You Asked, We Answered...

Q:  “I'm currently unemployed (24 years old and single), but I will be moving from Minnesota to Washington, D.C. in a month for a new job. I'm worried that I don't have enough money to pay a rental deposit and other moving costs. What should I do?”

 

A: MAKING BREAD congratulates you on this exciting new move and offers these words of advice: Think of your lack of cash as a positive, not a negative. It’s best not to rush into anything—and that includes signing a lease on an apartment. Give yourself some time to get to know the city and the various neighborhoods and housing options it has to offer.

          You might try staying at a residence inn, such Korman Suites, which specializes in short-term leases of furnished units for 14 days or more. Visit www.apartments.com  or www.movingcenter.com  to search for this kind of short-term housing. Another option—assuming that you don’t know anyone in the area, such as a friend, a relative, or someone you went to school with (check with your school’s alumni office), who can put you up for a few weeks—is to search for a roommate or to rent a single room in someone’s home. Both roommates and rooms for rent can be found at www.roommatelocator.com  or in the classified section of one of the Washington papers.

          Another source of information might be your Congressman’s office. Tell him or her that you are moving from Minnesota and need some advice. Someone in the office should be glad to advise you. You (or your parents) pay their salaries, after all.
    
          Of course, there is always the old stand-by, YWCA, which has served as home base for many women just getting started, who later became rich and famous.
   
          Finally, you could try requesting a pay advance from your employer, or money to cover relocation costs. It never hurts to ask. You might get a pleasant surprise.
    
         Best of luck to you—and, again, congratulations on embarking on this grand new adventure. Washington is a great city!

— The Staff of MAKING BREAD

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