How do you relocate to a new city without money or a job?

If you want to relocate to a new city or town, pre-planning is a must!

If possible, make at least 1 visit to the town and look around/drive around. Stop in a few small stores and ask for tips about which neighborhoods are best, low crime, easy to get to/from, rents within your price range, etc. Check a local phone book for the list of local extensions... the 3 numbers that come after an area code. For example, one city's area code may be "216" but they may have hundreds of "extensions" based on areas within the city. Ask which neighborhoods use which phone extensions. Pick up a local paper at a convenience store and look at the Job ads and Apartment Ads and specifically note whether the phone numbers are in the areas you just learned about from store owners. If possible stay overnight at a local motel so you can do more investigation the next day.

If you absolutely cannot do an overnight visit, you'll need to use other ways to check out the area. google the Word newspaper+city state (the city you are interested in). Read their newspaper for several months online. Pay attention to crime news and job or local unemployment news. Also browse the want ads online.

google TV news+city state (the city you are interested in). Look through the archives of the TV news station. Play their video news clips. Visit the site every day for a few weeks or months to get an idea of the area and problems you might face.

Call ahead. If you think you'll need to sign up for State Welfare (money, food stamps, etc) call ahead and ask what they require. Some States make you wait 6 months before you are eligible--can you survive 6 months in a strange city with little money??

Use the want ads online to do job searches. Send out resumes from your current home ONLY to places where you might have a good chance of employment. If you can visit the city, set up Interviews all on one day (or two days). If Place A doesn't hire you, ask if they know a local business that could use your talents.

While doing your research from home, you've got to plan what you are taking, selling, leaving behind. Go through every possession. If you can sell an item, sell. SAvE the money from every sale, no matter what amount. You'll need the extra $2.00 from a small sale just as much as you'll need the $100.00 from selling a bigger item. As well, start saving every penny from your current work or whatever income you have. You'll need every penny to move and get reestablished in the new city.

If you belong to a church now, ask if there's a related church in the new city. Ask your pastor if he/she would write you a "Letter of Introduction" that you can show at a church there if you need help after moving. Call churches there and ask if you would come do work for them (cleaning, mowing grass) would they be open to helping you if you need it after moving.

Make sure before moving to get other references too. Don;t rely on your memory for your neighbor's phone number. Write it all down. Ask people "If I need a reference in my new town, can I use you as a reference?"

A Word of caution, though. If you want to move ONLY to get away from "a problem", especially a financial problem, don't move for that reason only. Moving will only stretch your budget more. It's far better to clean up one mess before moving and creating new messes.

Try to have at least 3 months "rent money" in your pocket before leaving, plus security deposit. With travel, food, and rent monies, you'll need money in your pocket to do a safe, smooth move! Remember also, utilities require turn on fees. If you are a new customer, fees can be very high.

So, plan, plan, plan. The better your plan before you go, the better your move will go.