and insight you guys :) And Optimistic, I'm considering Boston because I'm really interested in Boston University's Social Work program.

[Dymphna]

ValentineGirl - Boston University is a really good school. I have only heard good things about BU's School of Social Work....a college friend of mine graduated from the program and he thought it was excellant. My current roommate and my best friend are both in the School of Public Health and they think that program is great also.

[ValentineGirl]

Awesome, thanks for the info. Dymphna :)